Maxwell Award could be good omen for Louisville’s Jackson

ATLANTA — Lamar Jackson picked up another trophy for his marvelous season.

He got a glimpse of the one he really wants.

On a red-carpet night in Atlanta, Jackson captured the Maxwell Award as the nation’s top college player Thursday night and signaled himself as the clear favorite for the Heisman Trophy.

Jackson already won the Walter Camp Award, also given to the best player.

“I’m shocked. I’ve got butterflies. I never had those before,” the sophomore said, posing with his Maxwell Award after a ceremony at the College Football Hall of Fame, where eight other award winners were announced.

In an interesting twist, Clemson’s Deshaun Watson claimed the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s top quarterback for the second year in a row beating out Jackson.

Now it’s on to New York, where they’re both finalists for college football’s most prestigious individual award.

“He’s a tremendous player himself. He’s done lot of great things,” Jackson said of Watson. “If he does (win the Heisman), oh well. Best man.”

Both quarterbacks got a look at a 25-pound Heisman Trophy on display in the Hall of Fame.

Jackson was impressed by the size.

“It’s a big trophy,” he said. “I’m going to need to do some more push-ups.” Maybe not. Watson hasn’t given up on his dream of claiming the Heisman Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville Jackson MacIntyre, Colorado D’Onta Foreman, Texas Deshaun Watson, Clemson Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma Ohio State Allen, Alabama Utah

Cam Robinson, Alabama Pat Elflein,

Jonathan Adoree’ Jackson, Southern California Zane Gonzalez, Arizona State Mitch Wishnowsky,

before he heads off to the NFL. He won’t return for his senior season, having already earned his college degree in three years.

“I have a lot of confidence in the way I’ve played over the course of the season,” said Watson, who finished third in the Heisman race a year ago behind winner Derrick Henry of Alabama and Christian McCaffrey of Stanford.

While the Maxwell voting is a solid indication of how the Heisman race might go, it’s no guarantee. In fact, only two of the past five winners — Henry and Marcus Mariota in 2014 — went on to capture the moreillustrious award.