Strike a Pose: It's Heisman Time

Thirteen quarterbacks have won the Heisman since 2000. Last year, with running back Derrick Henry winning, a five-year straight streak of QB’s being named the Heisman was snapped. The five finalists are: Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, Jabrill Peppers, Deshaun Watson, Dede Westbrook. Who is your pick for the Heisman this year? This year will add another QB to the list. The two front- runners going into Saturday should be Deshaun Watson of Clemson and Lamar Jackson out of Louisville. The two best players in the ACC are only the second two ACC players to be named finalist for the Heisman. It happened back in 2013, with Heisman Jameis Winston, and Boston College running back Andre Williams, who would finish fourth. Never in the history of the conference has the ACC had two players finish 1 and 2 in the final Heisman vote, that could quite possibly happen this year with these two stand out QB’s.

Update: Lamar Jackson was named the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner. Jackson becomes the youngest player to ever win the award.

Lamar Jackson:
Only a sophomore! Has he made his mark on college football or what? The 6’3, 218 lbs, QB led Louisville to a 9-3 record, racking up 4,928 total yards of offense, 51 touchdowns total. He threw for 3,390 and 30 passing touchdowns while rushing for 1,538 and 21 scores. He's Louisville first Heisman finalist in program history. Jackson is the first player in the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) with 3,300 yards through the air and 1,500 yards on the ground in a season. He's the third player to throw for 30 and run for 20 touchdowns in a season. All that amounted to Jackson being named the 2016 ACC player of the Year. This is the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner by far, but could there be a dark horse in the pack?

Deshaun Watson:
This will be the Clemson Tigers Quarterback’s second straight trip to New York for the ceremony. Last year, Watson finished third in the selection for college football most coveted individual award. The junior for the Tigers had himself a year as well: 3,914 passing yards and 37 passing touchdowns, while adding 529 rushing yards with 6 touchdowns, with stats like this and Jackson’s you can see why the ACC thinks that it could be two ACC players at the top of most experts’ boards. For the second straight year, Clemson with its 6’2, 210 lbs, Quarterback, are in the FBS playoff and for the second straight year they are ACC champs. Will this be enough for the members of the Heisman to overlook Jackson for Watson?

Jabrill Peppers:
The first Michigan Wolverine to make the finalist for the Heisman since Chris Perry in 2013, Peppers plays all over the field, he's the first defensive player to make the list since 2012 when Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o made it. A junior standing at 6’1, 205 lbs, Peppers had himself a heck of a year, finishing the season with 71 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 1 interception and a forced fumble. On the offense and special teams side of the ball Peppers showed his versatility, racking up 197 rushing yards and 3 scores, and returning punts for 1 score and 310 yards and kickoffs for 260 yards. The man was everywhere, a poor showing in the Ohio State vs. Michigan will be the biggest obstacle with naming Peppers the 2016 Heisman, some experts are even questioning why he made the list.

Baker Mayfield:
The most efficient passer in college with a rating of 197.75, which if it holds up, would break the record set by Russell Wilson in 2011 of 191.8. Mayfield and teammate Westbrook are the first Sooners to make this list since 2008 when Sam Bradford took home the hardware. Mayfield helped lead Oklahoma to a 10-2 record, a Big 12 title game while throwing for 3,669 and 38 touchdowns as a junior this season. If that is not enough, Watson is returning for the second year in a row. In 2015, he finished fourth in the voting and with the looks of the finalists he could be in the same place this season.

Dede Westbrook:
The only senior in the group, Westbrook joins the list of finalists, along with Mayfield, is one of eight Sooners who have made it to this point. In 2016, Westbrook hauled in 74 receptions for 1,465 yards while also setting a school record with 16 touchdown catches. He averages 19.81 yards per catch which is phenomenal and is also a finalist for the Biletnikoff award for best receiver in the country. He's also the first receiver to be on the list since Amari Cooper was in 2014. This could be, and chuckleheads that is a very loose could be, the dark horse but it is safe to say as of now this is a two-man race.

Bo Jackson, Charles Woodson, Tim Brown, and Cam Newton are all members of one of the most exclusive fraternities in the world, they are all Heisman winners. The Heisman is given “once a year to the most outstanding college football player in the United States, based on the performance throughout the season that exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity.” On Saturday December 10th 2016 at 8pm on ESPN, one of five Student athletes will be placed in that exclusive class of top notch college football players. The five finalists are: Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, Jabrill Peppers, Deshaun Watson, Dede Westbrook. Who is your pick for the Heisman this year?

Written By:
Carlo Guadagnino
http://cguadagn.wixsite.com/carlo-guadagnino

 Edited By:
Daniel Bishop M.A.
Lani Roberts

References:
http://heisman.com/news/2016/12/5/heismancentral_1205165900.aspx?path=heisman_winners
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.yahoo.com/amphtml/sports/news/5-heisman-trophy-finalists-revealed-000743357.html?client=safari
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.ncaa.com/amp/news/football/article/2016-12-05/heisman-trophy-finalists-announced?client=safari
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/heisman.html
http://www.espn.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/97182/lamar-jackson-deshaun-watson-give-the-acc-a-big-heisman-moment
http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/heisman-trophy-presentation/tv-listings/299488/
https://www.google.com/amp/www.si.com/college-football/2016/12/05/heisman-trophy-finalists-lamar-jackson-deshaun-watson%3Famp%3D1?client=safari