Heisman..Marshall

[Godfather]

So says Jeremy. 

AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn's backup quarterback predicts that Nick Marshall will win the Heisman Trophy this season.

Jeremy Johnson expresses much less certainty over who will start the opening game since Marshall is expected to begin the season on the bench as punishment.

"He led us to the national championship [game], and we were 13 seconds away," Johnson said. "And this year he got better at passing, better at running, better at making reads. He's become a leader on this team, and I've never seen him so amped at practice every day the way he is, the way he comes out. So I know for a fact he'll win the Heisman."

The common presumption is that Johnson will be the starter against Arkansas on Aug. 30. Auburn coach Gus Malzahn has said only that Marshall won't start the game after the quarterback was cited for possession of a small amount of marijuana in July.

If the coaches have decided how long to hold Marshall out, or even whether Johnson will start in his place, the sophomore said over the weekend that they haven't told him.

Third-teamer Sean White is a freshman.

Johnson said he is not stressing over the uncertainty and is not about to wander into Malzahn's office to ask if he's starting.

"I'm very confident, and I know the team's confidence in me and I know they have my back, so if I'm called upon I'll be ready," Johnson said.

Malzahn has said he and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee had already decided Johnson will play more this season. The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder offers a changeup to the smaller, quicker Marshall.

The former Alabama Mr. Football played in six games last season, starting for an injured Marshall against Western Carolina and playing most of the way against Florida Atlantic. He passed for 393 yards and six touchdowns with a pair of interceptions in those two games and appears to have earned the confidence of his coaches and teammates.

Tight end C.J. Uzomah said Johnson emerged as a team leader even before preseason camp began.

"Jeremy could start probably anywhere else in the SEC," Uzomah said. "We have all the confidence in the world in him."

Johnson showed his support for Marshall, whom he calls a good friend, well before the Heisman prediction. He said he called the preseason All-SEC pick as soon as he heard about Marshall's legal run-in.

The quarterback's mother has paid the $1,100 in fines, meaning Marshall won't have to appear in court.

"If you're the quarterback at Auburn, you're the face of the program regardless of what you've done in the past," Johnson said. "Whatever happens, you're still the face. He knows that, and he's learned from his mistake, and it won't ever happen again."

Johnson said he is perfectly comfortable running zone-read plays like Marshall. He said a primary offseason focus has been working on his timing with quick throws from a three-step drop.

If Johnson does start against the Razorbacks, he insists jitters won't be a problem.

"I'm really not going to be nervous," he said. "It's just football is football. I'm a football player. That's why I'm here. I'm really not going to be nervous."

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/11372009/nick-marshall-auburn-tigers-qb-win-heisman-trophy-backup-says

[Snaggletiger]

"It's just football is football."

Words to live by

[Godfather]

"It's just football is football."

Words to live by

Actually I live by the words "Insurance companies are only looking out for their bottom line." 

If only I had someone that cared, that stayed up late worring about my problems

[CCTAU]

Nah. Ain't gonna happen. That dream done went up in smoke!

[Snaggletiger]

Nah. Ain't gonna happen. That dream done went up in smoke!

I don't know about that.  I say he rolls to the Heisman.

[Buzz Killington]

It would be nice to see him spice up his passing game on the way to the Heisman.  He can still leave defenders puffing in his wake.

[WiregrassTiger]

Say what you will but I don't think this Heisman talk is just a pipe dream for Marshall.

[Godfather]

I say he wins it.  So all y'all can just roll that up in your pipe and smoke it!

[Ogre]

His blazing speed is undeniable.  It's like defenses are grasping at smoke.

[Snaggletiger]

The good thing about Marshall is we know he can take a hit.

[ssgaufan]

This is the second thread y'all have fucked up with your toking references.   

[AWK]

This is the second thread y'all have fucked up with your toking references.   

Stop acting so high and mighty.

[WiregrassTiger]

It would be EZ for him to roll up more yards if the field were Wider. He is at the Top of his game for sure. I only hope he can continue to take the hits. He's shown that he can take a big hit and walk off a little woozy.

[jmar]

If you want the blunt troof I think Nick will have to be our hero again in the close ones while trumping last season totals with maybe 5 more attempts per game and 10 or so more TD passes. Gus can make that happen within the context of the hunh so it will be interesting to see if our ground game without a true fullback will flow ripping long gains or more yards inside after contact  with the usual gimmicks and window dressing thrown in. With our schedule, I think he's at the ceremony if we succeed in competing for the conf. championship.

[Kaos]

I agree with Jeremy.  Anywhere we play, Nick's got to be the best athlete in the joint.  The defense is going to have Chronic whiplash from watching him run by them.  Believe it, bud. 

[WiregrassTiger]

I agree with Jeremy.  Anywhere we play, Nick's got to be the best athlete in the joint.  The defense is going to have Chronic whiplash from watching him run by them.  Believe it, bud.

If you aren't just blowing smoke, it will be high times this year and not just a growing season.