College Football: 25 breakout players to watch in 2016
By John Buhler
In 2016, the ACC might have some of the best quarterbacks in the country. With playmakers like Clemson’s Deshaun Watson and Miami’s Brad Kaaya almost certainly going to be first-round draft picks in the 2017 NFL Draft later this spring, is there another guy we should keep an eye on these next few years?
Don’t look now but the Louisville Cardinals might have themselves a very dynamic dual-threat quarterback in sophomore Lamar Jackson. As a freshman in 2015, Jackson started 12 games for the Cardinals, throwing for 1,840 yards, 12 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Though his passing numbers weren’t especially impressive, Jackson did move the needle with his legs for the 2015 Cardinals. Jackson rushed 163 times for 960 yards and 11 touchdowns. Even a slight amplification in overall play as a sophomore in Bobby Petrino’s system should have Jackson well over 3,000 all-purpose yards and maybe even close to 4,000.
Given that Louisville is a bit of a dark horse in the ACC Atlantic behind the Clemson Tigers and the Florida State Seminoles, should the Cardinals knock off either supposedly superior team in ACC play this fall, that would only add to Jackson’s growth as a quarterback.
He may not have the accuracy or the pocket presence to be the next Teddy Bridgewater to come out of Louisville, but Jackson’s ability to dominate the game as a dual-threat passer might make him a solid quarterback in the ACC for the next few seasons.
Next: 9. Preston Williams.