The finalists for the Heisman Trophy were announced yesterday, and thankfully, five guys are getting the call to New York. That’s the right call – for some of these guys, that’s as good as actually winning the trophy itself. Plain and simple, five kids should go every year. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime for some, and I don’t think it’s going to break the bank for the Heisman Trust. Spread the wealth.
Now that I have that little rant out of the way, let’s take a look at the nominees:
Via Sam Cooper at Yahoo: “Here’s more about each of the Heisman finalists:
Lamar Jackson, quarterback, Louisville: Just a sophomore, Jackson has put up insane numbers all season for the Cardinals. In 12 games, Jackson has accounted for 51 total touchdowns — 30 passing and 21 rushing — along with 3,390 passing yards and 1,538 rushing yards. Jackson has been the frontrunner for the duration of the season, but there has been some talk that his performances in Louisville’s two losses to end the regular season could hurt him.
Deshaun Watson, quarterback, Clemson: Watson finished third in the voting behind Henry and Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey. Compared to this time last year, Watson’s numbers are better through 13 games. He is sixth nationally 3,914 yards passing (3,512 through 13 games in 2015) and is tied for fifth with 37 touchdowns (30 in 2015). The junior has also rushed for 529 yards and six scores. He has thrown 15 interceptions, however.
Baker Mayfield, quarterback, Oklahoma: Mayfield finished fourth in the Heisman voting behind Watson in 2015 but was not invited to the ceremony. This year Mayfield has thrown for 3,669 yards (ninth nationally) and 38 touchdowns (fourth) while completing 71.2 percent of his passes, the top mark in the country. He helped Oklahoma rally from a 1-2 start to win nine games in a row and the program’s second Big 12 title in a row.
Jabrill Peppers, defensive back, Michigan: Peppers is listed as a defensive back, but he has lined up at a bevy of positions for the Wolverines on both sides of the ball, including safety, cornerback, linebacker, Wildcat quarterback, and wide receiver. In addition to 66 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, three sacks and an interception, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year also has 170 yards and three touchdowns offensively, averages 26 yards per kick return and 14.8 yards per punt return (including a 54-yard TD). He is the first defensive player to earn an invitation to the Heisman ceremony since Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o in 2012.
Dede Westbrook, wide receiver, Oklahoma: Westbrook has been on the receiving end of Mayfield’s precise deep balls all season long, registering 74 catches for 1,465 yards — a ridiculous 19.8-yard average. The senior is also tied for fourth in the nation with 16 touchdown catches. Westbrook has had over 100 yards receiving in seven of OU’s last eight games heading into the Sugar Bowl against Auburn.”
The field is wide open in my estimation. A compelling argument can be made for nearly all of these guys. However, Washington quarterback Jake Browning absolutely should’ve gotten the call over Westbrook. What the Huskies have done with Browning at the helm has been special, and he more than earned one of these five spots.
For the most part, though, this is a good group of five. Ultimately, it comes down to how voters view the award. Should it go to the best player? Should it go to the guy with the best stats? Should it go to the most complete player? Should it go to the player most valuable to his championship team? That’s Watson, Jackson, Peppers, and Mayfield, depending on which question you answered.
What the Heisman should represent is the place where all of those qualities intersect. There is a candidate on the ballot who has all of those qualities: Watson. Clemson won the ACC Championship, has accounted for 43 total touchdowns, looks like he’s the best overall player out of this bunch, and was crucial to his team’s championship run.
Jackson, the frontrunner, was outplayed by Watson when Clemson and Louisville met earlier in the season. His “Heisman moment” came at the expense of a 2-10 Virginia team. The Cardinals barely squeaked out of that game with the win. Still, the moment was nullified anyway by an inexplicable boat race delivered from Houston, and Jackson fumbling away the game to Kentucky. Louisville’s electric quarterback committed eight turnovers in the final four games, and the Cardinals were an absolute non-factor in the last few weeks of the season.
That’s enough of a stink for me to say Watson is the guy this season. I’m willing to concede that you don’t have to win a championship, but you’ve at least got to be a factor late in the season. Watson was. Jackson wasn’t.
If you have a good to my head, I’m saying Jackson gets it on Saturday…also, if you have a gun to my head, that’s messed up, man.
Stoney Keeley is the editor of the SoBros Network, Tennessee Titans Featured Analyst for Pro Football Spot, Contributor to FanSided’s Bama Hammer, and covers the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley, @PFSpot, @WrestlingNewsCo, @Bama_Hammer
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