The 2016 Heisman Trophy finalists were unveiled Monday night with five players earning invitations to the ceremony Saturday night in New York City.
The finalists are: Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma wide receiver Dede Westbrook and Michigan defensive back Jabrill Peppers.
Before Alabama’s Derrick Henry won it last year, a quarterback had taken home the Heisman in five straight seasons. With Jackson considered the heavy favorite, a new streak of quarterbacks could begin in 2016.
In addition to the five finalists, there were quite a few stars who won’t make the trip to New York. Those snubs include Texas running back D’Onta Foreman, Florida State running back Dalvin Cook, Washington quarterback Jake Browning and San Diego State running back Donnel Pumphrey, who is second in the nation with 2,018 yards and recently moved to No. 3 all-time in career rushing yards.
Here’s more about each of the Heisman finalists:
Lamar Jackson, quarterback, Louisville: Just a sophomore, Jackson has put up insane numbers all season for the Cardinals. In 12 games, Jackson has accounted for 51 total touchdowns — 30 passing and 21 rushing — along with 3,390 passing yards and 1,538 rushing yards. Jackson has been the frontrunner for the duration of the season, but there has been some talk that his performances in Louisville’s two losses to end the regular season could hurt him.
Deshaun Watson, quarterback, Clemson: Watson finished third in the voting behind Henry and Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey. Compared to this time last year, Watson’s numbers are better through 13 games. He is sixth nationally 3,914 yards passing (3,512 through 13 games in 2015) and is tied for fifth with 37 touchdowns (30 in 2015). The junior has also rushed for 529 yards and six scores. He has thrown 15 interceptions, however.
Baker Mayfield, quarterback, Oklahoma: Mayfield finished fourth in the Heisman voting behind Watson in 2015 but was not invited to the ceremony. This year Mayfield has thrown for 3,669 yards (ninth nationally) and 38 touchdowns (fourth) while completing 71.2 percent of his passes, the top mark in the country. He helped Oklahoma rally from a 1-2 start to win nine games in a row and the program’s second Big 12 title in a row.
Jabrill Peppers, defensive back, Michigan: Peppers is listed as a defensive back, but he has lined up at a bevy of positions for the Wolverines on both sides of the ball, including safety, cornerback, linebacker, Wildcat quarterback, and wide receiver. In addition to 66 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, three sacks and an interception, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year also has 170 yards and three touchdowns offensively, averages 26 yards per kick return and 14.8 yards per punt return (including a 54-yard TD). He is the first defensive player to earn an invitation to the Heisman ceremony since Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o in 2012.
Dede Westbrook, wide receiver, Oklahoma: Westbrook has been on the receiving end of Mayfield’s precise deep balls all season long, registering 74 catches for 1,465 yards — a ridiculous 19.8-yard average. The senior is also tied for fourth in the nation with 16 touchdown catches. Westbrook has had over 100 yards receiving in seven of OU’s last eight games heading into the Sugar Bowl against Auburn.
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