Notes, quotes, and a thought or two…
If I had a Heisman Trophy vote, I would have to cast my ballot for Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew.
Minshew has plenty of ties to Mississippi and might be one of the best stories in college football. Minshew graduated from Brandon High School and signed with Troy out of high school but ended up at Northwest Mississippi Community College. He then signed with East Carolina and played there for two years. He graduated and had a year of eligibility remaining.
He was going to sign with Alabama and be a backup to Tua Tagovailoa in case Jalen Hurts trasnferred. Then Minshew got the phone call that probably changed his life from Washington State coach Mike Leach.
Leach’s appeal was very simple. He could either warm the bench at Alabama or he could coming to Washington State and lead the nation in passing.
So far, that’s exactly what Minshew is doing. After a snow loss to rival Washington, Minshew has passed for 4,477 yards on 433-of-613 passing with 36 touchdown and nine interceptions. His yards and TDS this year are more than his two years at East Carolina combined.
Normally, I’m not a fan of system quarterbacks that put up the gaudy numbers like Minshew has this season. But here’s where Minshew sold me.
For the last three or four summers, Minshew has shown up at Leake Academy during the Neshoba County Fair. His father, Flint, played at Leake Academy and Gardner needed a place to work out. I remember the first time I saw him working out with some of our wide receivers. I was think we had landed us a big-time recruit.
A couple of times, I was the only person on campus cutting grass and would let Gardner into the weight room. It didn’t matter that the Fair was going on, he was going to get his workout in and that’s something that any coach can appreciate.
So when Minshew signed to go to Washington State, I thought he had the chance to do something special. The Cougars are 10-2 on the season and it’s a good chance that Minshew will be invited to the Heisman ceremony. The Washington loss probably knocked him out of a chance to win the trophy since Washington will go to the Pac 12 championship game.
But in throwing for those 4,000-plus yards, Minshew and his famed mustache have become a national story. But better than that, Minshew has gotten the attention of NFL scouts. From everything I have read, Minshew will be drafted and likely in the first two rounds. Everyone thinks Will Grier of West Virginia will go early but Minshew could easily be the second quarterback drafted. That could be any where from the first to third round. LIke I’ve heard coaches say before, it only takes one team to fall in love with you. And the NFL is a quarterback-driven league and there are plenty of teams that need quarterbacks.
The national media loves Tagovailoa at Alabama and for good reason but look at what he plays with versus what Minshew plays with. Personally, I’m tired of reading and hearing about Tua and Alabama and like the fact that a Mississippi boy has made the most of his opportunity. He’s certainly the underdog when it comes to the Heisman Trophy and even the NFL draft but it seems like Minshew likes it that way.
And who doesn’t like an underdog.
Robbie Robertson is sports editor for The Newton County Appea. You can reach him at rrobertson12811@yahoo.com.
