Auburn's backup QB says Nick Marshall will win Heisman Trophy
Auburn backup quarterback Jeremy Johnson says the player above him on the depth chart, Nick Marshall, is going to win the Heisman Trophy this season.
Marshall led the Tigers to the SEC title and a national championship game appearance last season.
"He led us to the national championship, and we were 13 seconds away," Johnson said, according to AL.com. "And this year he got better at passing, better at running, better at making reads. He's become a leader on this team and I've never seen him so amped at practice every day the way he is, the way he comes out. So, I know for a fact he'll win the Heisman."
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Marshall will not start the opener on Aug. 30 against Arkansas after being cited by police for marijuana possession last month.
Johnson, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, had six touchdowns and two interceptions in six games last season. Marshall threw for 1,976 yards and 14 passing touchdowns and ran for 1,068 yards and another 12 scores.
The last Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback to throw for less than 2,000 yards in a season was Nebraska's Eric Crouch in 2001. Before that, UCLA quarterback Gary Beban took home the trophy in 1967 while throwing for 1,359 yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.
- Scooby Axson
