Louisville Football: Is Lamar Jackson a sure-fire franchise quarterback?

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Dec 31, 2016; Orlando , FL, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) drops to throw during the first quarter of an NCAA football game against the LSU Tigers in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

College production

One thing scouts don’t need to worry about from Lamar Jackson is his college production.

In two season leading Bobby Patrino’s high powered offense, Lamar has absolutely lit up Football Bowl Subdivision, throwing for 5,383 yards and rushing for 2,531 yards in 25 games. Jackson also had a nose for the endzone, scoring 74 total touchdowns (42 passing, 32 rushing) thus far in his career.

Of the 21 quarterbacks taken in the top 60 picks of the NFL draft since 2012, none have rushed for 2,531 yards over the course of their college careers, and Jackson has done it with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Additionally Lamar’s 32 rushing touchdowns is tied with Robert Griffin III for the most of any top quarterback prospect since 2012, a tie he will surely break this fall.

The only other first-round quarterback to rush for more yards than Jackson in his college career was Vince Young, who rushed for 3,127 yards in three seasons with the Texas Longhorns. After averaging 100 yards per game in his first two seasons at Louisville, it would appear that Lamar will more than likely finish his college career as the most prolific rushing quarterback in NCAA history.

While no one will doubt Jackson’s abilities as a runner, his passing abilities are less vocally acclaimed.

In 25 starts, Lamar has thrown for 5,383 yards, but has only completed 55.6 percent of his passes. There has not been a single quarterback taken in the top 60 picks since 2012 who has completed less than 56 percent of his passes.

While Jackson isn’t the most accurate quarterback in college football, he’s one of the most exciting to watch.

Lamar was arguably one of the most dynamic player in NCAA football last season, and his statistical dominance eventual led to Lamar being named the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner.

Lamar Jackson was only the fourth sophomore ever to win the award, and the first player from Louisville to do so. As Jackson prepares for what could very well be his college football swan-song in the 2017 season, he will be one of the rare quarterbacks who wins a Heisman and than returns to school for another campaign.

The 2017 Louisville Cardinals will return a roster that is largely unchanged from the one Jackson won a Heisman Trophy with only a season ago. If Jackson can improve his accuracy and continue to carve up opposing defenses like he did only a season ago he could very well be the first player in history to win two Heisman Trophies back to back.

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