In the second week of our 2016 Heisman poll, Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson maintained a sizable lead. This past weekend, Jackson led his team to a 52-7 win over Boston College that included seven touchdowns from the Heisman leader.
Throughout the season, there will be ebbs and flows in the Heisman race. So far this year, it’s been dominated by Jackson. If history repeats itself, the race is far from over. The most interesting thing going forward will be to see which players can come up with “Heisman moments” and bolster their candidacy.
The 2016 Heisman Trophy is in the hands of Lamar Jackson, but history tells us that will likely change. Let’s take a look at where we stand after ten weeks of college football…
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What you’ll see each week in the TSS Heisman Poll:
* The top total vote getters, with quotes from the voters in support of their candidate
* A list of all players receiving votes
* Poll notes that look at some interesting facts, figures and trends of the poll
* The TSS Roll Call of voters, with links to their respective blogs and twitter accounts
Without any further ado, the first 2016 installment of the TSS Heisman Poll:
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1) Lamar Jackson (QB – Louisville): 21 points, 38.89% of votes, 6 first-place votes
Last week ranking: No. 1
Last week: Beat Boston College 52-7; 12 of 17 passing for 231 yards with 4 TD vs 1 INT and 185 yards rushing with 3 rushing TD.
Season: 170 of 288 passing for 2753 yards with 26 TD against 6 INT and 1181 yards rushing, 7.29 ypc, 19 rushing TD
This week: vs Wake Forest (6-3)
COMMENTS
There has been no more dominant player in college football than Louisville’s phenomenal quarterback. He is what makes the difference between Louisville being a very good team and a legitimate playoff contender.
– Kevin McGuire, The Comeback
He just keep posting HUGE numbers. It’ll be tough to close the gap between him and the other contenders unless they absolutely go off in prime time games…
– Phil Harrison, The Student Section
Is he ever going to slow down? Nope. To borrow a line from Cubs manager Joe Maddon: he goes, they go.
– Scott Halasz, Buckeye Battle Cry
Just start engraving his name on the thing already.
– Michael Abelson, The Student Section
What more can you say about a field that narrows significantly each and every week. Jackson has had by far and away the most impressive season of any one individual in college football. The only way this isn’t going to him is if a freak accident happens or Peppers finds a way to rush for 100 yards every game and return a punt/kick for a TD and get an INT too. That simply isn’t happening. Jackson runs away with this award.
– Andrew Coppens, The Comeback
2) Deshaun Watson (QB – Clemson): 10 points, 18.52% of votes, 0 first-place votes
Last week ranking: No. 2
Last week: Beat Syracuse 54-0; 13 of 16 passing (81%) for 169 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 39 yards rushing with 1 rushing TD
Season: 204 of 317 passing (64.4%) for 2497 yards, 24 TD vs 10 INT, 370 yards rushing and 2 rushing TD
This week: vs Pittsburgh (5-4)
3) Jabrill Peppers (DB/LB – Michigan): 9 points, 16.67% of votes, 1 first-place vote
Last week ranking: No. 4
Last week: Beat Maryland 59-3; 19 yards rushing, 5 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss
Season: 53 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 6 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble, 1 punt return for TD, 150 yards rushing, 3 rushing TD, 2 receptions, 1 2 pt conversion
This week: at Iowa (5-4)
COMMENTS
He simply continues to be the best player in college football, and though Maryland doesn’t provide an apt forum for him to blast that out to the rest of the quarterback-obsessed nation, it doesn’t change that reality.
– Bart Doan, The Student Section
4) Jake Browning (QB – Washington): 8 points, 14.81% of votes, 2 first-place votes
Last week ranking: No. 3
Last week: Beat Cal 66-27; 19 of 28 passing for 378 yards, 6 TD vs 0 INT
Season: 149 of 220 passing (67.7%) for 2273 yards, 34 TD vs 3 INT, 4 rushing TD
This week: vs #20 USC (6-3)
COMMENTS
Browning is the top quarterback in college football right now. He leads the nation in touchdown passes, quarterback rating, and averages 10.3 yards per pass attempt. As a result of his precision passing, Washington ranks third in the nation in yards per play, and is a contender to win the national championship.
– Terry Johnson, The Student Section
The stats are similar to Lamar Jackson, but Browning hasn’t lost yet and looks to be on a Playoff team.
– Yesh Ginsburg, The Student Section
Also receiving votes: Jalen Hurts (QB- Alabama) 2 points; Curtis Samuel (RB- Ohio State) 2 points; Austin Carr (WR- Northwestern) 1 point; Saquon Barkley (RB- Penn State) 1 point
Dropped Out: Donnel Pumphrey (RB- San Diego State); Logan Woodside (QB- Toledo); Leonard Fournette (RB- LSU)
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Poll Notes:
– Leaders from the past: It’s always fun to take a peak at history. At this point of the season here’s who was leading our Heisman poll from 2011 to 2015…..
2011: Andrew Luck
2012: Collin Klein
2013: Jameis Winston
2014: Marcus Mariota
2015: Leonard Fournette
– The interesting part of the Heisman poll this year is what’s happening behind Lamar Jackson. Deshaun Watson continues to hold onto second place despite not getting a single first place vote. Besides Jackson, Watson has the most support in the voting but he doesn’t have anybody championing him for the trophy yet. Browning and Peppers both have first place votes but appear on less ballots. With just 2 points separating second place from fourth place, we should essentially look at this as a three-way tie. If Jackson falters, that’s when it really gets interesting.
– One of the reasons there wasn’t much movement in the poll this week was because all of the candidates took care of business. Clemson won 54-0, Michigan won 59-3, Washington won 66-27 and Louisville won 52-7. Four game. Four blowouts.
– Prime Time. There aren’t a lot of marquee match-ups this week but we do have two Heisman candidates playing in prime time on major networks. Jake Browning and the Huskies play USC at 7:30 EST on FOX and Jabrill Peppers and Michigan play at Iowa at 8:00 EST on ABC (during the same time slot Jackson will be on ESPN2). With increased eyes on Peppers and Browning, can they make a move that will impact the voters?
– Keep an eye on: Saquon Barkley. The Penn State running back leads the Big Ten in rushing with 1055 yards on the year. His team also has a big win over Ohio State. The only negative for Barkley is the strength of the Nittany Lions remaining schedule. They play at Indiana, at Rutgers and finish up against Michigan State. He will have to put up some eye popping stats to break into consideration but if Penn State keeps winning, their Top 10 standing will help bolster him..
The Comeback Heisman Poll Roll Call
Andrew Coppens – The Comeback/Madtown Badgers (@andyonfootball)
Bart Doan – The Student Section (@TheCoachBart)
Kevin Causey – The Student Section (@CFBZ)
Kevin McGuire – The Comeback/Nittany Lions Den (@kevinoncfb)
Mike Abelson – The Student Section (@ABELSON)
Yesh Ginsburg- The Student Section (@yesh222)
Phil Harrison – The Student Section (@PhilHarrisonCFB)
Scott Halasz – Buckeye Battle Cry (@ohiostatescott)
Terry Johnson – The Student Section (@SectionTPJ)
