2008 Heisman Watch: Jake Locker

It’s the most prestigious individual award in all of sports, and Athlon's Heisman Watch spotlights the top 25 candidates to hoist the trophy. Washington quarterback Jake Locker is next on the 2008 list, which will be released in no particular order.

Jake Locker dazzled the Washington faithful in his freshman year, and defensive coordinators in the Pac-10 know this young quarterback has plenty of room to grow. Locker spent 2006 redshirting, but there was pressure to play him immediately. Starting quarterback Isaiah Stanback was lost for the year against Oregon State and backup Carl Bonnell was inconsistent in his place. Head coach Tyrone Willingham decided to keep the redshirt on in 2006, and Locker entered 2007 with high expectations from the fan base.
 
After taking a look at Locker’s 2007 stat line, it’s pretty clear the young quarterback met those expectations. Locker threw for 2,062 yards, added another 986 on the ground and posted 27 total touchdowns. The young quarterback showed he has room to grow in the passing department, as he posted a 47.3 completion percentage and tossed 15 interceptions to 14 touchdowns.

After his huge 2007 season, Locker was awarded Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and earned honorable mention All Pac-10 honors. His 3,048 yards of total offense ranked second in Washington single-season history, and became the 19th player in NCAA history to rush for over 100 yards and pass for over 300 in a single game.

While the Huskies finished with a 4-9 record, there were plenty of positives. The Ferndale, Wash. native threw a Pac-10 record 98-yard touchdown completion against Arizona, and nearly led the Huskies to upset victories over USC and Hawaii. Locker’s 2007 season was also marred by a scary neck injury against Oregon State. He was taken off the field by ambulance and missed the following week’s contest against California.

Why he’ll be holding the hardware: Locker is a do-it-all quarterback and should rack up plenty of yards on the ground and through the air. He’ll also have plenty of opportunities to pad his Heisman resume. The Huskies have early season battles against BYU and Oklahoma, along with hosting Notre Dame in October and a road date against USC.

Why he’ll be left out: One of the main concerns for Locker is the skill positions around him. The Huskies lose the top four receivers from last season, and the new targets stepping in are young and inexperienced. If the young, but talented receivers struggle, Locker may have trouble seeing an increase in his yardage. Also, the sophomore quarterback needs to improve his accuracy and cut down on his mistakes.

Final Analysis: The pressure is beginning to mount in Seattle. Head coach Tyrone Willingham needs to produce a winner now – not later. Reaching a bowl game in 2008 appears to be a stretch, but the Huskies are putting their hopes on the right arm and legs of Locker. Locker produced a solid freshman year, but will be asked to increase his level of play even more in 2008.

2007 STAT LINE

Other Links:

Athlon Sports' 2008 Heisman Watch
Read the Washington team preview
Watch the Washington preview video