Did Justin Blackmon Deserve the 2010 Heisman Trophy?

STILLWATER – On Tuesday night, Alabama receiver Devonta Smith won the 2020 Heisman Trophy after a stellar season. He beat out fellow Alabama player, quarterback Mac Jones, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Florida quarterback Kyle Trask to become the first receiver to win the award since Desmond Howard in 1991.

Congratulations to him as he had a really impressive season and also became the first non-quarterback to win the award since Alabama running back Derrick Henry won it back in 2015.

However, should there have been another receiver to have won the award since then? If we’re looking at stats compared to Smith’s, then that answer is yes and it’s a receiver Oklahoma State fans are very familiar with: Justin Blackmon.

If we take a look at Smith’s numbers, they were impressive. He hauled in 105 receptions for 1,641 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also recorded a rushing touchdown and one as a punt returner. Taking a look at the runner-up, Trevor Lawrence, he completed 69% of his passes this season for 3,153 yards with 24 touchdowns and five interceptions. That’s nearly 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns less than third-place Mac Jones had this season.

Now, let’s take a look at Justin Blackmon’s and Cam Newton’s stats, the player who won the 2010 Heisman Trophy.

Blackmon hauled in 111 catches for 1,782 yards and 20 touchdowns. If we take a look at Newton, he completed 66% of his passes that season for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns with seven interceptions. While he threw for more touchdowns than Lawrence did, he threw more interceptions than Lawrence and had less yards than him as well.

Blackmon ended up winning the Biletnikoff Award in both 2010 and 2011, the first and last receiver to do so, and he was also a unanimous All-American during those two seasons as well. There really wasn’t even a question that he was the best receiver in the country and one of the best overall football players as well.

In hindsight, and comparing the stats to the winners and runner ups, Blackmon should’ve won the 2010 Heisman Trophy and at the very least been a finalist in 2011.