The Next Lamar Jackson: Sophomore QBs with a Shot to Win the 2017 Heisman Trophy

This time last year, it might have sounded foolish to call Lamar Jackson a Heisman Trophy candidate.

The Louisville Cardinals quarterback was coming off a solid freshman season and garnered some buzz as a potential breakout player. But winning the 2016 Heisman? That was a little premature, right? 

Nope. Jackson had a truly special season, throwing for 3,543 yards with 30 touchdowns and nine interceptions and rushing for 1,571 yards and 21 scores on the ground while emerging as the nation's most electric talent.

Jackson held off a late push from Clemson Tigers signal-caller Deshaun Watson and claimed the Heisman in a win few saw coming in August. He was just the latest in a trend of underclassman quarterbacks nabbing the stiff-arm trophy, including Florida's Tim Tebow, Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel and Florida State's Jameis Winston.

Can another sophomore join the party in 2017? It's possible. Here's a look at sophomore quarterbacks who, with a little luck and some good work, could become the next young Heisman winner in December.

Alabama: Jalen Hurts

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Jalen Hurts nearly led Alabama to a national title as a freshman. What will he do for an encore?

Alabama should again be one of the nation's best teams. The Crimson Tide return 12 starters, and only a last-minute touchdown drive by Clemson and Deshaun Watson separated them from consecutive national titles and an undefeated 2016 season. And for the first time since 2013, they have a returning starting quarterback in sophomore Jalen Hurts.

Hurts bucked the Tide's trend of one-and-done senior starting quarterbacks and showed plenty of promise as a true freshman. He threw for 2,780 yards with 23 touchdowns against nine interceptions and added 954 rushing yards and 13 scores on the ground as Alabama's second-leading rusher.

He slumped toward season's end, though, throwing for just 57 yards in the Peach Bowl win over the Washington Huskies in the College Football Playoff semifinal and completing 13 of 31 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown against Clemson. However, his 30-yard touchdown run with 2:07 remaining lifted Alabama to a 31-28 lead and would have been the game-winning score if not for Watson's impressive drive.

Alabama returns standout receiver Calvin Ridley, tailbacks Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough as well as three starting offensive linemen.

Hurts has the weapons to thrive under center and should have no problem getting national exposure as Alabama's quarterback, which will help his Heisman chances immensely.

Auburn: Jarrett Stidham

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Jarrett Stidham could be ready for a big season in his new home at Auburn.

The scandal that cost Baylor head coach Art Briles and university officials their jobs ultimately cost the Bears quarterback Jarrett Stidham too.

In the aftermath of the firings, Stidham transferred from the program following a promising freshman season in 2015 that saw him throw for 1,265 yards with 12 touchdowns and two interceptions in 10 games (three starts). That included a 419-yard, three-touchdown effort through the air in his starting debut against Kansas State.

Baylor's loss is Auburn's gain. Stidham attended community college but didn't play football last fall, preserving three seasons of eligibility. He could be a perfect fit at Auburn, where head coach Gus Malzahn is facing some pressure following an 8-5 2016 campaign.

With new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey on board, the Tigers will feature a wide-open offense that will lean heavily on the passing game. It should be similar to the system Stidham thrived in at Baylor, and he should put up some big numbers.

If Auburn can challenge for SEC West supremacy, Stidham will earn plenty of credit, and a Heisman push will likely be in the offing.

Florida State: Deondre Francois

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Deondre Francois had a promising freshman season for Florida State.

Following a pair of "down" 10-win seasons—at least by head coach Jimbo Fisher's standards—Florida State is poised to return to the nation's elite and challenge for a College Football Playoff berth, and sophomore quarterback Deondre Francois is a huge piece of the equation.

Francois threw for 3,350 yards with 20 touchdowns against seven interceptions and helped the Seminoles end the season on a five-game winning streak, including a 33-32 Orange Bowl thriller over the Michigan Wolverines.

Florida State returns 16 starters, although only seven are on offense, and it must find a replacement for tailback Dalvin Cook, the school's all-time leader rusher who is now with the Minnesota Vikings.

Francois will be a linchpin for the offense. He is an athletic player who has the ability to pick up yards on the ground and hurt defenses with his arm too.

Francois must become more consistent; he had five 300-yard passing games but completed just 58.8 percent of his passes overall. However, if FSU is in the hunt for the College Football Playoff, he will likely find himself strongly in the mix for the Heisman Trophy.

Georgia: Jacob Eason

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Jacob Eason had an up-and-down freshman season as Georgia's quarterback.

Georgia Bulldogs fans had big expectations for head coach Kirby Smart's first season in Athens, but he didn't live up to them.

The Bulldogs were inconsistent in an 8-5 season that included losses to rivals Florida, Georgia Tech and Tennessee. One positive? Freshman quarterback Jacob Eason received some valuable experience.

Considered one of the nation's top prospects entering the season, the first-year player threw for 2,430 yards with 16 touchdowns against eight interceptions.

Although Georgia has to replace three offensive line starters, the Bulldogs do return talented senior backfield duo Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, which will take some pressure off Eason.

The 19-year-old must complete more than 55.1 percent of his passes in 2017, but he has the arm to succeed as well as the physical tools with a 6'5", 235-pound frame.

Eason should also be more comfortable in his second season under Smart's watch. He has the potential, and if the Bulldogs make a run in the SEC East, his candidacy would receive a major boost.

Oregon: Justin Herbert

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Justin Herbert staked his claim as Oregon's next star quarterback last fall.

Oregon hit rock-bottom last fall. Two years after finishing as the national runner-up, a 4-8 season cost head coach Mark Helfrich and his staff their jobs.

It was a disastrous season, but one good thing happened: After beginning two years with graduate-transfer stopgap quarterbacks, the Ducks found a keeper in freshman Justin Herbert.

Herbert threw for 1,936 yards with 19 touchdowns against four interceptions after taking over as the starter five games into the 2016 season. He had flashes of brilliance, including a 489-yard, four-touchdown effort in a 54-35 home win over Arizona State, as well as a six-touchdown day in a 52-49 double-overtime loss to Cal on the road.

New head coach Willie Taggart will have an uptempo offense that should play well to the 6'6", 215-pound Herbert's strengths.

If Taggart has immediate success with the Ducks' reclamation project, Herbert will find his way on to Heisman voters' radars sooner rather than later.

Southern California: Sam Darnold

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Sam Darnold should be a strong Heisman contender as a sophomore.

Southern California's 2016 season turned when head coach Clay Helton inserted Sam Darnold at quarterback.

The 1-2 Trojans lost the redshirt freshman's starting debut to Utah, 31-27, but reeled off nine consecutive wins to close the season, including a 52-49 thriller over Penn State in the Rose Bowl.

As Darnold enters his first full season as the Trojans' starter under center, there's no question he's the man on the USC offense. As a freshman, he threw for 3,086 yards with 31 touchdowns against nine interceptions, completing 67.2 percent of his passes. He saved the best for last, torching Penn State for 453 yards with five touchdowns and one interception.

Southern California should be a strong College Football Playoff contender this fall, and the 6'4", 225-pound Darnold will be a key figure. If the Trojans live up to expectations, he should be a Heisman Trophy candidate.

Texas: Shane Buechele

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Shane Buechele had a solid freshman season in the Texas offense.

For head coach Charlie Strong, it was too little, too late at Texas. A 5-7 record in 2016, his third losing season in as many years in Austin, cost him his job.

The Longhorns hit a home run in luring Tom Herman away from Houston; the Cougars offense averaged 38.1 points per game as Herman went 22-4 at the helm. And the new Texas head coach inherits a solid quarterback prospect in sophomore Shane Buechele.

Buechele showed real promise as a freshman, throwing for 2,958 yards with 21 touchdowns against 11 interceptions and completing 60.4 percent of his passes. He is an athletic passer with room for improvement; he had one 300-yard passing game last season in a loss to West Virginia.

A fast-paced offense was a good fit for Buechele last season, and he can put up big numbers in Herman's uptempo system.

If Herman can author a big turnaround in his first season in burnt orange, the sophomore quarterback will play a significant role and get plenty of national attention in the process. He's a name to watch.