Early look at 2013 Heisman Trophy race

Sports

Early look at 2013 Heisman Trophy race

Who will win college football's top award next season?

It's never too early to look at the 2013 college football season, and to look at candidates for the 2013 Heisman Trophy.

And if you think we might have made a mistake by including UGA quarterback Aaron Murray, we haven't. The redshirt season could finish the 2013 season as the school and SEC all-time leading passer and could become the first SEC QB to pass for 3,000 yards in four straight seasons.

Here's a list of the players likely to begin next season atop the Heisman watch list. Obviously, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel will head the list after winning the award this season.

Johnny Football will look to become the first back-to-back winner of the Heisman since Ohio State's Archie Griffin in 1974-75.

Southern California receiver Marqise Lee finished fourth behind Manziel, Notre Dame's Manti T'eo and Kansas State's Collin Klein this season and could be poised for a bigger season in 2013.

The two players immediately behind Lee in this year's Heisman voting will also return next season - Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller ....

.... and South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who hopes to become the first primarily defensive player to win the award.

Oregon RB De'Anthony Thomas, nicknamed the Black Mamba, could appear on next year's watch list after two stellar seasons so far in Eugene, Ore.

A pair of quarterbacks are likely to be among the early Heisman candidates -- Alabama's A.J. McCarron, who could be trying for his third straight BCS championship ....

.... or Notre Dame's Everett Golson, who could be trying for his second.

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It's never too early to look at the 2013 college football season, and to look at candidates for the 2013 Heisman Trophy.

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