Jabrill Peppers is now No. 2 in ESPN Heismanology and his odds in Vegas are skyrocketing

Submitted by Maizen on

I have a feeling if Michigan runs the table and Peppers has big games against Ohio State and in the B1G championship he's going to win the award. Feldman and Mandel noted on their podcast this week that Lamar Jackson has really been stat padding in garbage time of games this year and with their schedule down the stretch (and the FSU game meaning less now that they are 5-3) he's in danger of losing his stranglehold in the race.

Each week, ESPN polls all of its Heisman Trophy voters and asks them to file a sample ballot. ESPN college football announcer Joe Tessitore reveals the top five candidates every week in “Heismanology.” Previously, Peppers came in at No. 3 behind Deshaun Watson and Lamar Jackson.

But this week, Peppers made a significant jump after another all-around effort. Peppers came in at No. 2 behind only Jackson.

Tessitore explained why Peppers got the bump.

“We have been tracking Jabrill Peppers the last few weeks calling him ‘the great divide candidate.’ Voters either put him first or second or leave him off the ballot entirely.” Tessitore said. “Not any longer with Peppers. He now appears on 79 percent of the ballots, so he takes the big jump to second.”

http://saturdaytradition.com/michigan-football/peppers-heismanology-second-explained/

According to Bovada, the Heisman field is shrinking and Jabrill Peppers is gaining steam pic.twitter.com/Z2HJ23hEk6

— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) October 31, 2016
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Sten Carlson

November 1st, 2016 at 2:01 PM ^

What I find interesting is how many Michigan Men in here seem convinced that there, "no way Peppers wins ..."  If you're so convinced of that fact, why not go and put a bet on Lamar Jackson?  I am not engaging in this debate (solely) because I have put my money where my mouth is with regards to Peppers winning.  I am just curious as to the almost fatalistic view of so many Michigan Men.

One might assume that Peppers would create more optimism in our fanbase because of our experience with our beloved son, Mr. Charles Woodson.  I agree, it's going to be hard to beat the gaudy stats of Lamar Jackson.  But, I have sneaking suspicion that this year the voters are going to look intently at the true meaning of the award, that being the "Most Outstanding Football Player" of the year, and not just the player with the best stats.

Peppers, to my mind, has a BETTER shot than Jackson because of the spotlight that is going to be on his team going into the final weeks of the season, and because of the numerous ways that Peppers impacts every game.  Jackson is great, amazing even, but his team is on the outside looking in and their remaining schedule isn't overly strong (BC, WF, Houston, and UK) and it's looking like their not going to represent the Atlantic Division in the ACC Championship game.  Further, eventually, there's going to be a shift in the public mindsset, and they're going to view Jackson as "just a QB" (albeit a VERY talented one), while Peppers' amazing utility will cause him to stand alone.

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Artie

November 1st, 2016 at 2:21 PM ^

History, perhaps? No matter how successful a primarily defensive player is, it has been incredibly hard for them to win the heisman. I'd be pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong but if I bet, I'd bet on Jackson or Watson.



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Sten Carlson

November 1st, 2016 at 2:26 PM ^

So are you going to bet on Jackson or Watson? 

Of course it's hard for a "primarily defensive" player to win the Heisman.  But, as we're seeing in the latter stages of the season, Peppers -- with the help of Harbaugh -- is evolving into far more than a "primarily defensive" player.  To me, that will be the difference maker.  When it's all said and done, there is going to be little doubt that Peppers is something that hasn't been seen in a very long time.

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M-Dog

November 1st, 2016 at 2:19 PM ^

Jabril is a longshot, but one thing that works in his favor is that he's not going to get knocked out by a "bad game" as easily as someone like a Lamar Jackson.

If Jackson has a bad game and throws some picks and his team loses convincingly, he's instantly out.  His visibility that put him at the front of the race in the first place is the same visibility that would put him out of it.

Jabril does not have that kind of all or nothing impact.  He does so many things in so many areas that no single one of them stands out enough to get him the trophy . . . or knock him out of it.

He's got more legs to stand on so to speak.  None of them are dramatic enough to vault him to the top of the race, but conversely he's not going to get knocked out of the race if one thing goes south (like having MSU run directly at you successfully).

There is an unlikely, yet nonetheless real, path for him to win it if the QBs he's competing with knock themselves out with bad games.  He could win it in a battle of attrition.

 

 

 

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LSAClassOf2000

November 1st, 2016 at 2:29 PM ^

I do agree that although it seems that the practical behavior of Heisman voting would put Peppers on the outside looking in when it came to the prospect of actually winning, I have thought that - if he could say anything - it is that playing as many positions as he does gives him a better chance overall, in a sense, to have a good game by most measures. Peppers could be quiet at one spot in one game but incredibly effective elsewhere and still have a "moment". Jackson could have a bad game and it stands a chance of being just a bad game for Louisville in general. A weird way to look at it perhaps, but a small thing in favor of Peppers.

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M-Dog

November 1st, 2016 at 2:58 PM ^

Yeah, he had a bad "moment" in the MSU game when Sparty was able to run right at him.  Not good.

The Lamar Jackson equivalent might be throwing 2 picks to open the game.  Also not good.

But nobody remembers Jabrill's 1st quarter because he did so many other things.  

You can bet they'd rmemeber Jackson's 2 picks.

Given his position(s), I'm not sure there is anything Jabrill can actually do to outright win it at this point.  But Jackson could certainly lose it . . . 

 

 

 

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tspoon

November 1st, 2016 at 2:20 PM ^

Nationally televised night game.  He needs to put up another crazy highlight (to get replayed during the Iowa broadcast) and some stats this week, and then have a "shining moment" that is truly memorable against Iowa.  He needs to capture the nation's imagination.

 

Then follow that up with a monster game against O$U, and he's in business.

 

So hard to discount Lamar J ... he really just looks like he's playing in a video game every time he gets out on the field.  We may not like that, but when a QB does that (hardest position to play in sports, arguably), he's going to get most of the attention.  The voters won't forget that he was single-handedly out-athleting FSU when they CRUSHED the Noles.  And that his loss at Clemson was when his WR misread the down marker on a completed pass as they marched toward the endzone at the end of the game.

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Heptarch

November 1st, 2016 at 2:31 PM ^

Harbaugh on Peppers' conversion return:

"He picked up that loose option pitch and I thought I heard a sonic boom. I was a little disappointed parachutes didn't deploy."

 

That's gold, Jerry.

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mgoDAB

November 1st, 2016 at 2:31 PM ^

A Michigan Heisman goes through Ohio State. For Jabrill to win it, he'll probably need to have the best game of his life. Other than that, he'll be on the big stage with a road game against Iowa in prime time and potentially a B1G Championship game.

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mexwolv

November 1st, 2016 at 2:32 PM ^

has some more interesting things for Jabrill to do, before season's end, he is just waiting for the right moment to unleash those plays.  I bet he will throw a pass sooner tor later.

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SD Larry

November 1st, 2016 at 2:45 PM ^

through BIG 10 Championship, and Jabrill keeps playing like he is playing he will be very tough to beat imho.  Starting to get a lot more press, and when people start thinking about him playing 10 positions, I becomes someone mindboggling.  Like others have said, we wont see another player quite like Jabrill for a long time.

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shmax02

November 1st, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^

Have you watched Myles Garrett play this year? Jibril isn't the best defensive player in the country.

Did you know Jibril isn't even the best player on our defense?

Also, those of you saying he has a realistic shot and comparing him to Woodson, were you old enough to remember Charles Woodson? Mentioning Peppers in the same sentence of greatness as Woodson is an insult.

he sad thing is, he's an outstanding player, I love the kid, would love nothing more than for him to come back next year, and I think he's gonna be a stud as a pro. But this thread is full of some of the homerist homerisms I've ever seen. The fact that he played _ positions in a game is not an argument for the Heisman trophy! Am I the only one here who thinks this is out of control?

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Sten Carlson

November 1st, 2016 at 3:22 PM ^

An insult? Cmon! I was a Michigan Alum ('95) when Woodson won his Heisman and I know that Charles wouldn't be insulted by the comparison.

Out of control? If you say so.  Where else should those of us interested in this subject talk about it?

Read my post above: why are Michigan Men (assuming you're one) so quick to squash the idea of Peppers winning? Myles Garret is great, but tell me something else he does besides DL. Jabrill is by far the most diverse and dynamic player in the nation. He does more for his team than any other player, and in a lot of ways, is the definition of the Most Outstanding.

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TruBluMich

November 1st, 2016 at 3:12 PM ^

I'm old enough to clearly remember Woodson. Peppers is every bit as good as him. Peppers is not a full time CB or a lock down defender like Woodson. Just like Woodson rarely, if ever, played in the box. They could both trade positions and not compare to each other. They are about equal as returners. Woodson was the better WR and Peppers is the better RB.

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lilpenny1316

November 1st, 2016 at 3:14 PM ^

That's Jonathan Allen.

I was in school with Woodson.  Mentioning Peppers in the same sentence isn't a slight, though Honey Badger is more appropriate.  Outside of cover skills, Peppers can do everything Woodson could do, with more explosion.  And yes, if you are so skilled that you can fill multiple positions and do it at an All-American/All-Conference level, it is a solid argument for the Heisman.

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DetroitBlue

November 1st, 2016 at 3:55 PM ^

Yeah, dude. You don't really know what you're talking about. They are different players, and there's no question that CW was the better cover guy, but I've never seen a player that can impact the game in so many different ways as Peppers. Between the hidden yardage he saved by fielding every punt and not letting them bounce, to wildcat QB, to any of the 5 or 6 positions he plays on defense. If you don't see it by now, you'll never get it.



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UWSBlue

November 1st, 2016 at 3:00 PM ^

There is no question Harbaugh is going to pull out all the stops in every game going forward for Jabrill to win the Heisman. Jim knows next to the #1 overall pick, there is no better card to play when visiting a 5 star recruit.

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opwolverine97

November 1st, 2016 at 3:16 PM ^

If Jabrill has a monster game against OSU and has an opportunity to strike the pose, it'll be hard not to vote for him. The media coverage of The Game this year is going to be bananas



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lhglrkwg

November 1st, 2016 at 3:31 PM ^

Graciously screwing up that 2 pt conversion so Jabrill could have a highlight reel moment. SO amusing that now that play is going to be all over television whenever there's a Jabrill highlight reel

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MMB 82

November 1st, 2016 at 3:47 PM ^

but not win the Heisman. As a result, he will have to put off the draft and return for one more year in order to achieve all of his goals. I hope....

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Reader71

November 1st, 2016 at 3:56 PM ^

Hot take here, but can a primarily defensive player win the Heisman of he's not unanimously considered the best defensive player in the country? Or maybe his own team? I always figured that for a defensive player to win it, he would have to be the best defensive player AND have to excel in another phase of the game. I imagined that was the bare minimum a defender would have to do in order to break the media's love affair with QBs and RBs. This isn't a knock on Peppers (although you could knock his man coverage if you were so inclined), more of a reflection on what it takes for a defensive player to convince the voters he is more important to his team than the QB or RB. If you ask me, Steve Hutchinson should have won a Heisman or two, because he was the top performer I've ever seen at any position.

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GoBlueInIowa

November 1st, 2016 at 4:15 PM ^

Peppers obviously needs a monster game against OSU, but he HAS to have a punt return for a touchdown in Columbus to win the award. Needs to have a punt return highlight running on a loop with Desmond's and Woodson's.



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Ty Butterfield

November 1st, 2016 at 4:24 PM ^

It is certainly possible. Peppers has to have a huge game against OSU. Not necessarily a punt return TD, but if he has a rushing TD and a passing TD that could be enough. HOWEVA, if Michigan drops one game he is out. Michigan has to be undefeated and win the conference for Peppers to have a chance.

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lhglrkwg

November 1st, 2016 at 6:48 PM ^

The big, BIG problem for Lamar Jackson is that Louisville is almost certainly out of the national spotlight for the rest of the season

Their remaining schedule:

  • (4-4) Boston College
  • (5-3) Wake Forest
  • (7-2) Houston
  • (5-3) Kentucky

They're not going to make the ACC title game and are barely in the playoff discussion. In a "what have you done for me lately" world, Lamar has precious few opportunities to impress people nationally.

Conversely, Jabrill is the face of (what is perceived nationally as) a playoff team and he's got a shot at big performances on the national stage vs.

  • Iowa in primetime
  • Top 10 OSU
  • Top 10 Wisconsin / Nebraska (if all goes well)

Jabrill could easily pass Lamar just given the circumstances in front of both of them. Jabrill has a lot better chance to 'wow' people nationally

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