Who are the 10 college football quarterbacks most likely to take home the Heisman Trophy in 2017?
It is the trophy that all college football players individually strive to win. The Heisman Trophy signifies all-around greatness for the player who claims it. Last season, Louisville’s sophomore quarterback Lamar Jackson won. Moreover, eight of the last 10 players to win the Heisman were quarterbacks.
Odds show, especially with the way college football is played now, that a quarterback is highly likely to win the Heisman. A few other winners of the Heisman in the last decade include current NFL stars like Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, and Cam Newton.
The chances that Lamar Jackson brings home the Heisman again in 2017 are slim as well. No player has won back-to-back Heismans since Archie Griffin in 1974 and 1975. Furthermore, Jackson’s production tailed off in the final four games of the 2016 season, compiling six total touchdowns and three interceptions. Louisville also lost their final three games last year, including tough draws against the Houston Cougars and Kentucky Wildcats.
One of the most talked about headlines before every college football season includes speculation for the potential Heisman Trophy winner. The current overwhelming favorite is USC quarterback Sam Darnold, according to Odds Shark. Jackson is tied for third best odds with Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett. Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield has the second best odds to bring home the hardware.
At this time last year, Jackson had 100/1 odds to win the Heisman, and Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson was the odds on favorite to win. Watson finished 2016 as a Heisman finalist but finished second in the voting behind Jackson. It very rarely seems to be the odds on favorite that wins the Heisman Trophy at the end of the season.
Now, let’s take a look at the top 10 quarterbacks with the best chance to win the Heisman Trophy in 2017. The factors taken most into consideration for this list include last season’s performance, 2017 outlook, and the strength of the team around them.