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Why Louisville’s Lamar Jackson is the next Deshaun Watson

By Gabe Encinas

Dec 30, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) looks to pass against the Texas A&M Aggies during the first half of the 2015 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) looks to pass against the Texas A&M Aggies during the first half of the 2015 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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Will Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson be the next Deshaun Watson?

The Louisville Cardinals have a potential star in quarterback Lamar Jackson who saved his best game for the last game when he put on a clinic vs. Texas A&M in the Music City Bowl.

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The ACC Freshman of the Year had 227 passing yards 226 rushing yards, joining Vince Young and Johnny Manziel as the only players to have 200 passing and rushing in a game in FBS bowl history.

Jackson has the potential to be unstoppable when he is rolling out of the pocket, extending plays and making guys miss when he takes off and runs just as Young and Manziel did during their college careers at Texas and Texas A&M.

He ran for 960 yards and 11 touchdowns with five 100-yard games and has the potential to be the type of runner they were, but he should try to be the all-around quarterback that Deshaun Watson is for Clemson.

Watson just led Clemson to within six points of beating Alabama for the National Championship as a sophomore that saw him finish third in the Heisman. He flashed superstar potential as a freshman just as Jackson did, but Jackson has work to do to improve as a passer.

Jackson completed 54.7 percent of his passes for 1,840 with 12 touchdowns to eight interceptions so he has a long way to go to be the passer that Watson is, but he should be able to make significant improvements in his second year as the starter and the first as the full-time starter for an entire offseason.

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That could mean Louisville is one of the most intriguing teams in the ACC and beats Watson for the conference and for his Heisman.

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