If Lamar Jackson of Louisville football declares early for the 2018 NFL Draft, he should be a sure-fire first-round pick.
While Louisville football is not on the same track it was a season ago, junior quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson is putting together another All-American type campaign in 2017. Jackson might not win the Heisman again, but his stats are going to be on the same level they were a year ago.
Consistency has been a problem for the Cardinals this season after looking like possible College Football Playoff contenders in the preseason and during the first few weeks. Yet, the 47-21 loss to the Clemson Tigers in the third game of the season debunked many of the thoughts that the college football world had about Louisville winning the ACC and making the Playoff.
Last season, Jackson totaled 51 touchdowns to just nine interceptions, eventually winning college football’s most prestigious individual award. He’s the most polarizing player in the nation and that continued this season.
However, head coach Bobby Petrino did instill more of a pocket passing aspect to Jackson’s game this season. That was vastly different from the quarterback that relied on getting outside the pocket almost immediately on most plays.
Louisville is bowl eligible already and could finish in the top 25 rankings if they win out. Jackson does also have a chance to match his stat totals from last year if he has an impressive finish to the year. The Cardinals have two games left in the regular season, against the Syracuse Orange and in-state rival Kentucky Wildcats, then a bowl game.
Here’s 3 reasons Lamar Jackson of the Louisville Cardinals is the nation’s best quarterback.