Joel Klatt makes case for Bo Nix as Heisman contender

FOX sports college football analyst Joel Klatt recently updated his list of the top Heisman contenders and included Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.

On his show this week, Klatt ranked his top picks for college football’s most prestigious individual award and had the Ducks’ QB1 in fifth place at the moment. He explained why, first noting his standing as the nation’s leader in completion percentage:

“Bo Nix from Oregon is next up on my Heisman rankings. Right now, very quietly leading the country in completion percentage — even though when they played Colorado, they had 10 million people watching that game. But he’s in complete control of that offense.”

Klatt doesn’t like to use cliches, but in this instance, he simply had to in order to note what a spectacular presence Nix is on the field as a super-senior.

“When I watch Oregon, I see a guy that is oozing experience. The old moniker, and I hate this because it’s used too much — like, he’s a coach on the field.

“It just means that the guy puts the ball in the right spot based on the look all the time. When I’m watching Oregon, the ball is out quickly, it’s going to the right spot, it is generally an accurate throw. He can use his legs when needed, when the play breaks down. The guy is just playing.”

Nix was terrific last year for Dan Lanning and the Ducks, but Joel Klatt believes he’s seen the veteran quarterback take even another step forward this season.

“We thought he played really great last year. I think he’s playing even better this year. The athleticism allows him to make those plays, but it’s more than that. It’s his mind. He’s making great decisions that allow the offense to be at its best.”

Some might say Nix is a great game manager for being able to run the offense so smoothly, and such a title shouldn’t come as disprespectful, says Klatt.

“You know, I think there’s there’s a misconception out there that no quarterback wants to be called a game manager. I totally disagree with that. In fact, I think that the best quarterbacks in the world are also game managers.”

Klatt continued, explaining why Bo Nix is fabulous at walking the tightrope between running the offense by the book vs. mixing in a few off-script plays as well.

“It just so happens that some game managers can take their their game above the X’s and O’s at times. You can’t do that all the time or else it’s reckless. But when needed, can you go above the X’s and O’s? Right now, he’s an excellent game manager and then there are times, when needed, he can scramble and he can make throws and decisions that take him above the X’s and O’s.”

With his ability to run a team and create some jaw-dropping plays for the highlight reel, Bo Nix is a quarterback that is likely to remain in the thick of the Heisman race as the season winds down. At least, that’s what Joel Klatt expects.