The voting:
1. DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama-114 (26 first-place votes)
2. Mac Jones, QB, Alabama-67 (9)
3. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson-49 (9)
4. Kyle Trask, QB, Florida-44 (3)
5. Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida-5
6. Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson-3 (1)
7. Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina-3 (1)
8. Zach Wilson, QB, BYU-3
9. Najee Harris, RB, Alabama-2
10. Ian Book, QB, Norte Dame-2
11. Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa-1
12. Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State-1
It’s no surprise that the four players with the most votes for the AP award are the finalists for the Heisman Trophy. That trophy will be awarded tonight. Will Smith take home both awards? The AP Player of the Year has gone on to win the Heisman 17 of 22 times previously.
Trevor Lawrence has led his team to the College Football Playoffs each of his three years at Clemson. The Tigers won the National Title his freshman year and lost to LSU his sophomore year. Ohio State put an emphatic end to his most recent quest for a title on Saturday. He’s led Clemson to three ACC titles. In three years, he’s lost only two games in which he’s started. By the only standard that ever seems to matter for quarterbacks, wins and championships, Lawrence has had one of the most successful college quarterbacking careers. He’s been pegged as the first pick of whichever NFL Draft that he enters since his freshman season. His greatest individual, season award is the 3rd Team All-America tag that he earned this year. It’s remarkable that he’s received so few national awards.
But this isn’t about Trevor Lawrence. It’s about DeVonta Smith. In being named the AP Player of the Year, he’s accomplished a few firsts. He’s the first receiver to win the award. Perhaps surprisingly, he’s the first Alabama player to win it. Smith and Mac Jones are the first teammates to finish 1-2 in the voting. It’s the first first that caught my attention. I like receivers. I like seeing receivers receive awards like this. I especially like seeing receivers receive awards like this over quarterbacks. Not all of the best football players are quarterbacks. It might be the most important position on a football team but it doesn’t mean the best players play there. Sometimes it’s receivers that make quarterbacks look good. Alabama is loaded with terrific receivers. Excellent linemen too. And running backs. No offense to Mac Jones, he’s had a fine season, but how could he not.
Here’s a look at the past winners of the AP Player (quarterback) of the Year Award:
2019 Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
2018 Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
2017 Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
2016 Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
2015 Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
2014 Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
2013 Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
2012 Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
2011 Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
2010 Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
2009 Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
2008 Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
2007 Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
2006 Troy Smith, QB, Ohio State
2005 Reggie Bush, RB, USC
2004 Matt Leinart, QB, USC
2003 Jason White, QB, Oklahoma
2002 Brad Banks, QB, Iowa
2001 Rex Grossman, QB, Florida
2000 Josh Heupel, QB, Oklahoma
1999 Ron Dayne, RB, Wisconsin
1998 Ricky Williams, RB, Texas
23 AP Player of the Year winners. 17 quarterbacks, 4 running backs, 1 defensive tackle, 1 receiver. How the hell did a defensive tackle win this award? Well, Ndamukong Suh often looked like he was playing against grade school kids that season.
Speaking of playing against overmatched opponents, I was in the stands in 1997 to watch Wisconsin play San Jose State. Two years before he’d take home the 1999 AP Player of the Year award, Ron Dayne ran over and through players against whom he should never have been playing. It was ridiculous. I don’t think that he was ever tackled.
Cal’s Aaron Rodgers should’ve won it over Matt Leinart in 2004. Cal and USC played a classic game that year. Rodgers was, by far, the best player on the field that day.
There was a time when Oklahoma was probably best known for the running backs that played there. Five Oklahoma quarterbacks have won the AP Player of the Year award.
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