FanSided 250: Jaguars QB Gardner Minshew Voted 31st Amongst Sports Figures
By David Levin
Congratulations to Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew for being named as one of the top sports figures in the world in this year’s FanSided 250.
I can only imagine how Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew might react if he were standing at the podium at TIAA Bank Field in front of the media and was told he made the FanSided 250.
The rookie with the swagger of a gunslinger would crack that smile that raises the killer mustache and tell those in attendance how thankful he was for the opportunity he has been given this season to play quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
And to come in at No. 31 on the list of sports figures is pretty high praise for a guy who wasn’t expected to play this season but was thrown into the fire in Week 1 of the NFL season, only to become a national cult hero for his look, his ability on the field and how he carries himself on a team that hasn’t had much to cheer about this season.
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Minshew was the Jaguars sixth-round draft pick out of Washington State who finished fifth in the 2018 Heisman Trophy voting. For a player who is considered small by NFL standards at 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, and does not have the prototypical arm strength to play in this league, his mobility and his football acumen have served him well.
Among his achievements this season for the Jaguars…
- 2,549 yards with 15 touchdowns and only five interceptions
- He won the Pepsi Rookie of the Week six times this season
- He won the Pepsi Rookie of the Week six of the first eight weeks of the NFL season.
- Set the Jaguars rookie record for touchdowns in a season with 15
And there are still three games left to play this season. The Jaguars may be out of the playoff race, but there is still plenty to play for on the field.
Minshew was sent to the bench after Week 9 of the season when the Jaguars had a bye week and the announcement was made that Nick Foles was ready to return to action following a broken clavicle. After two and a half games of sub-par performance by the veteran, Minshew was reinserted into the Jaguars lineup at halftime of the 28-11 loss to Tampa Bay.
He started once again this past week at home against the Los Angeles Chargers. He is expected to remain the team’s starting quarterback for the rest of the 2019 season.
As stated on FanSided.com’s website in the introduction of the FanSided 250…
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"“The FanSided 250 (previously called the Fandom 250) is our annual celebration of fandom. Our list has evolved into a ranking of the “hottest” 250 fandoms of the year — whereas previous years’ lists have focused on identifying and ranking the “best” fan bases, this year we have decided to put more emphasis than ever on “buzz.”"