The disrespect of the reigning Heisman trophy winner continues. The latest is the Maxwell Award and the Davey O’Brien award. Yes, Lamar Jackson was not named a finalist for either award this year. Jackson won the 2016 Maxwell award and was 1 of 3 finalists for the 2016 Davey O’Brien award with Deshaun Watson and Baker Mayfield.

The 2017 Maxwell Football Club named Saquon Barkley, Bryce Love and Baker Mayfield as the 3 finalists.  The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the college football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best all-around in the United States.

• Barkley – 1057 rushing yards – 590 receiving yards – 20 touchdowns
• Love – 1723 rushing yards – 33 receiving yards – 16 touchdowns
• Mayfield – 3816 passing yards – 240 rushing yards – 39 touchdowns

The 2017 Davey O’Brien award committee named Baker Mayfield, Mason Rudolph and J.T. Barrett as the 3 finalists. The Davey O’Brien award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the Davey O’Brien Foundation to be the best of all National Collegiate Athletic Association quarterbacks

• Mayfield – 3816 passing yards – 240 rushing yards – 39 touchdowns
• Rudolph – 4115 passing yards – 39 rushing yards –  41 touchdowns
• Barrett – 2687 passing yards – 616 rushing yards – 40 touchdowns

Not on either list is one Lamar Jackson.

• Jackson – 3273 passing yards – 1287 rushing yard – 40 touchdowns

(all players stats are through 11 games)

Those 2 awards, along with multiple other position awards, are all just appetizers to the main course, the Heisman trophy. The Heisman trophy is the most prestigious individual award and is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football in the United States whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity.

Even though they say that it is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football, we also understand that the success of the players team comes into play for the voters. That’s why before the season started, we as Louisville fans realized that if Lamar was to become the second player to ever repeat as the winner, Louisville would have to go 11-1 or maybe 10-2 along with posting similar stats as last season.

Well, Lamar put up similar stats but the defense had a mid-season lapse costing Louisville at least 2 victories therefore dropping him from Heisman talk despite his statistics.

Lamar Jackson’s numbers are better than last year through 11 games. pic.twitter.com/2Ta6XEzrJ1

— A David Hale joint (@DavidHaleESPN) November 19, 2017

I am fine if Lamar doesn’t win this year but I won’t like it. Realistically, if Baker Mayfield wins and Lamar is second, I can live with that. Any other result that doesn’t involve Lamar winning is completely preposterous. I’m not saying Mayfield is better than Lamar, I’m simply a realist and I understand how the award works and how media builds you up only to tear you down (see Teddy Bridgewater). Mayfield has Heisman worthy stats as he leads the country in passing efficiency (199.3) and yards per completion (16.38). He’s second nationally in passing yards (3,816) and passing touchdowns (38) to go with just five interceptions. The Sooners are also likely to finish the season at 11-1. Bovada pulled their Heisman odds, ”Heisman odds are currently off the board as Baker Mayfield is too big of a favorite,” Bovada said. “He was 1/20 last week and would be even bigger this week.”

The travesty would be if Lamar doesn’t get invited to New York as part of the finalist. That scenario seemed likely a few days ago but as of now, I’d say he will be invited. The tough part would be if he didn’t finish 1st or 2nd. History says that it’s not likely because two players haven’t finished among the top-three Heisman Trophy vote-getters in consecutive years since 1967-68.

So look at these stats below and tell me how Lamar doesn’t finish in the top 3?

Take out garbage time and bad teams, how do the Heisman contenders stack up? pic.twitter.com/OGT3CdEDPw

— A David Hale joint (@DavidHaleESPN) November 20, 2017

If Lamar Jackson doesn’t finish in the top 3 of the Heisman voting then that would be the ultimate definition of ” Heisman Disrespect.” And that’s not just Nunnsense.

As Always, GO CARDS!

Happy Thanksgiving!