How Lamar Jackson's stats might not reflect ranking as top 10 all-time college quarterback

Lamar Jackson ranked at No. 8 in ESPN’s Top 75 college quarterbacks since 2000, but On3’s J.D. PicKell didn’t buy that type of ranking.

The former Heisman Trophy winner was a star at Louisville and recently got his big contract extension with the Baltimore Ravens. However, the top 10 ranking didn’t sit well with PicKell based on some of the stats throughout his career.

But Jackson, despite his accolades, wouldn’t rank about former Heisman winner Johnny Manziel in terms of college quarterbacks, according to PicKell.

“Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t lie,” PicKell said on The Hard Count. “Also you want to take it a step further, Lamar Jackson is No. 8 on this list, according to Bill Connelly. Lamar Jackson completed 57% of his passes. Lamar Jackson is making a whole lot of money in the league, Johnny Manziel is currently on the couch when football is being played on Sundays. 

“I still would put Johnny Manziel over Lamar Jackson. You can’t complete less than 60% of your passes and be top 10 for me. Just can’t do it. Lamar Jackson, a great football player, a great quarterback, but top 10, ahead of Johnny Manziel? I don’t buy it. I don’t buy it.”

For reference, the quarterbacks ahead of Jackson, from No. 1 to 7, Baker Mayfield, Cam Newton, Vince Young, Tim Tebow, Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson and Kyler Murray. Jackson is ahead of Marcus Mariota and Robert Griffin III in the top 10 while Manziel is No. 13.

Over the course of his college career, Jackson finished with 9,043 yards, 69 touchdowns, 27 interceptions, a 57% completion percentage, 4,132 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns.

When you combine his passing and running ability, Jackson was unbelievable. But PicKell’s point is the completion percentage. Basically hit and miss.

Manziel played two seasons at Texas A&M and finished with 7,890 yards, 63 touchdowns, 22 interceptions, a 68.9% completion percentage, 2,169 rushing yards and 30 rushing touchdowns.

How he would’ve looked with another season in that system can only be speculated.

But, Jackson is kicking back with his new deal with the Ravens and ready to make a Super Bowl run. The former first-round pick’s college career was something to look back on though.

As a member of the Class of 2015, Jackson was a four-star recruit out of Boynton Beach (Fla.) Community, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 51 overall prospect in the state, the No. 25 quarterback in the class and the No. 313 overall prospect in the class.