Lamar Jackson Should Win the Heisman

Lamar Jackson is the most underappreciated player in college football. Yes, he won the Heisman Trophy last year and is a finalist yet again this year, but he is not celebrated as one of the all-time greats that he is. In all likelihood on Saturday night, Baker Mayfield will hoist college football’s most coveted trophy. The Oklahoma quarterback has had a sensational season leading the Sooners to a Big 12 Championship and into the College Football Playoff, but Mayfield’s numbers are not even in the same stratosphere as Jackson’s.

Last year, in his Heisman campaign, Lamar Jackson threw for 3,543 yards and ran for an additional 1,571 yards. This year, Jackson has yet to even play in his bowl game, and his numbers already mirror what he posted a season ago. He currently has 3,489 yards passing and 1,443 yards rushing. In all likelihood, Jackson will surpass his yardage totals from last season.

So why won’t Jackson win the award? For the same reason that LeBron James hasn’t won the last 10 NBA MVP awards. It’s boring to vote for the same person over and over again, even if he is the worthiest. It’s a shame because Jackson should be joining Archie Griffin as the only two-time Heisman victor. Instead he will have to settle for second, even though he is America’s best collegiate football player.