Draft decisions, big names, Manziel at College Football Awards

Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel

* Feeling a little under the weather, since we got off the plane. Trying to fight it off a little bit.

* Great opportunity for our school to have four guys here. I'm the only person to be back here for the second year. Really cool.

* No timetable for NFL decision. Bowl game is focus. Draft stuff will come. But to say it's not on my mind wouldn't be truthful.

* Remember being with Joeckel last year in Miami and I saw the stress because he wanted to come back. But it was what's best for him.

* Having fun with [NFL decision]. I'm enjoying my teammates and coaches. It's Christmas time. It's bowl season. Great time of year.

* We'll find out Saturday but it's amazing that the freshman barrier for Heisman lasted so long and then possibly back-to-back FR.

* Keeping Heisman vote quiet but might be a point where I will reveal it. I can vote for myself but I didn't vote myself 1st or 2nd.

* Getting more healthy. Just tired and beat up. My whole leg was bruised and swollen after Mizzou. Thumb was nagging. It's the ?#SEC?.

* To win the Heisman Trophy is a dream come true for anyone who has grown up playing football. It's a really big deal.

* Athletes continue to get better and better as the years go on. These young guys are now coming in prepared to be great.

* Different to win Heisman, going from CS where everyone knows you in a small town to everyone noticing you in Times Square.

* Never wanted to be labeled as just a good athlete and I put in a lot of work with Coach Whitfield during the summer to get better.

* I've gotten better as a complete quarterback. I'm a more accurate passer and have improved in my pocket awareness.

* We felt like the Auburn loss was one that we let go. After that, we didn't have the same swagger. We weren't meshing at the end.

* Jameis has had to deal with a lot of stuff over the past couple of months and it's impressive how he's handled it. Haven't met him.

* If this is the end, I want to be considered one of the best to ever play at A&M. Hopefully we've made a huge impact on this school.

* This year, we had our ups and downs and our final record wasn't what we wanted. We have to go execute to [close out strong].

* Biggest factor [for NFL] is, "Am I ready for the next level?" You don't want to be unprepared for NFL and leave 2 years on table.

* It all comes down to making the best decision for you...whether you're ready, if teams need QBs, etc. Have to look at everything.

* I'll sit down in the next few weeks and talk to [my mentors and coaches] to see if I'm ready for the NFL. In my mind, I am ready.

* I got tired of being scrutinized so I got of Twitter during the season. I wanted the attention off of me and on us as a team.

Texas A&M WR Mike Evans

* The shot at eight straight SEC titles just shows the power of the conference. Bama won it quite a few times, Auburn won it with Cam Newton, it's a great conference. And it's fun to play in.

* The ball's bouncing their way. Not to take anything away from them, they're a great team. But it seems like destiny for them. It's crazy ... it's undescribable. They got a last-second win against Mississippi State, the Bama win was something I've never seen before. And I probably never will again.

* I don't really care about the title game, but if you're asking me who's going to win, I'm going with Auburn. They're always in position to win the game.

* It'll get fixed, I guarantee you that. But it just comes down to play-calling, plays not being made, myself included. We just fell off these last two games.

* I'm healthy. One-hundred percent.

* Didn't notice anything different about the way Johnny's been throwing. The LSU game was wet and cold. He messed up his throwing shoulder too. But it's hard to throw in those conditions.

* The Biletnikoff would mean a lot. Brandin Cooks and Sammy Watkins are both outstanding receivers, but if I were to win it would be a blessing. It would mean a lot to my receivers coach; he grinds me all the time and makes sure I'm the best player I can be. My fellow receivers all have a lot of catches so it's not all on me. It's a testament to the offensive line too.

* I'd miss it a lot if I left. I love this place. Last season was a cinderella season. We had a lot of great guys on that team and we had a lot of fun. I would like to give it another shot at a national championship, so that'll play in my decision. The daughter plays in as well, but she'll be fine.

* Will talk with Sumlin before the bowl game and go over the NFL prospects. It's hard to focus when you see your name on mock drafts and stuff, but you just have to think about the next opponent and keep getting better.

Texas A&M OL Jake Matthews

* It’s really humbling and a blessing to be up for the Outland Trophy. Looking back on the work it took to get here and being mentioned with these players makes me really proud to be here.

* Talked to Luke Joeckel a little bit and watched last year’s show and it looked like a good time.

* Never talked about the Outland much as a kid with father Bruce. He always stressed to just be the best that you can be and always give everything you have. Proud of the season, and even though a couple things didn’t work out how we wanted, I’m glad I came back.

* Both of the other guys up for the award are great players. Just met Cyril Richardson and he is a great guy. Watched Baylor play a few times this year and their offense was definitely rolling.

* Huge honor to be named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Year. All of the accolades are special and I’m proud to bring glory to A&M.

* Really fired up and excited for the bowl game. It’ll be the last collegiate game … I’ve had no regrets so far and don’t want to have any after the bowl game either. It’ll be approached like any other game and we will be ready to play.

* Any time you can win a bowl game it’s a great way to end the year and gives a team momentum going into the offseason. To be able to leave my mark as a senior and pick up a victory is something I’m really striving for.

* It’s been a lot of fun blocking for Johnny Manziel, but it’s definitely flown by. The way the school has changed with the move to the SEC and the national exposure is really special.

* Manziel’s ability to break tackles makes it easier to block for him. It’s fun to watch him run around the field and see the things he does to the other guys. I just try to give him as much time as I can and let him make the plays.

* Can’t pick one favorite Johnny play from the past two years. It shows how great of a player Manziel is and I’m proud to block for him.

Texas A&M P Drew Kaser

* Huge honor to be even be considered for the Ray Guy award since there are so many great punters this year.

* A&M has always had great specialists all the way back to Shane Lechler. It's a huge honor to just be in contention and to be brought up in the same conversation as some of the other great A&M specialists. The A&M program is getting better as time goes on, so more awards will keep coming.

* Haven't talked to Randy Bullock about what to expect at the College Football Awards. Been talking to guys like Johnny who have been here and it's just awesome to be part of it all.

* Been paying attention to the statistics of the other competitors. Since the season is going on, it's hard to find time to watch film on everyone, but both of them have had a great season.

* It would be a great honor to continue A&M's streak of winning major awards. Being able to add another trophy to the trophy case would continue to speak about what A&M is doing as a program right now.

* Success this year has come from working with the coaches. Been really working on my drop and flexibility. Just have to keep working hard every week and keep getting better.

* It's an advantage to have a guy like Coach Banks to work with who was a specialist himself. Since he was a punter he can really help make the minor tweaks and knows how to keep me hitting my A-ball.

* Have not had the chance yet to meet Ray Guy, but he's definitely every punter's idol.

Alabama QB A.J. McCarron

* First time here to do award shows. It's fast-paced and pretty crazy right now; just trying to enjoy the moment and go with the flow.

* Loving it here. Excited and blessed and honored to be up for these awards. Can't thank teammates and coaching staff enough for making all this possible.

* Pretty sure Jameis (Winston) will win the Heisman, but it'll be a fun trip to New York with the family. The media guys know more than me; that's what everybody's saying.

* Nick Saban is awesome. Love him. He's like a second dad and he's never led anyone in the wrong direction. Always thankful for him.

* Best thing about being an Alabama QB right now is winning. Slipped up against Auburn, but this team's won a lot of games.

* The Sugar Bowl isn't a letdown. It's a BCS bowl game, a chance to win 12 games. It's still a great honor and a great chance to prove this is still the best team in the country, playing in the national championship or not. Going up against a great team with great tradition in Oklahoma and a great coach. It's going to be a heck of a game.

* Mom's a big Disney fan and she loves Disneyworld; we've got passes, so tomorrow morning we'll go out with whoever else in the crew wants to come and check it out.

* Haven't been able to watch Jameis play this season, been pretty busy up until last week. When there's a chance to get away from football, went Christmas shopping with Katherine (Webb) for too long at the mall ... being held hostage. Just tried to enjoy the weekend.

* Don't know much about Blake Bortles but what everyone always says is positive. He's a big guy, very athletic, very special quarterback and great player for his team. It'd be an honor to get to meet him at the combine.

* Haven't talked to Johnny much during the season. We talk during the summer. He's always busy during the season and probably watches as much film as me.

* Had baseball scholarship offers, played basketball, but love golf. I've shot in the mid-80s before.

* Don't look at head-to-head matchups or take football personal, so not getting a shot at Jameis in the title game isn't a big disappointment. What comes along comes along, so live in the moment and enjoy it.

* Pretty cool to win the first national championship in the Superdome and then finish career there. It's close to home, so hopefully people will be able to come out and we'll have some fun and get a win.

Florida State QB Jameis Winston

* I'm honored to be here and to be a Heisman finalist. It's a prestigious award. I look forward to going to New York.

* Coach Fisher told all of us to have fun and enjoy ourselves at Disney World. We will tour the park and meet the other finalists.

* I look forward to meeting Johnny Football and everybody. A.J. is from Alabama [like me] and I'm excited to meet him.

* We're focused on preparing for Auburn. January 6 is my birthday. I don't want to rush my birthday but we're looking forward to it.

* Never thought about the awards because I always found it to be a team thing. My teammates talked Heisman but it's about team.

* What Manziel did last year was amazing and he broke the FR barrier. But in football, when you have great team, anything can happen.

Oregon State WR Brandin Cooks

* Really excited to represent both myself and Oregon State. It's an honor to be among such an amazing group of athletes.

* Personally, winning the Biletnikoff would mean the world after having humble beginnings. From a team perspective, it would show all the hard work everyone put in during the offseason and throughout the year.

* Being able to be at the College Football Awards shows that there is a lot of talent out on the west coast that might not be seen by the rest of the country. If you aren't watching, you need to start because there are a bunch of special guys out there.

* The success this season started with working during the offseason. Had an alright season last year but knew it had to be built upon. A lot of people thought numbers would drop due to double coverage, but that just served as motivation to work harder.

* Will talk to family about what is next in his future and will make a decision after the bowl game.

* Sammy Watkins is a special player and to meet him this year was fun. Seeing what Watkins did his freshman year was encouragement and I use it as motivation. Mike Evans is special and you see it week in and week out.

* Winning this for the smaller guys out there would be special. To win it while being under six foot would give other kids hope who are coming into college football who are undersized.