It’s already Week 10 of the 2016 college football season. Here are the five players to keep an eye on this week’s Heisman Watch.
Week 10 of the 2016 college football season is already underway. Most of the action is coming on Saturday in the first weekend of November. The College Football Playoff Selection Committee released its first official rankings on Tuesday with Alabama, Clemson, Michigan and Texas A&M as the top four teams. Washington and Ohio State are the first two out.
Besides getting into the College Football Playoff, the other exciting race to keep an eye on is who will make it to New York City for the 2016 Heisman Trophy presentation. This is the year of the dual-threat quarterback, but there are a few other high-end playmakers that could crash the signal callers early December soiree in New York.
Here are the five players in this week’s Heisman Watch:
Louisville Cardinals QB Lamar Jackson
Since pretty much Week 2 against the Syracuse Orange, the 2016 Heisman Trophy has been Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson’s to lose. The Cardinals’ sophomore signal caller has to be one of the biggest Heisman front-runners in recent memory.
He’s had signature moments in nearly every game he’s played in this season. Jackson’s most recent came on a game-winning touchdown pass to Jaylen Smith to beat the Virginia Cavaliers in Charlottesville. Virginia is not a good team, but that might have been Jackson’s best game this season. He carried Louisville last Saturday at Scott Field.
On the season, Jackson has completed 58.3% of his passes for 2,522 yards, 22 touchdowns and five interceptions. His yards per attempt is an outstanding 9.3. So is his 159.6 quarterback rating. On the ground, Jackson has rushed for 998 yards and 16 touchdowns on 148 carries. He’s been the best dual-threat playmaker in the nation.
Jackson will have his next opportunity to blow his Heisman competition out of the water on Saturday. His Cardinals will face ACC Atlantic division rival Boston College (4-4) at 12:00 p.m. ET at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill. ESPN 2 will have the telecast.