Garbage time was all Kyle Allen saw last season for Texas A&M as a true freshman against Alabama. A poor snap over his head was one of Allen’s highlight moments in the fourth quarter, but for much of the game, he looked on as No.7-ranked Alabama dismantled his team 59-0. The difference between this season and last year for Texas A&M was Kenny Hill.
Aggies’ offensive coordinator Jake Spavital on multiple accounts said the battle between Allen and Hill was even going into the Alabama game. Spavital went with the experience of Hill, but this time, Allen will have the stage to himself. The sophomore looks for more than just a win.
Allen, 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, has one of the best supporting casts in college football.
Texas A&M has three wide receivers that are 6-foot-3 and taller–Josh Reynolds, Ricky Seals Jones and Edward Pope— and two big time playmakers in Speedy Noil and freshman Christian Kirk.
The Scottsdale, Ariz., native has been exceptional this season, completing 64 percent of his throws for 1,274 passing yards with 13 touchdowns to just two interceptions. Many college football analysts believe that Allen will be in New York City for this year’s Heisman Trophy presentation. He would be attractive in the eyes of voters, if Texas A&M beats Alabama.
Since 2008, only two quarterbacks that defeated Alabama under head coach Nick Saban have gone on to win the Heisman, Cameron Newton (2010) and Johnny Manziel (2012).
Newton was widely-known as a physical, dual-threat quarterback, yet it was his arm that propelled Auburn to victory in the 2010 Iron Bowl. He completed 13 of 20 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns. Newton would tack on a rushing touchdown in the third quarter.
He guided Auburn from a 24-point deficit, to a one-point victory over Alabama, 28-27.
Manziel came with a different story. No one outside of College Station, Texas believed that a redshirt freshman could pull off an upset against the Crimson Tide. An extremely confident young man known for his trademark “money sign” gesture got it done for the Aggies in 2012.
Manziel, unlike Newton, ripped through Alabama with arm and legs.
He connected on 24 of 31 pass attempts for 253 yards with two touchdowns. Manziel totaled 92 rushing yards and a score on 18 carries. He led the Aggies in celebration after a 29-24 win.
It was not a Heisman moment, but even former Southeastern Conference quarterbacks Tim Tebow and Nick Marshall had success against Alabama. Tebow hit on 14 of 22 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns in Florida’s 31-20 win over Alabama in the 2008 SEC title game. Marshall made Auburn’s head coach Gus Malzahn look great in the 2013 Iron Bowl.
He totaled 97 passing yards with two touchdowns on 11 of 16 attempts. Marshall kept the Crimson Tide’s defense on its heels, as he collected 99 rushing yards and a score on 17 carries. Auburn defeated Alabama 34-28 in one of the more memorable rivalry games to date.
Both Tebow and Marshall would play for a national championship in their perspective seasons; however, Tebow would emerge victorious in 2008 as Florida defeated Oklahoma 24-14 in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game.
For Kyle Allen, efficiency is a must against Alabama. Quarterbacks that fail to complete at least 60 percent of their throws tend to have a hard time against the Crimson Tide defense.
He has to target the match-ups that are beneficial and have the ball on target to receivers. The signal callers listed earlier all had a string of big time throws on Alabama’s secondary.
Allen is a lot more confident now that what he was last year. Texas A&M has found stability in its run game and John Chavis has changed its dynamic on defense. Allen watched a shutout happen in 2014; however, he now has a chance to give Texas A&M a signature win this week.
Does he have a Heisman moment against Alabama? Aggie nation will find out Saturday.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine.
You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
