If I were in Lamar's shoes

[Cardinal Cash]

Coming back for year 4 would be almost a no brainer. It may sound out there right now, but here are the reasons.
Reason 1: Lamar is not seen as a pro QB and the two Golden Boys if you will of Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen have already been anointed as the two franchise QBs coming out in the next draft.
Reason 2: If Lamar were to stay for 2 more years, for the sake of argument, let's say he matches his average production over the last 2 years (Not unreasonable because year 1 he did not start the entire time) he would hold a variety of school records.
Lamar would be the top rusher by a long shot at over 5000 yards. He is currently only 673 yds behind the leading rusher, Walter Peacock (3204 yds). He will likely break this record this year.
He would crush the record for rushing TDs with 64. 42 is currently the record held by Lenny Lyles. This record will also likely be broken this year as he is only 10 TDs behind Lyles.
Lamar would be in the top 3 in passing yds at 10766 and would only be 11 yds shy of Brian Brohm. So likely he would pass Brohm if he got anywhere close to this season's production and sit firmly at number 2.
Lastly, He would tie Chris Redman for 1st at 84 passing TDs.
Obviously reason 1 is the primary reason he would come back and reason 2 is just icing on the cake, but just sitting back and looking at it, IF he is trying to make a career as a QB this would be the best move for him and his legacy as a U of L Athlete would be unmatched. I know people are always worried about injury and money, but Lamar strikes me as a guy who is too driven to take the Braxton miller/Terrell Pryor/Nick Marshall route of changing to a WR/DB. He wants to be an NFL QB and wants to learn from one of the best QB coaches in the college ranks. He also seems like a guy who is L1C4. I know it probably sounds crazy, but I think it may just happen. Obviously we will see how he develops and after next season he will have a better idea of where he stands. But it's fun to speculate in the slow months waiting for football.

 

[HedleyLamarr]

What if Lamar improves as a QB, goes back to back Heisman. Very possible, actually, although the pundits don't see it...

 

[Kratz]

I don't think it will happen unless Lamar has a completely remarkable season. The Heisman seems to have now turned into a flavor of the month type of thing. Tebow won as a soph and didn't win it again.

It's almost like you have be a break out star to win the Heisman now. They don't want a been there, done that player.

 

[Cue Card]

Lamar has to do what is best for Lamar. I don't like saying that as a selfish fan because I would love to see him play 4 year for the Cardinals.

If he has another incredible year like last year then he should go make his money IMO. He can't take a chance on a catastrophic injury occurring.

 

[KerryRhodes]

He gone,

If he doesnt improve this season, He may have to agree to be an 'ATH' or hybrid QB/ATH if he wants to be drafted in the first round.

If he tells GMs he's a QB only, he'll probably slip to 2nd to 4th rounds.
He has to improve on moving the lone into protection packages.
I know he didnt have a line that could pass defend.

Unless GMs are using jedi mind tricks, he's going from a should be top 5 pick to lower rounds.

 

[HedleyLamarr]

Lamar still has a huge upside. If he improves his ability to read defenses, check into the proper plays, increases short pass accuracy, make better decisions, and has improved play around him, he could have a much better year than last year. I don't think the pundits expect that, but I can easily see it happening. He is smart, and has a very smart head coach. Lamar can repeat as the heisman winner, and if he does, he'll likely be the number one pick in the draft.

 

[zipp]

If we start out well and beat Clemson, the buzz will build for Lamar. His stock and ours will be in large part determined by how we finish again. And I'd like to think we learned something from last year...

 

[Cardinal Cash]

He gone,

If he doesnt improve this season, He may have to agree to be an 'ATH' or hybrid QB/ATH if he wants to be drafted in the first round.

If he tells GMs he's a QB only, he'll probably slip to 2nd to 4th rounds.
He has to improve on moving the lone into protection packages.
I know he didnt have a line that could pass defend.

Unless GMs are using jedi mind tricks, he's going from a should be top 5 pick to lower rounds.

I think if he is projected later than the 2nd round he will come back. This is all dependent if he is bound and determined to be a QB. If he's willing to change positions, he's a top 10 pick regardless of the year he has.

 

[BPGhost]

If he's willing to change positions, he's a top 10 pick regardless of the year he has.

That's a pretty unrealistic statement to suggest that a player switching to a position he hasn't ever played (I'm assuming you mean moving to WR) would be taken in the top 10 of the NFL draft.

Pretty sure it would be unprecedented.

 

[ciswilldean3215]

I've seen early draft projections for 2018(obviously way too early) and all of them do not have Lamar going in rounds 1 or 2, FWIW. Apparently it is a very heavy QB draft class of 2018 as well. I wouldn't chalk Lamar up as leaving just yet, especially after watching his performance in the spring game.

 

[Rollem Cards]

LJ has the legacy of all the RG3 types who've gone before him working against him.

The NFL still uses Quarterbacks. Not RBs who throw the ball a little.

If he becomes a QB....he'll be a HOFer.

If not, he'll be another rich kid who was in the NFL a while.

 

[SoundSlave]

He has the potential to be a great passer, but it will take at least 2 more years. I've always believed him to be a 4 year college player.

 

[Birdie King]

A lot of Lamar's future depends on the O line or lack there of.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

There is now a lot of film on him. If he returns for a 4th season that probably means he either got hurt or struggled his JR year.

 

[HoptownCat93]

The way Lamar plays and the risk he takes every down could make him really think hard about jumping while he's hot. Especially the way the UofL O-Line played down the stretch may make it hard not to think about his risk of injury.

Its also wayyyy to early to speculate where he will be next May. At this time last year nobody saw him being the best player in the country, so who is to say he does not make huge strides once again? Its hard to comment on if he's "ready" when he still has a lot of practices and an entire season to play first. His so-called weaknesses in 2016 that people are harping on for him coming back a year from now may be improved by the Fall.

 

[Cardinal Cash]

The way Lamar plays and the risk he takes every down could make him really think hard about jumping while he's hot. Especially the way the UofL O-Line played down the stretch may make it hard not to think about his risk of injury.

Its also wayyyy to early to speculate where he will be next May. At this time last year nobody saw him being the best player in the country, so who is to say he does not make huge strides once again? Its hard to comment on if he's "ready" when he still has a lot of practices and an entire season to play first. His so-called weaknesses in 2016 that people are harping on for him coming back a year from now may be improved by the Fall.

I definitely understand that sentiment. I think he could make the strides necessary to improve greatly in his accuracy this year, but it takes a ton of experience to acquire the knowledge of the game and defenses you may run up against, calling audibles at the line, etc. I don't expect Lamar to get all of that this year and that is why I anticipate him coming back if and only if he is bound and determined to play QB in the NFL. He openly admitted to not knowing all of the plays and running after option one his freshman year and it really screwed with some teams because when a QB is that good at scrambling and you don't see a QB like him that often you are going to get torched. See auburn and Texas a and m. At any rate I expect him to have a better understanding of the game and better accuracy to some degree this year, but he could be the clear cut number one pick if he comes back another year and focuses more on being a pro style QB.

 

[The Public Enemy]

Coming back for year 4 would be almost a no brainer. It may sound out there right now, but here are the reasons.
Reason 1: Lamar is not seen as a pro QB and the two Golden Boys if you will of Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen have already been anointed as the two franchise QBs coming out in the next draft.
Reason 2: If Lamar were to stay for 2 more years, for the sake of argument, let's say he matches his average production over the last 2 years (Not unreasonable because year 1 he did not start the entire time) he would hold a variety of school records.
Lamar would be the top rusher by a long shot at over 5000 yards. He is currently only 673 yds behind the leading rusher, Walter Peacock (3204 yds). He will likely break this record this year.
He would crush the record for rushing TDs with 64. 42 is currently the record held by Lenny Lyles. This record will also likely be broken this year as he is only 10 TDs behind Lyles.
Lamar would be in the top 3 in passing yds at 10766 and would only be 11 yds shy of Brian Brohm. So likely he would pass Brohm if he got anywhere close to this season's production and sit firmly at number 2.
Lastly, He would tie Chris Redman for 1st at 84 passing TDs.
Obviously reason 1 is the primary reason he would come back and reason 2 is just icing on the cake, but just sitting back and looking at it, IF he is trying to make a career as a QB this would be the best move for him and his legacy as a U of L Athlete would be unmatched. I know people are always worried about injury and money, but Lamar strikes me as a guy who is too driven to take the Braxton miller/Terrell Pryor/Nick Marshall route of changing to a WR/DB. He wants to be an NFL QB and wants to learn from one of the best QB coaches in the college ranks. He also seems like a guy who is L1C4. I know it probably sounds crazy, but I think it may just happen. Obviously we will see how he develops and after next season he will have a better idea of where he stands. But it's fun to speculate in the slow months waiting for football.

Actually Josh Allen of Wyoming is considered higher than Rosen out of UCLA....