Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
With the 2012 Heisman winner already announced, the 2013 Heisman talks have already begun. One name that may not be on many people’s radars, but definitely should, is Taylor Martinez of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Although Martinez has been highly criticized because of his unorthodox throwing motion and his tendency to play poorly in big games, he has been one of Nebraska’s all-time best quarterbacks.
As a junior, Martinez is already among the career leaders in many passing categories as well as a few rushing ones.
Martinez is now the career passing leader at Nebraska after a 2,667 which gives him over 6,000 for his career and passing Zac Taylor who had 5,850. Yes, I said he was Nebraska’s all-time leading passer in terms of yards in just three seasons. He has one more entire season to pile up more stats and increase his lead as the leading quarterback in Nebraska history.
He could become the best quarterback the Cornhuskers have ever had if one thing happens: a Heisman Trophy. Eric Crouch was Nebraska’s quarterback in 2001 when he won the Heisman Trophy, thus placing himself at the top of the Nebraska quarterback list.
Although people may call me crazy for comparing Martinez to Nebraska’s all-time great quarterbacks, his numbers surely don’t lie. Martinez may not have even been apart of the Heisman conversation this season, but his numbers were definitely worthy of a second look.
Not many quarterbacks can throw for over 2,600 yards and over 20 touchdowns while rushing for over 950 yards and 10 touchdowns without even being considered for Heisman. A large reason for his ‘snub’ is the fact that Nebraska’s season didn’t go quite as planned. They did have 10 wins, but were blown out in the Big Ten title game, 70-31, by the Wisconsin Badgers.
With most of the offense coming back next season and Martinez being the proud new owner of the passing yards record, total yards in a career record and the soon-to-be owner of the career passing touchdown record, he will surely be among the top quarterbacks in the country next season.
With his running ability, his Heisman candidacy can only get stronger. He is just over 600 yards away from the school’s career quarterback rushing yards record.
If he’s not a Heisman favorite to begin 2013, then I would be shocked to see another quarterback without the last name Miller or Manziel ahead of him.
