Andrew Luck Heisman Trophy: Stanford QB Among Finalists For College Football Prize (VIDEO)

Good luck convincing NFL talent evaluators or college football fans in Palo Alto of this fact, but Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck isn't perfect.

Yes, the redshirt junior is the top pro football prospect in the collegiate ranks, with some NFL fans literally encouraging their teams to fail in order to attain the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. And, yes, he was named the Academic All-America Team Member of the Year for football as a result of maintaining a 3.48 GPA in Stanford's prestigious architectural design program.

It's true that he is a gentleman, a scholar and arguably the best college signal caller in a generation. But he can't do everything.

"Dude couldn't hit a lick."

At least that's what John Mardirosian, Luck's teammate on the JV baseball team at Stratford high school in Houston, Texas, claims. But Luck's supposed inability to get any lumber on a high school-caliber heater seems to be where the criticisms ends.

"He played a mean center field though," Mardirosian continued. "One time I was pitching and he made a diving catch in center field and then threw out a runner tagging from third base. The guy is such an amazing human being it's absurd."

After finishing second in Heisman voting last season, Luck surprised many by returning to school. Despite being the presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Luck wanted to lead the Cardinal to a national title. Although he has fallen short of that goal, the 22-year-old authored another superlative season that culminates in another trip to New York for the Heisman ceremony and another trip to a BCS bowl. Regardless of whether he takes home the famed stiff arm trophy, Luck's stature in the college game is assured.

What has Luck meant to Stanford's football program?

In the three seasons prior to him taking the reins of the Stanford offense, the team had a collective record of 13-23 with no bowl appearances. Since 2009, the team has posted a collective record of 31-7, defeating Virginia Tech in the school's BCS bowl debut last January. On Thursday, Luck added yet another remarkable distinction to his long list of awards, taking home the 2011 Walter Camp trophy that is annually awarded to the top college football player in the nation. While his college accolades are numerous and impressive, many still believe that the best is yet to come from Luck, with NFL draft guru Mel Kiper claiming he is the second best prospect he has ever seen behind fellow Palo Alto product John Elway.

Want an idea of how excited people are to see this kid play on Sundays? Even though he was named a Heisman finalist last Sunday, the big story surrounding him this week was whether or not he could co-exist with future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning on the Indianapolis Colts, his most likely NFL landing spot.

Not too bad for an all-glove, no-hit outfielder.

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Comments

[omegas3]

05:58 PM on 12/10/2011

Overrated

[Faelsun]

08:23 PM on 12/10/2011

LOL of course he is. A college team with athletic receivers can outrun the other teams defenders so badly these guys have a 6 foot window to throw the ball in. Thats why most of the best NFL Qbs come from lesser known schools with average receiver cores.

[KOSSNC]

03:45 PM on 12/10/2011

This article has to much slang in it. It took me a second realize they were talking about baseball "Dude couldn't hit a lick". I quit reading after that. Play straight before you get all cute.

[Californiagrove]

02:41 PM on 12/10/2011

Luck has not disappointed. He took a program that had gone 25-55 record in its previous seven seasons and went 31-6 in three years. In more than 100 years of football, Stanford never had more than 10 victories in a season until Luck led the team to that many wins — twice. In just three years, Luck set school records for wins and touchdown passes, jumping over the Stanford legends Jim Plunkett, John Elway and Steve Stenstrom. And he has now led the Cardinal to three straight bowl games for the first time since 1935, the first year the Heisman Trophy was awarded.

[R4Facts]

02:16 PM on 12/10/2011

He's going to be a bust in the NFL...

[Californiagrove]

02:34 PM on 12/10/2011

R4facts, such words of encouragement.... Luck may be good or may not be. That remains to be seen. I've seen him play every single game the past 2 yearr, and he's been great. At least he has architecture to fall back on. This is not a dumb football player. He went to Stanford. If we are talking about talent AND character then Luck wins by a landslide. Anyone that knows him loves this guy.

[BlairCase]

03:47 PM on 12/10/2011

Both Luck and Robert Griffith are excellent students who graduated from Texas high schools. Griffin is on track to complete his undergraduate degree in political science this December, when he will have just completed his sophomore year of athletics eligibility. He's a true junior who was granted a medical redshirt after a season-ending injury early in 2009. Griffith made the Big 12 All Academic Team. They both seem to excellent students as well as athletes.

[R4Facts]

04:59 PM on 12/10/2011

I'm not doubting his character and quite sure he's probably a great guy but when enters the league I believe he'll be the equivalent of Jimmy Clausen, Brady Quinn or Colt McCoy.

[Californiagrove]

01:40 PM on 12/10/2011

I've met him. He is a gentleman and I've seen hiim play. I saw him play against Washington this year, since the stadium is over 150 miles from my home. He was sensational. I think he would like to win the Heisman, but even some of the most successful quarterbacks in history never won that award. Does Joe Montana ring a bell?

[Rex Hungus]

12:50 PM on 12/10/2011

Its going to be an interesting time during the first round of the NFL draft to see who takes him. If its Indy that will be equally interesting to see what they do with Manning.