The “T” on Peyton Manning’s helmet might as well stand for target.
Being the center of attention is common for the University of Tennessee quarterback, who has had National Football League scouts gushing since his first college game in 1994.
This season, the most dangerous attention the Heisman Trophy front-runner receives likely will come from Southeastern Conference defenders.
“It’s your goal to go out there, hit him as hard as you can and intimidate him, take him out,” said Ed Chester, a 6-foot-4-inch, 276-pound defensive tackle from the University of Florida.
Manning, who likely would have been the first pick in April’s NFL draft, spurned the millions of dollars he would have made for another year of college.
His father, former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, is aware of the chance his son is taking by returning to college for his final year of eligibility. He said he took out a $7 million insurance policy with Lloyd’s of London on his son.
While some injuries are unavoidable, the elder Manning said some players might try to intentionally hurt his son.
“You’d have to be pretty sick to do it, but I’m not saying it doesn’t happen,” Archie Manning said.
Chester and the rest of the defending national champion Gators will face Manning on Sept. 20, when the Volunteers travel to Gainesville, Fla.
The game is a rematch of last year’s 35-29 Florida victory at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, the Volunteer’s only conference loss of the season.
This season, Florida’s biggest hurdle to its sixth straight SEC crown is Tennessee, which like Florida is ranked in the Top 10 in almost every preseason publication. Without Manning, it’s unlikely the Volunteers would win.
“I never want to end somebody’s career,” Chester said, “but if I can take him out for that game and he can play next week, I’ll be just as happy.”
Chester isn’t alone. Just about every team in the conference is thinking the same thing, said Vanderbilt linebacker Jamie Duncan, whose shot at Manning comes Nov. 29 at Neyland Stadium.
“I’d rather be the hammer than the nail,” Duncan said.
Manning, who has led Tennessee to a 28-4 record as a starter, doesn’t take such comments personally. He said big hits are part of the game, especially at quarterback.
“Guys are going to be aiming for you when you play quarterback,” he said.
While his records, bloodlines and physical attributes are impressive enough, scouts prefer to focus on Manning’s intelligence, his ability to read defenses, and, most of all, his record of making sound decisions.
Manning wavered before making public his biggest decision March 5, disclosing his intention to remain in college. The uncertainty, his father said, came from fear of getting hurt.
“If you could wipe away the injury thing,” Archie Manning said, “it would have been a no-brainer for him.”
His decision raised expectations among the Volunteer faithful: A Heisman Trophy, a conference championship, and perhaps a national title. Even with that pressure, Manning is more convinced than ever that he made the right decision.
“I think I can be the captain of something special,” said Manning, who has completed 576 of 904 passes for 7,382 yards, 53 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. “It was too much to pass up.”
