Meet Jonathan Dwyer, unannounced Heisman candidate
Pretty good ballplayer right here. As good as C.J. Spiller. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
Theoretically, every collegiate football player in the land is “a Heisman Trophy candidate.” But we tend to attach that label to a player only when the player’s school first attaches it. And Georgia Tech, being practiced in the lost art of understatement, hasn’t gone wild over Jonathan Dwyer just yet.
He’s billed on the cover of Tech’s media guide not as an “HTC” but as something a tad more tangible — the ACC player of the year. Which he was in 2008, and which he was just voted by the league’s media, assembled in Greensboro, N.C., to be again this season. And that if that doesn’t make someone an HTC … well, my name’s not George P. Burdell.
In Sporting News Today, Matt Crossman noted that Dwyer met the media in Greensboro from the seat “previously occupied by C.J. Spiller, the blazing-fast Clemson running back. Clemson brought with it life-sized posters of Spiller to hype his Heisman candidacy, a perfectly valid endeavor. But Dwyer will thrust himself into that conversation before long.”
Before long? Spiller rushed and caught passes for 1,065 total yards in 2008. Dwyer’s total yardage last season — 1,604. I’d say he’s there already. (Clemson, as we know, has never been shy about tooting its players’ horns. This is the school that, in 1982, sent out cereal boxes boosting Terry “Special K” Kinard.)
Loading ...Dwyer might get cast as “a system back,” but he’s no more a product of Paul Johnson’s system than Tim Tebow is of Urban Meyer’s. They’re both tremendous college players. And I’m not suggesting Dwyer is going to win the Heisman — quarterbacks always have the inherent edge, and there are two previous winners (Tebow and Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford) still playing as amateurs — but I will say this:
If Jonny Dwyer — that’s what Paul Johnson calls him — doesn’t finish in the top five, I’ll be surprised. And if C.J. Spiller finishes ahead of him, I’ll sit myself down and eat a bowl of Special K.
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218 comments Add your comment
William Casey
July 31st, 2009
9:58 am
Hey HUH? Why don’t you use your REAL name (as I do) and stand behind your words? Coward? I called over a thousand plays as a high school coach. I’m betting that you never called one. It has to do with being credible. That’s something I learned in a college classroom. Bet you never saw one of those either.
macrotech
July 31st, 2009
2:01 pm
Huh?, “I’m so sick of big mouthed Techies I don’t know what to do.”…..I can think of a few things you could do. Your little “that’s who” dribble was pretty weak…it would be TOO EASY to return the lameness, but you’d only respond with “huh?”!
bobbydoddsghost
August 1st, 2009
11:16 am
What a bunch of inbred mouth-breathers that make up the 12% that don’t think JD is a “legit” candidate? Give me a break. Some people don’t deserve keypads.
Tokyo jacket
August 1st, 2009
9:50 pm
Does anyone really think that GT or UGA are going to flounder this year? If you do, you’re probably an idiot. UGA has some pretty good talent and B- coaching. GT has probably A coaching and B+ talent. To my fellow Tech fans, look at UGA’s schedule. At worst, they’re 8-4 but probably 9-3.
UGA fans, CPJ’s system is not something you can stop because you saw a dropped punt, and onside kick, and really poor special teams against LSU. LSU plain whipped us. But, they didn’t really stop the O since we had almost 400 yds of total offense. Also, this is the same O that he’s been using for 20 years plus. I expect to see a way more functional, fast paced offense this year.
And, to the moron who said GT isn’t known outside of Georgia:
* “GT’s depth at running back is the best in the country with the exception of maybe Oklahoma” – Athlon sports
* #2 ranked RB unit in the country – ESPN and Rivals.com
* Dwyer has been on the cover page of college football three times in the past two months for ESPN, I have yet to see a Dawg on there
* National coach of the year last year: CPJ 3rd, CMR not on the ballot
If you’re not a Tech fan, don’t make yourself sound like an idiot and say we’re nothing, nobodies, no talent, etc. I GUARAN-DAMN-TEE you that your school, whichever it may be, takes Tech very seriously. Maybe you should too?!
Tokyo jacket
August 1st, 2009
9:55 pm
One more thing, CPJ won more games in his first 12 years as a head coach than any other coach in CFB history except Tom Osbourne. That includes Bowden, Spurrier, JoePa, Mack Brown, Stoops, Fulmer, Tressel, et al. CMR, Miles, Saban, and Meyer don’t even have 12 years yet. What will they look like when their “systems” can be exposed over a decade? I think some of them will be great, but I guarantee that one will be out of a job!
macrotech
August 2nd, 2009
2:15 am
ALWAYS enjoy reading Tokyo jacket’s comments….. GO TECH!!!
DAWGHATER
August 2nd, 2009
8:17 am
Hey DawginLex: Look at UGA’s openers the last 4 years, then complain about Jacksonville State. Hey, at least they have a decent QB. This is the 1st year that UGAG has opened the season on the road against a good team. Unfortunately for you and the other 150 million UGAG rednecks you will lose to OSU. GO JACKETS and GATORS. THWG!
DAWGHATER
August 2nd, 2009
11:38 am
Hey Steaming Loging Lex! Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pruMPBJGDOU Now, if you are smart enough to copy and paste to your browser you can watch it, but if not call a GT alum who can help you with IT. LMFAO! Oh no, GT scores again. UGA suxs azz!
DAWGHATER
August 2nd, 2009
11:41 am
OSU 42 UGay 17 UGay 0-1 to start te season. Hey, it’s ok to lose the 1st game, coz you guys are going to win the NC like every year. It’s only been 28 years since your last one, so I think you are overdue and certainly loaded with losers to get it done this year. What a joke. Crappy school, crapy team and redneck fans. LOSERS!
DAWGHATER
August 2nd, 2009
11:44 am
Roddy Jones scores again! oh my, he is torchng us up and down the sideline. We just cannot stop the triple option powerhouse offense that CPJ has developed. “Larry Loser Munson” whining about the game. Tears are falling from the sky, tears are falling from the sky. Oh my…………………..DAWGS SUCK!
DAWGHATER
August 2nd, 2009
11:45 am
Huh’s response to William Casey is huh! what a moron dawg loving loser redneck. THWG!
DAWGHATER
August 2nd, 2009
11:58 am
Hey UGAG: Watch this awesome video. Your team is awesome. You should be proud of the 2008 game. Dwyer rips your team to shreads along with the option. By the way, that Samual guy is a beast! LMFAO! THWG! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYBeRifpsoI&NR=1
DAWGHATER
August 2nd, 2009
12:00 pm
Huh! Huh! Huh! duh duh duh. what is my name what is my name. I am a dumb azz UGA fan! Better hurry to get to my pizza delivery job. LMFAO!
DAWGHATER
August 2nd, 2009
12:10 pm
AJ who? suck on these for a while! THWG! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90ZJs9cpFfs
LCJacket
August 2nd, 2009
1:08 pm
dawginlex: you are a complete moron. i’m so happy UGA is FINALLY is playing a tough season opener and that they are actually traveling there. until last year, i don’t think UGA had traveled west of the Mississippi since 1964 or something. why don’t you come talk to us when you’re hosting Tennessee Tech and we’re playing Wake Forest. most teams schedule an easy season opener and up until Appalacchian State beat Michigan, it worked to get your season off right. now we know anyone could beat you anyday, so no game is easy. get off your high horse about playing at Oklahoma State, Tech has done it a few times in recent memory, remember Tech going to Notre Dame or Auburn (you’ve heard of them right?) or Tech hosting Notre Dame (ESPN College Gameday) or hosting Auburn, and at the time Tech hosted these two teams they were preseaon top 5 teams. i have an idea, why don’t you do us all a favor and buy a one-way ticket to Stillwater?
Dwyer’s an amazing player. I would love him to win the Heisman, but I don’t think he will. If Calvin Johnson can’t win it, I don’t think JD can. Sad, but true.
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