Michigan Football: How Jourdan Lewis can Win the Heisman

Jourdan Lewis will go down as one of the best cornerbacks in Michigan football history when it’s all said and done, but his extraordinary play this season hasn’t brought on much Heisman talk.

That is until now.

According to Pro Football Focus’ college division, Lewis deserves not only to be in the conversation, but to be listed among the top candidates.

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PFF released its top five Heisman candidates through 10 games, and Lewis snuck in at No. 5.

"Like (Ohio State defensive end Joey) Bosa, Lewis is hurt by playing on defense, particularly when he doesn’t have any game-breaking returns to catch your attention. That being said, you won’t find a better cover corner in all of college football, and he is right up there with the other four players listed as one of the best players in the country. Lewis has been targeted 72 times in coverage, which seems foolish for opposing quarterbacks, especially when you consider he has given up just 26 receptions for 274 yards and one touchdown over the course of the year."

Ahead of him (from No. 1 to No. 4): Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey, Baker Mayfield, Joey Bosa.

Lewis is in pretty good company there, and he’s got an outside shot at rising through those ranks down the home stretch of the season.

PFF says Lewis’ “Heisman moment” was against Michigan State, when he went toe-to-toe with Spartans wide receiver Aaron Burbridge and, though he allowed a season-high 109 yards, ended the game still with four pass breakups.

Lewis is tied with Northern Illinois’ Shawun Lurry with a school-record 20 passes defended, and Lewis stands alone at the top with 18 pass breakups.

With two—possibly three, if Michigan wins the East—games remaining before the winner is named, Lewis has an opportunity to redefine his Heisman moment still against Christian Hackenberg and J.T. Barrett (and maybe C.J. Beathard).

What’s driving Lewis’ chances on the defensive side of the ball is the fact that he’s only allowed 26 receptions on 72 targets for 274 yards and one touchdown. Teams have been catching on and aren’t throwing the ball his way as often as they were in the beginning of the season, but Lewis still sees a sizable amount of action for what he’s been doing.

Where I think Lewis can really make his statement is in the return game. He’s recently started taking over the kickoff return duties for Jabrill Peppers, and he’s made a big splash so far.

Lewis has returned 5 kicks for 150 yards (a 30-yard average). Can you imagine if he takes one back? I think we would possibly see the mainstream sports media pick up on it from there.

Without returning kicks, I would dismiss PFF’s claims that Lewis is up there with the Heisman favorites; it’d be an incredibly tough sell. Now that there’s this added dimension to his game though, I’m not going to rule it out.

Next: Film Breakdown: Wolverines' running game vs. IU

If Lewis can have two big games to close out the season (and then possibly a third in the conference championship), he’s got an outside shot.

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