Jabrill Finally Showing Up in Top Five on Heisman Watch Lists

Familiar with September Heisman awards around here. I know I'll get negged for this, but my man Denard, as amazing as he was, won about 3 of those in his career. Dark days almost always followed.

Grab Jabrill's wallet out of the bag.  It's the one that says 'Bad Muthaf**er' on it.

Finally? It's week 4. Chill.

I think JP is going to have a big game this weekend now that he has the monkey off his back.  I think he will take one return back for a TD for sure.  Possibly 2.

He definitely has a chance to make it to NY. Whether or not he'll win it: ehh I doubt it. Even if he keeps this pace up, it's tough to beat out offensive players who have the ball in their hands in most every snap.

If he has a few "What the hell did I just witness?" kind of plays, and if he finds a way to take over in big games, he could very well find himself in the conversation late into November. But right now, he's on the outside looking in.

As the season progresses, we will see more snaps for JP on offesne. If he stays healthy, his numbers will take off. By the end of the season, I foresee us building the game plan around him on offens more.

The nice thing about starting to get listed is that it helps create momentum if he continues to perform as well.  My bet is there's lots of lazy folks out there who won't check out guys who might be #7 or #8 on the watch list, but once somebody's in the top 5, there won't be any danger of being "overlooked" to any great degree.  

I hate the Heisman. It should go to the best all around player, regardless of position (though I think it's safe to exclude kickers/punters). It almost always goes to the running back or quarterback with the best stats on one of the best teams. It is such a joke.

That he picked the good guys.  One of the best representatives Michigan Football has had period.  Freak athlete with a passion for the game and always seems content.  

Heisman chops: Jackson and McCaffrey are going to be difficult to move past, let alone the next wave of Ward, Watson and Barrett. But if anyone can do it, Jabrill can. If Watson continues to be lackluster and Ward or Jackson tapers off during the season he has a shot at NYC as a token "hey, we care about defensive/all-around guys too!" representative. 

It is uphill at this point but i am hopefull is he leaves this yearhe will have with his heisman and our nc. If not he should stay.

He will come back next year to win it.

Mark Titus made an interesting observation in a piece the other day highlighting OSU for The Ringer:

The past eight college football national championships have been won by teams that had at least one of these three people at their disposal: Saban, Meyer, or that season’s Heisman winner.

If we beat MSU and OSU this year and Jabrill plays a large role in the wins (as expected), then I think he has a solid chance at winning the Heisman. He's going to have to return a punt for a touchdown against OSU or score an offensive TD (ala Woodson)...beating OSU will open a lot of people's eyes.

Jabrill can win it. If he does; it will mean that he came through in the biggest moments against OSU and MSU. Big punt returns, TDs on offense, and timely sacks in big nationally televised games. Basically the same formula as Woodsen and Desmond. We all know (but some are afraid to say) that this can be a special year. If M wins the B1G title he goes to NYC. If Peppers lives up to the potential, with the way these coaches can utilize him; anything is possible.

that's provided Michigan goes into that game with 0-2 losses and keeping up the pace he has now...as things are set up now, that will be the game of the year (McCaffrey doesn't have a similar late season game as Stanford would have played USC,UCLA, and Notre Dame before November, Louisville will have played FSU and Clemson by early Oct. leavng only the Houston game)

Not included in the OP: Stewart Mandel also has Peppers #5. 

Unsurprising, really. He managed over 200 total yards, which is impressive for only two snaps, and was dominant all over the field. Over the stretch of the season he will have to produce stuff like this all year. In September the bottom couple of Heisman watch lists tend to rotate through the flavors of the week. 

The drawback to his campaign is going to be the continued focus on his coverage problems.  He will continue to be compared with DB's, and people will continue to say he lacks coverage skills.  I don't think that's true, at all.  And with his move to LB - even as hybridy as a LB can be - he is not getting focused attention from Zordich and Smith to fix whatever issue is there.  It's unfortunate, but unless he can range into a passing lane unexpectedly a few times for a pick-off, that will be a point of contention for voters, especially with a couple of blown coverages already highlighted on TV (see: CU's first TD bomb).

"Heisman lists in September don't mean a whole lot (ask Leonard Fournette). . ."

Why does a Michigan fan have to look way down in Baton Rouge to find a player to ask? Ever heard of Denard Robinson?

I am sure MSU will plan to take away Peppers. I am feeling so good about our team this year that I think Peppers will smack them even if they try to neutralize him. Imposing one's will. OSU game is a wildcard. Big plays against OSU is a must if he is going to win this.