Last season Bridgewater spiked statistically in virtually every measurable way, matching the sport’s elite players. In terms of stats, he ranked eighth in yards per attempt and QB rating. He went from throwing an interception every 24.7 passes to one every 52.4 throws, his TD-to-INT ratio going from 14-to-12 to 27-to-8. Suddenly, the word efficiency was something that became synonymous with Bridgewater’s play. In his non-conference games against two SEC opponents Kentucky and Florida and future ACC rival North Carolina, Bridgewater completed 62 of 81 passes for 777 yards, with five touchdowns and one pick. -(ESPN)

Bridgewater’s results: a 160.0 QB rating, 13 yards per completion and a 70.4 completion percentage.

The Heisman Trophy, presented annually since 1935, is the most prestigious award in sports. It is named after famed college football coach John W. Heisman. The 2013 winner will be announced in New York on Saturday, Dec. 14.

Here’s the first list of candidates:

Ameer Abdullah, Jr., RB, Nebraska

David Ash, Jr., QB, Texas

Blake Bell, Jr., QB, Oklahoma

Tajh Boyd, Sr., QB, Clemson

Teddy Bridgewater, Jr., QB, Louisiville

Ka’deem Carey, Jr., RB, Arizona

Derek Carr, Sr., QB, Fresno State

Jadeveon Clowney, Jr., DE, South Carolina

Stefon Diggs, So., WR, Maryland

Cody Fajardo, Jr., QB, Nevada

David Fales, Sr., QB, San Jose State

Devin Gardner, Jr., QB, Michigan

Everett Golson, So., QB, Notre Dame

Todd Gurley, So., RB, Georgia

Kevin Hogan, So., QB, Stanford

Brett Hundley, So., QB, UCLA

Duke Johnson, So., RB, Miami

Marqise Lee, Jr., WR, USC

Jordan Lynch, Sr., QB, Northern Illinois

Johnny Manziel, So., QB, Texas A&M

Marcus Mariota, So., QB, Oregon

Venric Mark, Sr., RB, Northwestern

Taylor Martinez, Sr., QB, Nebraska

AJ McCarron, Sr., QB, Alabama

Aaron Murray, Sr., QB, Georgia

Braxton Miller, Jr., QB, Ohio State

Lache Seastrunk, Jr., RB, Baylor

De’Anthony Thomas, Jr., RB, Oregon