Heisman Trophy winner and Texas A&M sophomore quarterback Johnny Manziel is coming to Baton Rouge, and the LSU football team can’t help but notice.
The only freshman Heisman winner ever is on pace to compete for a second straight, completing 73 percent of his passes this season and averaging 331 yards per game through the air.
LSU junior wide receiver Jarvis Landry said it can be difficult to concentrate on defenses while watching film when Manziel takes the spotlight.
“He’s the quarterback, so fortunately for them and unfortunately for the defenses, he touches the ball every play,” Landry said. “He’s always a threat. He’s very fast and agile, and he can make any throw on the field.”
The LSU defense held Manziel to 276 passing yards and 27 yards rushing and forced three interceptions in the Tigers’ 24-19 victory against the Aggies last season.
“I’m pretty sure the coaches are looking at that, but then again, it is a new year,” said sophomore cornerback Jalen Mills. “Those guys added new plays to the playbook just like we did. We just have to adapt.”
PLAYERS approach LSU history
With junior wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark against Alabama last week and Landry just 28 yards shy, the tandem is poised to become the first pair of Tigers to hit the mark in the same season.
Landry said the two set the milestone as a goal prior to the season and that being on the verge of achieving it feels surreal.
“[My numbers] probably wouldn’t be the same [without Landry],” Beckham said. “We complement each other so much that, even being double teamed a lot this year, you just can’t do it.”
Beckham also has his eyes set on breaking former Kentucky wide receiver Randall Cobb’s Southeastern Conference single-season record for all-purpose yards. With two regular season games remaining, he needs 307 yards to break the record.
“It would be a huge accomplishment,” Beckham said. “It’s definitely a goal that’s attainable and I would love to achieve it.”
Beckham was announced Monday as one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award presented annually to college football’s most outstanding wide receiver.
Tigers still motivated
LSU’s 31-17 loss to Alabama knocked the Tigers out of contention for a BCS bowl bid, but sophomore running back Jeremy Hill said he and his teammates have had no lack of motivation moving forward.
A 10-win season is still attainable, and that would be a nice consolation prize, especially considering the close nature of two of LSU’s losses, Hill said.
“We set pretty lofty goals at this program, so if you don’t meet them, wherever you fall, its normally a pretty good season,” Hill said. “Every guy still comes in this building ready to work, and I think that’s what we’ll need to win these last three games.”
“[Manziel’s] always a threat. He’s very fast and agile, and he can make any throw on the field.”