Louisville QB Lamar Jackson Wins the 2016 Heisman Trophy, Becomes the Youngest Heisman Winner In CFB History!

By Rob Lep / STAT Sports​

On Saturday Night, in front of a packed crowd at the Playstation Theater in Times Square Manhattan, QB Lamar Jackson became the first Louisville player in the 105 year history of the Heisman Trophy to be enshrined into College Football’s highest honor.

Jackson also became the youngest player to win the Heisman Trophy, given to College Football’s most outstanding player.

Lamar received 2,144 total points and 526 first-place votes, beating out Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, who had 1,524 total points and 269 first-place votes. Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield finished in third followed by his fellow teammate Dede Westbrook. Michigan linebacker Jabrill Peppers finished in fifth.

‘To the Heisman voters, I am truly honored and humbled to be the the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner. To be able to stand up here like all the other former Heisman Trophy winners, I’m extremely proud to represent this class and the University of Louisville with their first Heisman Trophy, said Jackson. “I’d like to extend my appreciation to the Heisman Trust and all the people, this tremendous award for making this an experience of a lifetime that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

“Bobby Petrino, he came to my house on a home visit, he told my mother he’s going to give me an opportunity because I’m ready to play, and I love you coach,” said Jackson.

It’s safe to say Lamar made the most of his opportunity. At 19 years 337 days, Lamar is the youngest player to ever win the Heisman Trophy. Jameis Winston was 19 years 342 days old when he won the award back in 2013.

Speaking of the Seminoles, one of Jackson’s signature performance of his Heisman campaign came against the #2 ranked Florida State Seminoles on September 17th when he torched Jimbo Fisher’s team accounting for five touchdowns and 362 total yards in a 63-20 upset win to catapult him into the early Heisman conversation.

Jackson kicked off the 2016 campaign with an all time great performance vs Charlotte on September 1st, tallying eight total touchdowns through the air and on the ground while not throwing an interception to go along with 405 yards of total offense.

In a 62-28 win over Syracuse on Sept. 9th, Lamar Jackson became the first F.B.S player to throw for more than 400 yards and rush for 175 in a game. Jackson finished the game with 610 total yards breaking both ACC and school records to go along with five touchdowns and his now iconic Lamar Leap over a defender that will forever be a part of his most iconic moments.

At the end of the first four weeks of the season, Jackson had compiled 25 total touchdowns and just 3 interceptions while throwing for over 400 yards passing twice (both on the road, at Syracuse and at Marshall).

Jackson finished his 2016 campaign with 4928 total yards of offense and 51 touchdowns and is the first player to win the award with at least 30 touchdowns passing and at least 21 touchdowns rushing. Jackson also became the first player in FBS history to gain 3000 yards passing and 1500 yards rushing in the same season.

Jackson is just the third player in F.B.S history - joining Cam Newton and Tim Tebow - with 30 passing touchdowns and 20 rushing touchdowns in a season.

Oklahoma teammates Dede Westbrook and Baker Mayfield were the first teammates to be selected as Heisman finalists since Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart back in 2005, who finished in first and third respectively.

Jackson did not end his 2016 campaign the way he would have wanted with back to back losses vs Houston and Kentucky to end 9-3 on the season for a berth in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31st but ultimately Jackson was still College Football’s most outstanding player in 2016.

Jackson also won the ACC Player of the Year Award from the media and coaches along with the Walter Camp Player of the Year and the Maxwell Award.

Deshaun Watson finished the 2016 campaign with 4593 passing yards 41 touchdowns and 17 interceptions as well as 629 rushing yards and 9 rushing touchdowns.

Led by Watson, the #2 ranked Clemson Tigers will face off against the #3 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31st at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Watson became the 11th player in with multiple top-three finishes without a Heisman win, the first since Andrew Luck during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

“He’s such a great athlete — everyone knows that,” said Watson earlier Saturday night talking about Jackson. “But it’s not just that. The person he is, the leadership he brings to the table — he makes everyone around him better.

“It’s been fun to watch him this season, and it’ll be fun to watch him grow in the coming years.”

Led by their Heisman award winning quarterback, Louisville will be back in action on Dec. 31st vs LSU in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl.