David Ammenheuser

dammenheus@tennessean.com

Johnny Manziel made a mockery of The Tennessean's Heroes of the SEC fan-balloting contest.

The former Texas A&M quarterback beat former Auburn great Bo Jackson in the championship round of the bracket-style fan balloting.

When the contest ended Monday, Manziel beat Jackson by a 95.3-4.7 percent edge.

It wasn't close. And, frankly, it's embarrassing.

Was Manziel sitting at home and voting for himself thousands of times? Probably not. But the guess is there is more than a few Aggies fans who stuffed the ballot during the three-week contest.

Manziel's ride of upsets to the title included:

Round 1: Upset Derrick Henry, 51.5 percent to 48.5 (3,076 votes to 2,893)

Round 2: Upset Steve Spurrier,55.7 percent to 44.3 (1,822 to 1,448)

Round 3: Upset Jack Youngblood, 67.9 percent to 32.1 (2,155 to 1,020)

Round 4: Upset Reggie White, 67.6 percent to 32.3 (3,462 to 1,654)

Round 5: Upset Herschel Walker, 75.8 percent to 24.2 (3,006 to 959)

Round 6: Upset Bo Jackson, 95.3 percent to 4.7 (2,489 to 124)

As you can see, something happened after round two. Was it "Johnny Football" stuffing the ballot sitting on his couch? Or was it the Texas A&M fan club?

And while we may not agree with the final No. 1 selection, it was a fun activity.

More than 250,000 ballots were cast in the six-step bracket poll.

How the 64 players were picked

How did The Tennessean pick the 64-player field and seed the players? The SEC’s players from the last 50 years were eligible on a sliding scale based on conference membership and success to ensure both a premium crop of players and participation from each school. Players were only eligible if they played while their school was an SEC member. Players were chosen using this formula:

6 charter members with a national title in last 50 years: 7 players each (42 players total)

4 charter members without a national title in last 50 years: 4 players each (16 players total)

2 members entering in 1991 (Arkansas, South Carolina): 2 players each (4 players total)

2 members entering in 2012 (Missouri, Texas A&M): 1 player each (2 players total)

There are 16 players in each of the four brackets. The brackets are named after coaches "Bear" Bryant, Nick Saban, Phillip Fulmer and Vince Dooley.

The No. 1 seeds in each bracket are Tim Tebow, Bo Jackson, Herschel Walker and Steve Spurrier.

How the voting will progress

The voting in the 32 first-round matchups began on Sunday. First-round voting ends Thursday at noon.

Round 2 then begins on Thursday at noon and ends on Aug. 1 at noon.

Round 3 (the Sweet 16) begins on Aug. 1 at noon and ends on Aug. 4 at noon.

Round 4 (the Elite 8) begins on Aug. 4 at noon and ends on Aug. 8 at noon.

Round 5 (the semifinals) begins on Aug. 8 at noon and ends on Aug. 11 at noon.

The championship round begins on Aug. 11 at noon and ends on Aug. 15 at noon.

Fans can vote and track the winners at tennessean.com/heroesofthesec. You can also read each player's bio and watch videos of the SEC stars.

THE ORIGINAL BRACKETS

The brackets (go to tennessean.com/heroesofthesec to vote):

NICK SABAN BRACKET

1. Tim Tebow

Quarterback. Florida. 2006-09. Won Heisman Trophy in 2007, third in 2008. Two-time SEC Player of the Year. Two-time national champion. 145 TDs (passing/rushing).

16. Sonny Collins

Running back. Kentucky. 1972-75. School’s all-time leading rusher (3,835 yards). 1973 SEC Player of the Year. Three-time All-SEC first team.

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8. Tracy Rocker

Defensive lineman. Auburn. 1985-88. First SEC player to win Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy in same season (1988). All-American and SEC Player of the Year in 1988.

9. John Henderson

Defensive lineman. Tennessee. 1998-2001. Two-time All-American and 2000 Outland Trophy winner. AP SEC Defensive Player of the Year. No. 9 overall draft pick in 2002.

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5. Cam Newton

Quarterback. Auburn/Florida. 2007-08, ’10. Only player in modern era to win Heisman, national title and be No. 1 draft pick in one year. 4,327 yards total offense, 51 TDs in 2010.

12. Art Still

Defensive lineman. Kentucky. 1974-77. All-American and No. 2 draft pick in 1978. Anchored stout defense from 1976-77 that held foes to 13 points or less in 16 of 23 games.

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4. Cornelius Bennett

Linebacker. Alabama. 1983-86. Three-time All-American. 1986 SEC Player of the Year & Lombardi Award winner. No. 2 draft pick in 1987.

13. Carnell Williams

Running back. Auburn. 2001-04. Auburn record-holder in rushing TDs (45) and ranks second in rushing yards (3,831) behind Bo Jackson.

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3. Tommy Casanova

Defensive back. LSU. 1969-71. Only three-time All-American in LSU history. Walter Camp All-Century team. Also played running back and was game-breaking returner.

14. Deuce McAllister

Running back. Ole Miss. 1997-2000. Only player in Ole Miss history with three seasons of at least 1,000 all-purpose yards. School’s all-time leading rusher with 3,181 yards.

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6. Eric Berry

Defensive back. Tennessee. 2007-09. Two-time All-American. 2008 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, 2009 Jim Thorpe Award winner. No. 5 draft pick in 2010.

11. Kevin Faulk

Running back. LSU. 1995-98. SEC’s third all-time rusher (4,557 yards). Holds several LSU career records, including rushing, all-purpose yards and TDs.

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7. Eric Zeier

Quarterback. Georgia. 1991-94. No. 5 in career passing yards (11,153) in SEC history. 1994 All-American. Two-time All-SEC selection.

10. Bert Jones

Quarterback. LSU. 1970-72. 1972 Sporting News national player of the year. Fourth in Heisman voting. First-team All-American. No. 2 overall draft pick in 1973.

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2. Derrick Thomas

Linebacker. Alabama. 1986-88. Set NCAA record with 27 sacks in 1988. Butkus Award winner and first-team All-American. No. 4 draft pick in 1989.

15. Shane Ray

Defensive lineman. Missouri. 2012-14. SEC Defensive Player of the Year. All-American. First-team All-SEC. School record 14.5 sacks in 2014.

BEAR BRYANT BRACKET

1. Bo Jackson

Running back. Auburn. 1982-85. 1985 Heisman Trophy winner. Two-time All-American. No. 4 in SEC with 4,303 career rushing yards. No. 1 overall pick in 1986 draft.

16. Eric Moulds

Wide receiver. Mississippi State. 1993-95. Had 62 catches in 1995, led nation in kick return average in 1994 (32.8 yards) and scored 17 career TDs.

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8. Heath Shuler

Quarterback. Tennessee. 1991-93. Heisman Trophy runner-up and SEC Player of the Year in 1993. 4,089 career passing yards and 50 total TDs (rushing, passing).

9. Rex Grossman

Quarterback. Florida. 2000-02. Heisman Trophy runner-up and SEC Player of the Year in 2001. 9,164 career passing yards and 77 TDs.

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5. Darren McFadden

Running back. Arkansas. 2005-07. Ranked second in SEC history in rushing yards (4,590). Two-time Heisman runner-up and two-time SEC Player of Year.

12. Randall Cobb

Wide receiver. Kentucky. 2008-10. Broke SEC single-season record for all-purpose yards (2,396) in 2010. Finished career with 42 TDs.

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4. Champ Bailey

Defensive back. Georgia. 1996-98. 1998 All-American and Bronko Nagurski Award winner. Also had 59 receptions as a wide receiver in career.

13. Al Wilson

Linebacker. Tennessee. 1995-98. Team captain of 1998 national title team. Two-time All-SEC first-teamer and 1998 All-American.

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3. David Pollack

Defensive lineman. Georgia. 2002-04. Three-time All-American. SEC Player of the Year in 2002 and 2004. Finished with 36 career sacks.

14. Terry Beasley

Wide receiver. Auburn. 1969-71. Fourth in SEC history in TD receptions (29). Two-time All-American had 2,624 receiving yards in a run-first era.

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6. Glenn Dorsey

Defensive lineman. LSU. 2005-07. First player to win Nagurski, Lombardi, Lott and Outland Trophy in same season. 2007 SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

11. Josh Reed

Wide receiver. LSU. 1999-2001. Biletnikoff Award winner and All-American in 2001. Two-time All-SEC selection had 3,001 receiving yards in career.

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7. Pat Sullivan

Quarterback. Auburn. 1969-71. Heisman Trophy winner in 1971. Passed for 6,284 yards and 53 TDs, and also ran for 18 TDs.

10. Will Wolford

Offensive lineman. Vanderbilt. 1982-85. Dominant offensive tackle in 1980s. First-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 1986.

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2. Peyton Manning

Quarterback. Tennessee. 1994-97. Heisman runner-up, SEC Player of the Year in 1997. SEC’s No. 4 all-time passer (11,201 yards) and No. 3 in passing TDs (89).

15. Johnie Cooks

Linebacker. Mississippi State. 1977-81. Had 392 career tackles. Highest-drafted player in Bulldogs history at No. 2 in 1982.

VINCE DOOLEY BRACKET

1. Herschel Walker

Running back. Georgia. 1980-82. Heisman Trophy winner in 1982. Three-time All-American and SEC Player of Year. SEC’s all-time leading rusher (5,259 yards).

16. Kevin Butler

Kicker. Georgia. 1981-84. Two-time All-American. On Walter Camp, Sports Illustrated All-Century teams. Made 60-yarder to beat No. 2 Clemson.

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8. Alan Faneca

Offensive lineman. LSU. 1994-97. Was an All-American and Jacobs Award winner in 1997 when he allowed only one sack.

9. Shawn Andrews

Offensive lineman. Arkansas. 2001-03. All-American, Jacobs Award winner for most outstanding blocker in the SEC in 2002, 2003.

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5. Eli Manning

Quarterback. Ole Miss. 2000-03. SEC Offensive Player of the Year, third in Heisman Trophy voting in 2003. First overall pick in 2004.

12. Dak Prescott

Quarterback. Mississippi State. 2011-15. One of four players in FBS history to throw for 9,000 yards and rush for 2,500. Third in SEC in career total offense (11,897 yards).

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4. Jordan Matthews

Wide receiver. Vanderbilt. 2010-13. All-American in 2013. SEC’s all-time career leader with 262 receptions and 3,759 receiving yards.

13. Alshon Jeffery

Wide receiver. South Carolina. 2009-11. Fourth in SEC history with 3,042 receiving yards. 1,517 receiving yards in 2010 third-most in SEC history for single season.

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3. Danny Wuerffel

Quarterback. Florida. 1993-96. Heisman Trophy winner in 1996. Davey O’Brien Award winner, All-American, SEC Player of the Year in 1995, 1996.

14. Chris Gaines

Linebacker. Vanderbilt. 1984-87. Holds Vanderbilt record for single-season tackles (214) and was All-American in 1987. Finished with 440 career tackles.

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6. Garrison Hearst

Running back. Georgia. 1990-92. All-American in 1992. Finished with 3,232 rushing yards, 33 rushing TDs career. Third pick in 1993 draft.

11. Terry Hoage

Safety. Georgia. 1980-83. All-American in 1982 and 1983. Has SEC record for single season with 12 interceptions in 1982. Finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1983.

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7. Emmitt Smith

Running back. Florida. 1987-89. SEC Player of the Year, All-American in 1989. Has school records for rushing yards in a game (316) and season (1,599), set in 1989.

10. Mark Ingram

Running back. Alabama. 2008-10. Heisman Trophy winner, All-American and SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2009. Finished with 3,261 career rushing yards.

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2. Archie Manning

Quarterback. Ole Miss. 1968-70. All-American in 1969 and 1970. Fourth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1969 and third in 1970. No. 2 pick in 1971 draft.

15. Johnthan Banks

Defensive back. Mississippi State. 2009-12. All-American, Jim Thorpe Award winner in 2012. Tied for third in SEC history with 16 career interceptions.

PHILLIP FULMER BRACKET

1. Steve Spurrier

Quarterback. Florida. 1964-66. Heisman Trophy winner in 1966. All-American in 1966 and 1967. 4,848 career passing yards, 37 TDs. No. 3 pick in 1967 draft.

16. Jadeveon Clowney

Defensive end. South Carolina. 2011-13. All-American in 2013. Sixth in 2012 Heisman Trophy voting. No. 1 pick in 2014 draft.

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8. Derrick Henry

Running back. Alabama. 2013-15. Heisman Trophy winner in 2015 when he SEC records for single-season rushing yards (2,219), carries (395) and TDs (28).

9. Johnny Manziel

Quarterback. Texas A&M. 2012-13. Heisman Trophy winner in 2012. Finished with 7,820 passing yards, 2,169 rushing yards in two seasons.

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5. Wilber Marshall

Linebacker. Florida. 1980-83. All-American in 1982, 1983. 343 career tackles, 58 for losses and 23 sacks. No. 11 pick in 1984 draft.

12. Carl Pickens

Wide receiver. Tennessee. 1989-91. All-American in 1991. Finished with 109 career catches, 1,875 yards, 13 TDs. Had four interceptions in 1989.

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4. Jack Youngblood

Defensive lineman. Florida. 1968-70. All-American and SEC defensive player of the year in 1970. In first group of players inducted into Florida’s Ring of Honor.

13. A.J. McCarron

Quarterback. Alabama. 2010-13. Starter for two national championship teams. 9,019 career passing yards, 77 TDs. Runner-up in 2013 Heisman Trophy voting.

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3. Reggie White

Defensive tackle. Tennessee. 1981-83. All-American and SEC Player of the Year in 1983. Has school records for sacks in a season (15) and career (32).

14. Jay Cutler

Quarterback. Vanderbilt. 2002-05. Has school records for attempts (1,242), completions (710), yards (8,697) and TDs (59). SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2005.

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6. Ozzie Newsome

Tight end/split end. Alabama. 1974-77. All-American in 1977. 102 career catches, 2,070 yards, 16 TDs. Alabama’s Player of the Decade for the 1970s.

11. Patrick Willis

Linebacker. Ole Miss. 2003-06. All-American, Butkus Award winner in 2006. 355 career tackles, 33 tackles for loss. No. 11 pick in 2007 draft.

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7. Tim Couch

Quarterback. Kentucky. 1996-98. Has SEC record for completions in a season (400), set in 1998. 795 career completions, 8,435 passing yards, 74 TDs. No. 1 pick in 1999 draft.

10. Tyrann Mathieu

Cornerback/returner. LSU. 2010-11. All-American, fifth in Heisman Trophy voting, had 76 tackles, MVP of SEC Championship Game in 2011.

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2. John Hannah

Guard/tackle. Alabama. 1970-72. All-American in 1971, 1972. Sports Illustrated, Walter Camp All-Century teams. No. 4 pick in 1973 draft.

15. Carlos Rogers

Cornerback. Auburn. 2001-04. All-American, Jim Thorpe Award winner in 2004. Finished career with 182 tackles, seven interceptions.

​ The Ultimate SEC Guide

Interactive bracket: Heroes of the SEC