Sean Mannion in Heisman conversation? Coach Mike Riley thinks so

Oregon State Beavers quarterback Sean Mannion isn’t as flashy as Johnny Manziel. Mannion doesn’t play for a powerhouse program like Jameis Winston, nor does he rack up highlights like Marcus Mariota. When it comes to future NFL potential, he’s not considered to be in the same class as Teddy Bridgewater. Still, Mannion has better stats so far this season than all of those quarterbacks, yet their names are the ones constantly circulated in the (admittedly premature) Heisman talk. Does Mannion deserve to be part of that conversation? OSU coach Mike Riley certainly thinks so.

Said Riley:

"He belongs in any conversation. He’s playing really good football, which is a sign of preparation and talent meeting one another. He made a lot of throws with a lot of heat yesterday, and I’m really proud of him for that. His (completion) percentage is amazing (Oregon Live)."

While the loss to Eastern Washington will be hard for pundits and voters to ignore, Mannion’s numbers speak for themselves. His completion percentage (71.5%) isn’t as good as Jameis Winston’s or Teddy Bridgewater’s, sure, but he’s attempted far more passes than either of those quarterbacks. His yards per game average is second in the nation, and he leads all quarterbacks with 15 touchdown passes (with only one interception, too). If he maintains those numbers when conference play begins, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be considered for college football’s most prestigious award. Of course, all that is easier said than done considering some of the competition he’ll face this year in the Pac-12, but you should keep an eye on Mannion throughout the season. If he keeps throwing for 400 yards per game and completing over 70% of his passes, he’ll be hard to ignore.

[Source: Oregon Live]