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Heisman 2016: 5 reasons Lamar Jackson should win

By Rob Wolkenbrod

Nov 26, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) strikes a pose after scoring a touchdown against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half at Papa John
Nov 26, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) strikes a pose after scoring a touchdown against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half at Papa John /
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Nov 12, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) warms up before action against the Baylor Bears prior to the game at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) warms up before action against the Baylor Bears prior to the game at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Nobody comes close

Lamar Jackson certainly wasn’t the only great player from the 2016 college football season. The issue is that Jackson looked like an elite player for just about the entire season. No one else played like this for the majority of the time that he did.

Clemson’s Deshaun Watson seemed to be a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy as the season began. He was coming off a National Championship Game loss to Alabama, but had one more full year of college football to play to make a name for himself. While his 3,626 regular-season passing yards and 34 touchdowns were great, the 14 interceptions hurt. Watson’s 13 from 2015 didn’t seem as noticeable because he tossed for over 4,000 yards and led his team to the title game. Jackson’s dominance overshadowed him as well, making a very good year into one that’s getting lost in the shuffle.

Three games into the season, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield didn’t seem like he’d stand a chance at winning the Heisman. The Sooners started 1-2 and seemed to be in for a long season. He made up for it, though, as his team won out the year. Strong passing performances and wide receiver Dede Westbrook created one of the nation’s best offenses. Mostly, it made Mayfield into one of the top players in college football. His numbers simply don’t come anywhere close to the 5,000 yards and 51 touchdowns of Jackson’s, putting the junior in prime position for a second or third-place finish.

Other contenders like Jake Browning and Westbrook haven’t stood out as much as Jackson, either. It would be an upset to see either of them come close to getting the amount of first place votes needed to win the Heisman.

Nobody has come close to Lamar Jackson, which should be evident when the voting eventually gets released on Saturday.

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