NEW YORK — Lamar Jackson is the first Louisville player to win the Heisman Trophy, beating out preseason favorite Deshaun Watson of Clemson despite some late-season struggles.

The sensational sophomore quarterback leapt over a loaded field of Heisman Trophy contenders early in the season and by the time he slowed down nobody could catch him.

The highest honor in college football was handed out Saturday night in New York.

Baker Mayfield finished third and Oklahoma teammate and fellow finalist Dede Westbrook was fourth. Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers was fifth.

Jackson, at 19 years, 347 days, is the youngest Heisman winner ever. </s> Story highlights Deshaun Watson came in second in Heisman voting

Jackson was the early front-runner but struggled down the stretch

(CNN) Lamar Jackson, a sophomore quarterback at the University of Louisville, has won the Heisman Trophy, given to the most outstanding player in college football.

Jackson, who amassed 4,928 yards of total offense and 51 total touchdowns, is youngest player ever and the first player from Louisville to win the Heisman.

Wearing a school-color red coat with a black lapel, Jackson seemed a bit overwhelmed by winning.

"Oh my God," he said several times.

Among those he thanked were his teammates, saying the award was for all of them.

Read More </s> The Heisman Trophy winner was decided before the leaves began to fall — and Saturday night, Lamar Jackson finally was allowed to take it home.

The 19-year-old Louisville quarterback, and the overwhelming favorite to capture college football’s most prestigious individual award, officially was named the Heisman winner at the PlayStation Theater in Manhattan, becoming the youngest-ever recipient.

Jackson (19 years, 337 days), who is five days younger than Florida State’s Jameis Winston was when he won the award in 2013, is the first Louisville player to win and also the fourth sophomore to claim the trophy, joining Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford and Mark Ingram.

“To hear my name called with all those great players, I was overwhelmed,” Jackson said. “Man, I almost cried.”

Sporting a Cardinals-themed red-and-black tuxedo for his coronation, Jackson received 526 first-place votes, totaling 2,144 points. Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, one of the biggest preseason favorites to win the award after finishing third last season, was the runner-upwith 1,524 points and 269 first-place votes, followed by Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield (362), Sooners wide receiver Dede Westbrook (209) and Michigan’s Jabril Peppers(208).

Before the season, Jackson was given 100-1 odds to win the Heisman, but he sprinted from relative anonymity to front-runner status with eight total touchdowns in the season’s first game. With unmatched athleticism, Jackson set an ACC record with 51 total touchdowns, amassing 3,390 passing yards, while rushing for 1,538 yards. He became the third player in FBS history to pass for at least 30 touchdowns and run for at least 20 scores.

When Louisville lost its final two games of the regular season, Jackson’s runaway campaign lost a little momentum, leaving him uncertain whether his name would be announced.

“There’s five of us, so not knowing which name was gonna be called, for some reason my chest started pumping very hard,” Jackson said. “My heart started racing. When I heard them say my name, just thank God.”

Incredibly, Jackson was just a three-star high school recruit growing up in Pompano Beach, Fla., and multiple college coaches attempted to dissuade him from playing quarterback at the next level.

As a freshman at Louisville, Jackson threw for 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions, but the dual-threat star evolved into the leader of the nation’s highest-scoring offense, throwing for 1,550 yards more than the previous season, with only one more interception despite 135 more passing attempts.

“When Lamar first got to us you could see he had the tremendous ability and I think that he thought that’s all he needed,” Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said. “The improvement that he’s made since he came to our program is because of his dedication and his hard work and his drive.“If there’s a young man who probably thought in the back of his mind that, ‘I’m gonna win the Heisman Trophy this year,’ it’s Lamar.”

Jackson has every right to think the same next season, when he will be favored to join Archie Griffin as the only two-time Heisman winner.

“The former Heisman winners were telling me to stay hungry and keep going,” Jackson said. </s> Jackson, who at 19 years, 337 days is five days younger than Jameis Winston of Florida State was when he won the coveted award in 2013, also became the first player from Louisville to take home the trophy, which was first bestowed in 1935.

A dual run and pass threat, Jackson threw for 3,390 yards and 30 touchdowns with nine interceptions. The sophomore added 1,538 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground.

"I'm shaking right now," the native Floridian said at a presentation ceremony in New York that included 22 former winners of the award.

"I'm truly honored and humbled. I'm extremely proud to represent this class (of finalists) and the University of Louisville with their first Heisman Trophy.

"For my team mates, it's an award for all of us."

Jackson was the third major college player to register 30 passing touchdowns and rush for 20 more in a season, joining Cam Newton and Tim Tebow, who both also won the Heisman.

The Louisville sophomore won by a big margin in what turned out to be a two-man race among the five finalists.

Jackson received 2,144 points in the voting by media members, while Clemson University quarterback Deshaun Watson received 1,524.

The other finalists were quarterback Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma, Oklahoma receiver Dede Westbrook and linebacker Jabrill Peppers of Michigan. </s> Quarterback Lamar Jackson is the first Louisville player to win the Heisman Trophy, beating out preseason favorite Deshaun Watson of Clemson despite some late-season struggles. Washington quarterback Jake Browning finished sixth in the voting.

NEW YORK — Lamar Jackson leapt over a loaded field of Heisman Trophy contenders early in the season and by the time he slowed down nobody could catch him.

The sensational sophomore quarterback became the first Louisville player to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, beating out preseason favorite Deshaun Watson of Clemson despite some late-season struggles.

“I almost cried,” Jackson said. “I never get emotional, but to have my name called and see all those great players …”

Baker Mayfield finished third and Oklahoma teammate and fellow finalist Dede Westbrook was fourth. Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers was fifth.

UW’s Jake Browning finished sixth. The sophomore quarterback received three first-place votes, 41 second-place votes and 91 third-place votes.

It’s the second-highest finish by a Huskies player in the program’s history. Steve Entman placed fourth in 1991, when Michigan’s Desmond Howard won it.

Watson, who finished third in Heisman voting last year, led a stacked group of contenders entering this season.

Jackson outdid them all in his first season as Louisville’s full-time starter, accounting for 51 touchdowns and averaging 410 yards per game in total offense. He ultimately won going away, with 2,144 points to Watson’s 1,524. By percentage of possible points received, Jackson’s victory was the sixth-largest in Heisman history, and he became the youngest winner at 19 years, 352 days.

Jackson is the first Heisman Trophy winner to play on a team that lost its last two games of the regular season since Tim Brown of Notre Dame in 1987.

No matter. Jackson did so much before November it was difficult to deny him the award because of a couple of missteps at the end.

In a romp over Florida State and a close loss at Clemson, Jackson threw for 511 yards, ran for 308 and accounted for eight touchdowns.

“Each and every game should be a Heisman moment,” Jackson said.

Jackson left that Oct. 1 game in Death Valley as a threat to run away with the Heisman, but losses to Houston and Kentucky, when he committed four turnovers, in late November provided an opportunity for others to sway voters. </s> NEW YORK (AP) — Lamar Jackson was trying to remember the last time he cried. He was pretty sure it involved losing a little league football game.

On Saturday night, Louisville’s spectacular sophomore quarterback found out winning can get a guy choked up, too.

Jackson became the first Louisville player to win the Heisman Trophy, beating out preseason favorite Deshaun Watson of Clemson despite some late-season struggles.

Watson, who finished third last season, was a distant second. Baker Mayfield finished third and Oklahoma teammate and fellow finalist Dede Westbrook was fourth. Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers was fifth.

Jackson, wearing a red velvet blazer with shiny black lapels and a black bow tie, said he could feel his heart pounding in his chest right before his name was announced. He barely held it together while giving his acceptance speech, with the former Heisman winners standing behind him on stage.

“I almost cried,” Jackson said. “I never get emotional, but to have my name called and see all those great players …”

Early in the season, Jackson leapt over a loaded field of Heisman contenders that included five of the top seven vote-getters from 2015 to become the front-runner. By the time he slowed down nobody could catch him.

Jackson accounted for 51 touchdowns and averaged 410 yards per game in total offense in his first season as Louisville’s full-time starter.

“He surpassed everything I thought he could do,” Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said.

Jackson ultimately won the Heisman going away, with 2,144 points to Watson’s 1,524. By percentage of possible points received, Jackson’s victory was the seventh largest in Heisman history. He also became the youngest winner at 19 years, 337 days, a few days younger than 2013 winner Jameis Winston of Florida State.

Jackson credited his mother, Felicia Jones, and said the trophy will go anywhere she decides to put it. Jones raised Jackson as a single mom and would put on football pads to help her son work on his game when he was a kid.

“Everything I do is for my mother,” Jackson said.

Jackson is the first Heisman winner to play on a team that lost its last two games of the regular season since Tim Brown of Notre Dame in 1987. He’s the first to enter the postseason without a chance to win the national title since Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M in 2012.

No matter. Jackson did so much before November it was difficult to deny him the award because of a couple of missteps at the end.

He provided a signature moment against Syracuse, hurdling a defender on his way into the end zone, and then played his best against Louisville’s toughest competition.

In a romp over Florida State and a close loss at Clemson , Jackson threw for 511 yards, ran for 308 and accounted for eight touchdowns. After ripping apart Florida State in September, he earned the stamp of approval from his idol, former Virginia Tech and NFL star Mike Vick.

“Each and every game should be a Heisman moment,” Jackson said.

Jackson left that Oct. 1 game in Death Valley as a threat to run away with the Heisman, but losses to Houston and Kentucky, when he committed four turnovers, in late November provided an opportunity for others to sway voters.

Watson made the biggest surge, but fell way short.

Jackson continues a recent trend of breakout stars winning the Heisman. He is the sixth player to win the award as either a redshirt freshman or sophomore, all since 2007, joining Manziel (redshirt freshman), Winston (redshirt freshman), Mark Ingram (sophomore), Sam Bradford (sophomore) and Tim Tebow (sophomore).

Jackson came to Louisville as a three-star recruit from Boynton Beach High School in Florida. Some colleges were not sold on him as a quarterback, but Jackson was such a dynamic talent that Petrino altered his offense to accommodate Jackson’s speed and elusiveness.

Jackson flashed brilliance as a freshman, but with so many well-established stars from Watson and Mayfield to running backs Christian McCaffrey of Stanford, Dalvin Cook of Florida State and Leonard Fournette of LSU, he entered this season with little fanfare.

Just the way he likes it.

Jackson spent the season adjusting to newfound fame, growing into the role of face of the team and trying to stay out of the spotlight. He said he cut down on trips to the mall to avoid the inevitable crowds he drew.

He is about to become even more popular. Especially, back in Louisville, where he has another year before he can even consider his next big jump — to the NFL. Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich said he liked the idea of building a statue of Jackson in front of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.

“I don’t care where you put it man,” Jackson said with a laugh. “It’s an honor just to have a statue.” </s> For the first time in school history, the University of Louisville has its own Heisman trophy winner. Lamar Jackson is the winner of the 2016 Heisman trophy. The sophomore quarterback is the 82nd winner of college football’s most prestigious award.

Other finalists for the award included Deshaun Watson, Jabrill Peppers, Baker Mayfield and Dede Westbrook.

The youngest Heisman winner ever took the microphone seconds after being named the winner.

“To the Heisman voters, I’m truly honored and humbled to be named the 2016 Heisman winner. I’m extremely proud to represent this class and the University of Louisville to be their first Heisman trophy winner,” Jackson said. “To my teammates, this one is for all of us. I can’t wait to cherish this with all of you, I love you guys.”

Jackson totaled 4,298 total yards and 51 touchdowns in his 2016 campaign. The 51 single-season touchdowns is a school and ACC record. His 1,538 rushing yards by a quarterback is also a school and conference record. The ACC Player of the Year finished second in the ACC in rushing yards and third in passing yards.

Only three Louisville quarterbacks have thrown for more yards in a single season than Jackson. Throwing for 3,390 yards, Jackson found the end zone through the air 30 times during the year.

The Heisman trophy winner is one of six players to pass for 30 touchdowns and rush for 20 touchdowns in a season. He is the only one of the six to achieve the accomplishment in a regular season.

Jackson took the nation by storm from the opening night of the season. Totaling 405 yards and eight touchdowns, Jackson was only getting started. The sophomore totaled at least 300 yards in 10-of-12 games and scored at least four touchdowns eight times.

The Heisman is the crowning jewel of all individual accolades Jackson earned this season. Earlier this week, he added the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award to his trophy case.

All in one season, Jackson earned the Heisman trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, ACC Player of the Year, ACC Offensive Player of the Year and the Sporting News Player of the Year.

Jackson and his teammates face LSU in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31 at 11 a.m. </s> NEW YORK — Lamar Jackson leapt over a loaded field of Heisman Trophy contenders early in the season and by the time he slowed down nobody could catch him.

The sensational sophomore quarterback became the first Louisville player to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, beating out preseason favorite Deshaun Watson of Clemson despite some late-season struggles.

Baker Mayfield finished third and Oklahoma teammate and fellow finalist Dede Westbrook was fourth. Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers was fifth.

Watson, who finished third in Heisman voting last year, led a stacked group of contenders entering this season that included five of the top seven vote-getters in 2015.

Jackson outdid them all in his first season as Louisville’s full-time starter, accounting for 51 touchdowns and averaging 410 yards per game in total offense. He ultimately won going away, with 2,144 points to Watson’s 1,524. By percentage of possible points received, Jackson’s victory was the sixth largest in Heisman history, and he became the youngest winner at 19 years, 352 days.

Jackson is the first Heisman Trophy winner to play on a team that lost its last two games of the regular season since Tim Brown of Notre Dame in 1987. He’s the first to enter the postseason without a chance to win the national title since Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M in 2012.

No matter. Jackson did so much before November it was difficult to deny him the award because of a couple of missteps at the end.

He provided a signature moment against Syracuse, hurdling a defender on his way into the end zone, and then played his best against Louisville’s toughest competition.

In a romp over Florida State and a close loss at Clemson, Jackson threw for 511 yards, ran for 308 and accounted for eight touchdowns. After ripping apart Florida State in September, he earned the stamp of approval from his idol, former Virginia Tech and NFL star Mike Vick.

Jackson left that Oct. 1 game in Death Valley as a threat to run away with the Heisman, but losses to Houston and Kentucky, when he committed four turnovers, in late November provided an opportunity for others to sway voters.

Jackson continues a recent trend of breakout stars winning the Heisman. He is the sixth player to win the award as either a redshirt freshman or sophomore, all since 2007, joining Manziel (redshirt freshman), Jameis Winston (redshirt freshman), Mark Ingram (sophomore), Sam Bradford (sophomore) and Tim Tebow (sophomore).

Jackson came to Louisville as a three-star recruit from Boynton Beach High School in Florida. Some colleges were not sold on him as a quarterback, but Jackson was such a dynamic talented Louisville coach Bobby Petrino altered his offense to accommodate Jackson’s speed and elusiveness.

Jackson flashed brilliance as a freshman and showed what was to come in the Music City Bowl against Texas A&M. He had 453 total yards and led Louisville to a victory.

Still, with so many well-established stars from Watson and Mayfield to running backs Christian McCaffrey of Stanford, Dalvin Cook of Florida State and Leonard Fournette of LSU, Jackson entered the season without much fanfare.

Just the way he likes it.

Jackson spent this season adjusting to newfound fame, growing into the role of face of the team and trying to stay out of the spotlight. He said he cut down on trips to the mall to avoid the inevitable crowds he drew.

He is about to become even more popular. Especially back in Louisville, where he has another year before he can even consider his next big jump — to the NFL. </s> NEW YORK — Lamar Jackson was trying to remember the last time he cried. He was pretty sure it involved losing a football game.

Watson, who finished third last season, was a distant second. Baker Mayfield finished third and Oklahoma teammate and fellow finalist Dede Westbrook was fourth. Michigan's Jabrill Peppers was fifth.

Jackson, wearing a red velvet blazer with shiny black lapels, said he could feel his heart pounding in his chest right before his name was announced, and he barely held it together while giving his speech with the former Heisman winners standing behind him on stage.

"I almost cried," Jackson said. "I never get emotional, but to have my name called and see all those great players ..."

Early in the season, Jackson leapt over a loaded field of Heisman contenders that included five of the top seven vote-getters from 2015 to become the front-runner. By the time he slowed down nobody could catch him.

Jackson ultimately won the Heisman going away, with 2,144 points to Watson's 1,524. By percentage of possible points received, Jackson's victory was the seventh largest in Heisman history, and he became the youngest winner at 19 years, 337 days, a few days younger than 2013 winner Jameis Winston of Florida State.

Jackson credited his mother, Felicia Jones, and said the trophy will go anywhere she decides to put it. Jones raised Jackson as a single mom and would put on football pads to help her son work on his game when he was a kid.

Jackson is the first Heisman winner to play on a team that lost its last two games of the regular season since Tim Brown of Notre Dame in 1987. He's the first to enter the without a chance to win the national title since Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M in 2012.

No matter. Jackson did so much before November it was difficult to deny him the award because of a couple of missteps at the end.

He provided a signature moment against Syracuse, hurdling a defender on his way into the end zone, and then played his best against Louisville's toughest competition.

In a romp over Florida State and a close loss at Clemson, Jackson threw for 511 yards, ran for 308 and accounted for eight touchdowns. After ripping apart Florida State in September, he earned the stamp of approval from his idol, former Virginia Tech and NFL star Mike Vick.

Jackson left that Oct. 1 game in Death Valley as a threat to run away with the Heisman, but losses to Houston and Kentucky, when he committed four turnovers, in late November provided an opportunity for others to sway voters.

Jackson continues a recent trend of breakout stars winning the Heisman. He is the sixth player to win the award as either a redshirt freshman or sophomore, all since 2007, joining Manziel (redshirt freshman), Winston (redshirt freshman), Mark Ingram (sophomore), Sam Bradford (sophomore) and Tim Tebow (sophomore).

Jackson came to Louisville as a three-star recruit from Boynton Beach High School in Florida. Some colleges were not sold on him as a quarterback, but Jackson was such a dynamic talented Louisville coach Bobby Petrino altered his to accommodate Jackson's speed and elusiveness.

Jackson flashed brilliance as a freshman and showed what was to come in the Music City Bowl against Texas A&M. He had 453 total yards and led Louisville to a victory. </s> ORLANDO, Fla. – Deshaun Watson bolstered his Heisman Trophy candidacy by passing for three touchdowns and running for two more to lead third-ranked Clemson to a 42-35 victory over No. 19 Virginia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Saturday night.

Winning consecutive league titles for the first time in 28 years likely will send the Tigers (12-1, No. 3 CFP) back to the four-team College Football Playoff for the second straight year, providing Watson with an opportunity to resolve unfinished business from last January, when his team lost to Alabama in the national championship game.

The Clemson star completed 23 of 34 passes for 288 yards, including TDs of 21 and 10 yards to Jordan Leggett and 15 yards to Hunter Renfrow for a 42-28 lead midway through the fourth quarter. He also rushed for 85 yards on 17 attempts for the Tigers. They've won back-to-back ACC titles for the first time since winning three straight from 1986-88.

Watson's Virginia Tech counterpart, Jerod Evans, was just as impressive. The 6-foot-3, 238-pound ran for two touchdowns and rallied the Hokies from a 21-point deficit to make it close at the end.

The Hokies (9-4, No. 23 CFP) scored on three straight possessions, trimming what was once a 35-14 deficit to seven points on Evans' 5-yard run early in the fourth quarter and Cam Phillips' 26-yard TD reception with just under 6 minutes remaining.

Virginia Tech got the ball back with a chance to force overtime. Evans drove his team to the Clemson 23, where the drive stalled when Tigers cornerback Cordrea Tankersley intercepted a pass on fourth-and-6.

Clemson: It's been a year-long quest to get back to the CFP, and the Tigers survived every test with the exception of a 43-42 loss to Pittsburgh in early November – a game in which the Tigers turned the ball over three times but still came within a fourth-and-1 conversion of winning. Watson was overshadowed early in the season, when ACC player of the year Lamar Jackson was posting gaudy statistics for Louisville, however the Clemson quarterback's performance Saturday night added to the sterling resume he's put together for Heisman Trophy consideration .

Virginia Tech: The Coastal Division winners weren't just happy to be in the title game. Coach Justin Fuente and his players were determined to make the most of the Hokies' first appearance in the title game in five years. And for a half, they kept it close, weathering Clemson scoring on its first three possessions to build a 21-7 lead. Even after being outgained 148 yards to minus-14 while falling behind by three TDs in the first 10 minutes of the third quarter, Evans rallied his team to make a game of it in the fourth quarter.

Clemson LB Dorian O'Daniel was ejected in the opening quarter after being penalized for targeting on a high hit on Virginia Tech RB Sam Rogers, who was dropped for no gain on a pass reception. The call, along with Terrell Edmunds' 20-yard reception on a fake punt play and a 15-yard pass interference penalty against Tankersley, fueled the Hokies' first scoring drive, a 12-play, 77-yard march that McMillian finished his TD run.

Clemson: Awaits official word on a berth and seeding in the CFP, which begins with the national semifinals on Dec. 31.

Virginia Tech: Will travel to a bowl game hoping to finish its season under Fuente with 10 wins for the first time since 2011. Fuente also would become the first coach in school history to win 10 games in his first season leading the Hokies.
Lamar Jackson of the Louisville Cardinals wins the Heisman Trophy. At 19, Jackson is the youngest ever winner of the Trophy.