Heisman Survey: Jake Browning climbs, Lamar Jackson still dominates
Washington’s Jake Browning, the nation’s leader in passing efficiency with 34 touchdowns and three interceptions, made a move in the Paste BN Network Heisman Trophy survey Monday, closing in on second place.
But absent a lot of turmoil, catching Clemson’s Deshaun Watson is about as far as Browning — or anyone else — can hope for.
Louisville’s Lamar Jackson, coming off a 52-7 victory at Boston College in which he threw for four touchdowns and ran for three, received every first-place nod from editors and reporters with Heisman votes who work for properties owned by Gannett, parent company of Paste BN.
Jackson is eighth in passing efficiency with 26 TD passes and six interceptions. But he also has run for 19 touchdowns, giving the sophomore the national lead in points accounted for with 272. He is second in total offense. Louisville (8-1) is ranked sixth in the Amway Coaches Poll.
Watson led Browning by 22 points last week but missed the second half of a 54-0 victory over Syracuse with a shoulder injury and now leads him by three. Watson is 14th in total offense and 25th in passing efficiency with 24 TDs and 10 interceptions.
Clemson is 9-0 and second in the coaches poll with two first-place votes — the only votes not belonging to No. 1 Alabama. Clemson defeated Louisville last month.
The Heisman will be awarded Dec. 10 in New York.
Players who received votes in this week's Paste BN Network Heisman Trophy survey:
► 3 points for first-place vote, 2 for second, 1 for third.