Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield took home the 2017 Heisman Trophy the very same way he plays on the football field: with a defiant attitude.
Heading into the night we already knew the winner — even though the Heisman Trophy presentation always presents a little glamour and suspense.
We knew all Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield had to do was sit quietly in his seat and wait for his name to be called. Even the National Guard couldn’t stop Saturday night’s proceedings.
We just didn’t know how the kid was going to win it.
The defiant one who plays with an attitude fit for college football’s greatest villain took home the 2017 Heisman Trophy in a similar fashion.
Baker Mayfield's legend is cemented.
The 2017 Heisman Trophy is his! pic.twitter.com/YsBt1XsBrp
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 10, 2017
The Baker Mayfield acceptance speech we all wanted to see. ? pic.twitter.com/AbcfnAV91q
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 10, 2017
He crushed the competition.
Final #Heisman Trophy voting results
Baker Mayfield – 2398
Bryce Love – 1300
Lamar Jackson – 793
Saquon Barkley – 304
Rashaad Penny – 175
Jonathan Taylor – 58
Mason Rudolph – 56
McKenzie Milton – 54
Kerryon Johnson – 45
Roquan Smith – 38— Saturday Blitz (@SaturdayBlitz) December 10, 2017
Mayfield had 732 first-place votes
Love 75
Jackson 47#Sooners— Eric Bailey (@EricBaileyTW) December 10, 2017
His 732 first-place votes destroyed both Bryce Love‘s 75 and the defending Heisman man Lamar Jackson‘s 47.
If those Mayfield naysayers were ready for controversy during the speech, the controversial one made sure to let him down in yet again, another defiant way.
Baker Mayfield gets emotional recognizing Bob Stoops and Lincoln Riley during his Heisman speech. #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/ili3Zq5g2o
— Sooner Gridiron (@soonergridiron) December 10, 2017
The OU senior threw for 4,340 yards and 41 touchdowns to just five interceptions during 13 games this season. He also rushed for 310 yards and five touchdowns while leading his Sooners to the Big 12 title.
Most importantly, he’ll be leading his squad into the College Football Playoff as his No. 2 Sooners are set to take on the No. 3 seeded Georgia Bulldogs.
Sure, his outlandish behavior on the field at times this season will be ridiculed. Some will wash it away as positive emotion. Others will point and harp on it as a detriment to his future and his team.
Despite all of it, the result of the Heisman Trophy presentation nailed it this time around. Baker Mayfield deserved the most prestigious trophy in sports and it deserved to be a landslide.
