After being on the radar all season, the Washington quarterback had a late fade and will not be among the five finalists Saturday at the event that honors the nation’s best college football player.
Jake Browning won’t be downtowning with the New York Athletic Club. / Drew Sellers, Sportspress Northwest
The Heisman Trophy award ceremony in New York Saturday will not have Jake Browning as one of the five finalists, despite the records he set as the Huskies’ sophomore quarterback.
Browning’s name floated up near the top of the Heisman speculation lists earlier in the season. But mediocre games against USC and Colorado slowed his roll. Friday in the Pac-12 championship game, Browning threw for a career-low 118 yards on 9-of-24 passing. The Huskies still won 41-10.
“I’m not going to sit here and say I’m not going to be bummed at all,” Browning said following the game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. “Obviously, you want to go. But I’m much happier we won the Pac-12 championship.”
The invitees, announced Monday afternoon, are Louisville QB Lamar Jackson, Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield, Clemson QB Deshaun Watson, Michigan LB Jabrill Peppers and Oklahoma WR Dede Westbrook.
Jackson is the big favorite for the award given to the nation’s best college football player.
Washington (12-1) reached a berth into the national playoffs for the first time thanks in large part to Browning’s skills and maturity. He set a school mark with 42 touchdown passes, one shy of the Pac-12 record.
DT Steve Emtman of the powerhouse 1991 team that shared the national championship is the only Huskies player to be invited to the Heisman finalist event. He finished fourth.
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