WHO SHOULD WIN THE MAJOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL AWARDS
Heisman Trophy (outstanding player)
Finalists: Lamar Jackson (Louisville), Deshaun Watson (Clemson), Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma), Jabrill Peppers (Michigan), Dede Westbrook (Oklahoma).
Who Should Win: Jackson
Why: Jackson might have a bad last two games, but over the course of the season, he’s been remarkable over the course of the year, scoring 4 or more touchdowns in a third of his games.
Maxwell Award (outstanding player)
Finalists: Lamar Jackson (Louisville), Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma), Jabrill Peppers (Michigan).
Who Should Win: Jackson
Why: If anyone other than Jackson is going to win a player of the year award, it will be Deshaun Watson, and he wasn’t even a finalist for this award.
Bednarik Award (defensive player)
Finalists: Jabrill Peppers (Michigan), Jonathan Allen (Alabama), Myles Garrett (Texas A&M).
Who Should Win: Allen
Why: Jabrill Peppers might have the most name recognition on this list, but Allen has been in the backfield all season, recording 8.5 sacks on top of 13 tackles for loss.
Thorpe Award (defensive back)
Finalists: Jourdan Lewis (Michigan), Adoree’ Jackson (USC), Tre’Davious White (LSU).
Who Should Win: Lewis
Why: Lewis has led what has been the best pass defense in the country with 26 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 8 pass deflections in only 9 games played!
O’Brien Award (quarterback)
Finalists: Lamar Jackson (Louisville), Deshaun Watson (Clemson), Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma).
Who Should Win: Jackson
Why: Jackson has had a quarterback rating above 150 in 7 of his 12 games, and he has used his legs as a weapon. Watson won this award last year, but don’t expect a repeat.
Biletnikoff Award (outstanding receiver)
Finalists: Zay Jones (East Carolina), Austin Carr (Northwestern), Dede Westbrook (Oklahoma)
Who Should Win: Westbrook
Why: This one isn’t even close, Westbrook has brought over 100 yards in eight of his last nine games, including four 150 yard+ games, and two 200 yard + games
Doak Walker Award (running back)
Finalists: Dalvin Cook (FSU), Donnel Pumphrey (San Diego State), D’Onta Foreman (Texas).
Who Should Win: Foreman
Why: This was the hardest award to make a call for, Cook has been a reliable back for the past two years, and Pumphrey has rushed for almost 6,300 yards in his career, but Foreman gets my pick, he may not be doing it for a top level team, but averaging 6.3 yards per carry is freaky good.
Outland Trophy (interior lineman)
Finalists: Cam Robinson (Alabama), Cody O’Connell (Washington State), Pat Elflein (Ohio State).
Who Should Win: Robinson
Why: This award is always a hard one to call as there are no measurable stats for offensive lineman, and Elfein has been the centerpiece (no pun intended) of Ohio State’s underrated rushing attack, but Robinson had to go up against Derek Barnett and Myles Garrett and didn’t falter, not many could do that.