NEW YORK — Louisville sophomore quarterback Lamar Jackson became the school’s first Heisman Trophy winner Saturday night, beating a crowded field of five finalists to take home college football’s greatest individual honor.
Jackson accounted for 51 touchdowns this season, finishing the regular season with 3,390 passing yards and 1,538 rushing yards. The 19-year-old, the youngest Heisman winner, averaged 410 total yards per game this year.
Behind Jackson in order: Clemson QB Deshaun Watson, Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma WR Dede Westbrook and Michigan LB Jabrill Peppers.
“It’s crazy,” said Jackson, who admitted he was shaking. “Oh snap. It’s crazy.”
Jackson was so dominant so early in the season; he became the Heisman front-runner by the end of Week 3 when Louisville thrashed then-No. 2 Florida State 63-20 behind Jackson’s five touchdowns. Despite struggling during his final two games of the year — a lopsided loss to Houston, and then turning the ball over four times to fall to in-state rival Kentucky — Jackson was able to pile up such jaw-dropping numbers and such a Heisman cushion, those results did not sink him.
Jackson becomes the sixth player who was either a redshirt freshman or a sophomore when he won the Heisman. All six have won the award since 2007, when Tim Tebow did it.
“I’m grateful for it,” Jackson said Saturday night, of his selection as a Heisman finalist.
Watson said he was glad Jackson was representing their league, the Atlantic Coast Conference, so well.
“He’s such a great athlete — everyone knows that,” Watson said. “But it’s not just that. The person he is, the leadership he brings to the table — he makes everyone around him better.
“It’s been fun to watch him this season, and it’ll be fun to watch him grow in the coming years.”
Peppers said he personally didn’t think Jackson got enough credit as a passer. Fans and pundits often point to his speed and athleticism; Peppers points to Jackson’s laser arm. From last season to now, Jackson improved his completion percentage by nearly three points this season, more than doubled his touchdown tosses and also increased his yards per attempt by 1.42.
Jackson, a sophomore, is ineligible to declare early for the NFL draft until the end of next season. He will become the 10th player to return to school after winning a Heisman since Archie Griffin went back-to-back in 1974 and 1975. No one else has won two.
Jackson next returns to action when Louisville faces LSU in the Citrus Bowl, on Dec. 31.
