Contender or Pretender?: Heisman Stock Watch Week 8
Brendan Smith
So this article is a little late this week, and I apologize for that. It has been quite the week so far for me, with 4 tests, a quiz, and two papers due next week. Ouch. I know you guys didn’t come here for my story of woe, so I’ll just cut right to the chase. Here is my Heisman Stock Watch, featuring a new member of the Top 5.
Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
Just another day at the office for Lamar Jackson and Louisville. Jackson threw for 355 yards, 3 touchdowns, and also ran for 76 yards and another score as Louisville dismantled NC State, 54-17. The Cardinals held a ridiculous 44-0 halftime lead against a team that took Clemson to overtime just last week. Seems like that was a long time ago though after the embarrassing performance by NC State, who managed just 9 first downs on the afternoon. For Jackson, he has now amassed 2161 passing yards, 18 passing touchdowns, 908 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns on the season. In just 7 games, Jackson has already surpassed his total yardage from last season by over 300 yards. And he’s not done yet. Can he be caught in the Heisman race?
Stock: Rising
Jake Browning, QB, Washington
It is time to get one thing straight, and that is that Jake Browning is legit. He’s only a sophomore, and so far this year has led Washington to an undefeated 7-0, and a number 4 ranking in the latest AP Poll. In his latest game, Browning threw for 291 yards and 3 touchdowns, and also rushed for 21 yards and another touchdown, as Washington rolled over Oregon State, 41-17. The maturation of Browning has propelled Washington into the national title conversation. After a match-up with number 17 Utah, Browning and Washington do not face another ranked team in the regular season, all but securing their spot in the Pac-12 championship game. As for Browning, he has thrown for 1709 yards and 26 touchdowns, while also adding 4 rushing touchdowns. In addition to his 30 touchdowns, Browning has thrown just 2 interceptions all season, compared to 10 as a freshman last year. He could soon challenge Josh Rosen for the top QB in the 2018 draft.
Stock: Rising
Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
Clemson did not have a game this past weekend, so Watson’s stock could not improve or decrease. He moved down because Jake Browning’s success could not be ignored any longer.
Stock: Holding
Jabrill Peppers, CB/LB/S/WR/RB/KR/PR, Michigan
Jabrill Peppers does it all on the football field. On offense, Peppers has rushed for 107 yards, and 2 touchdowns, and caught 1 pass for 5 yards. On special teams, Peppers has 249 punt return yards and 1 touchdown, along with 153 kick return yards. On defense, 40 tackles, 10 TFL, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Pretty special stuff for the junior from East Orange, New Jersey. Peppers has been compared to Charles Woodson, another versatile Michigan Wolverine, but Peppers’s game is much more diverse than Woodson’s. Woodson occasionally lined up as a receiver, but mostly played cornerback and returned kicks. Peppers has entire packages installed specifically to get him the ball on offense. When he plays defense, Peppers has lined up almost everywhere on the field, but projects as a big defensive back at the next level.
Stock: Rising
J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State
J.T. Barrett and Ohio State could not escape the upset-minded Penn State Nittany Lions, ultimately losing 24-21. The loss was not squarely placed on Barrett, but his execution was not as sharp as he has been in the past, and he ended with 245 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and just 26 rushing yards, his lowest total on the season. Barrett also failed to find the endzone more than once in this game, the first time all year he has been held to just a single touchdown. With the loss, Ohio State fell from a number 2 ranking to number 6 in the AP Poll, putting them on the outside of the playoff race. The best chance for Ohio State to secure a playoff spot is to beat Michigan in the final game of the regular season, and then win the Big 10 championship.
Stock: Falling slightly
My Top 5:
Lamar Jackson
Jake Browning
Deshaun Watson
Jabrill Peppers
J.T. Barrett
Outside Looking in: Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette, Greg Ward, Jr.
