Marcel Reed has been named the Davey O'Brien National QB of the Week for this past weekend of games, recognizing the best performance by a quarterback in the country. Reed exceeded 400 yards in the air against South Carolina in a huge comeback and also picked up a key 4th and 12 with his legs in maybe the most dire moment of the game, helping spark the rally.
This a well-deserved honor for Reed, who came into the game with a lot of hype surrounding him from the Aggie fanbase. Given the attention this game began to command as it dragged on, there were a lot of eyes on Marcel's dazzling second-half performance, which explains why he's been receiving so many accolades of late.
Marcel Reed's Heisman candidacy adds another building block with Davey O'Brien National QB of the Week award
So, just how realistic is it that Reed wins the award? He's in the top group of three no matter where you look— but the issue is that, more often than not, he's in third place.
Reed remains behind both Julian Sayin and Fernando Mendoza in most odds lists that you'll find out there. Neither Sayin or Mendoza have been challenged or tested the way that Reed has, of course— the stiffest test that Sayin has faced was a mediocre Texas defense, and Mendoza played against a disappointing Penn State team recently as well.
When you compare the performances among these three in games against top defenses, Reed's clearly the guy who rises to the moment the best of all. Awards like this one help bolster his case, but these numbers should be all he needs.
Reed is without a doubt the most dynamic of these three players, as well. His explosivity running the ball and the ability to push passes down the field rather than take short, easy passes mean he's the most entertaining to watch by a long shot.
His path won't be easy, but it's there. If he dazzles again against Texas and then in the SEC championship game, he can make himself the frontrunner, especially if Fernando Mendoza or Sayin stumble to end the year.