The Zach Mettenberger-for-Heisman train has officially left the station, and the launch of the full-on campaign may not be too far behind.
LSU coach Les Miles was asked about Mettenberger’s potential at his weekly news conference Monday. Miles answered the question like he answers all down-the-road aspiration type questions, responding that such speculation was putting the cart before the horse.
Florida’s defense will be the best Mettenberger has faced so far this season, and if he shreds them like every other team he’s played so far, then Heisman talk won’t be that crazy.
Put aside any predispositions about Mettenberger. Based solely on his 2013 statistics, he is a perfectly legitimate candidate. Heading into this weekend, he leads the Southeastern Conference in a number of passing statistics: touchdowns (15), yards (1,738) and passing efficiency (190.1).
With just two interceptions in 157 attempts, he’s tied for the fewest picks among SEC quarterbacks who have started every game.
He’s led the Tigers to a 5-1 start, all the while carrying a putrid defense that’s allowed nearly 25 points a game. He already set a single-game LSU record for touchdown passes in a game, and is on pace to rewrite the single-season school record book.
If he performs well against Florida on Saturday, Mettenberger’s numbers should warrant legitimate Heisman consideration.
Despite accumulating numbers on-par with a lot of the major contenders, his name is currently absent from every watch list.
ESPN’s experts’ poll does not rank Mettenberger among its 14 candidates for the Heisman, but does have players like Todd Gurley and Braxton Miller who have already missed multiple games. Bovada has current odds posted for 18 candidates, but Mettenberger is not one of them.
Aside from Lunch with Les, the only place where Heisman and Mettenberger’s name appear is Sports Illustrated, which lists him as No. 10 in its latest poll.
By no means should he be a front-runner to win the award, but national outlets not ranking him as a candidate at all doesn’t make any sense considering he leads the nation’s best conference in nearly every important stat.
The only reason his name isn’t at least mentioned is that there is a perception of what kind of player he is based on last season. Mettenberger threw an un-Heisman-like 13 touchdown passes in 2012, and because of that, people have trouble viewing him as a legitimate candidate.
Like an undefeated team that began the regular season unranked, it takes a while for an under-the-radar candidate to climb up the rankings. Johnny Manziel wasn’t on any Heisman watch lists at this point last season. It’s just something that comes with a sport that factor in preseason polls so heavily.
But as of Monday, the question has officially been asked for the first time. Miles sidestepped the query and simply said that Mettenberger facilitated victory.
I’d be surprised if he ever actually answers a question about Mettenberger’s chances at the Heisman, and it isn’t his job to do so. But if Mettenberger plays well and beats the Gators on Saturday, Miles can expect the same question next Monday.
James Moran is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Beacon, N.Y.