Jabrill Peppers: There are guys here 'more qualified' for Heisman Trophy ... but not for best dressed

Jabrill Peppers

Heisman Trophy finalist Jabrill Peppers, of Michigan and Paramus Catholic, considers himself an underdog to win the award.

(Richard Drew | AP)

NEW YORK -- One of the perks of winning the Heisman Trophy is lifetime voting rights in naming college football's most outstanding player.

Michigan linebacker Jabrill Peppers isn't expecting that privilege. In fact, if he had a vote in 2016, Peppers says he wouldn't have voted for himself.

Asked why he thinks he should win the Heisman Trophy when it is awarded Saturday night, the former Paramus Catholic High School star said, "Quite frankly, I don't."

"I think there [are] a lot more guys here more qualified," Peppers said.

Peppers said he would give a slight edge to Clemson's Deshaun Watson over Louisville's Lamar Jackson -- the presumptive favorite -- based on the head-to-head win by Watson and his stronger finish to the season.

Either way, Peppers plans to win the unofficial Best Dressed Award over Watson, Jackson and fellow finalists Baker Mayfield and Dede Westbrook, both of Oklahoma.

"I'm just happy I'm here, so I'm going to definitely try to win the style contest," Peppers said, breaking into laughter. "I told them, 'I hope your guys' suits are clean because mine is going to be real clean.'"

Peppers was embracing the underdog role and having fun Friday at Marriott Marquis in Times Square. The East Orange, N.J., native also is acting as a New York City tour guide for the out-of-towners.

As Peppers entertained a homecoming media contingent and played Hot Potato with the other finalists (see video above), his mother looked on proudly from the shadows.

"She's very excited," Peppers said. "She's probably loving it more than I am right now. For both of us to experience this, it's something special."

Peppers also will have his late older brother, Don Curtis, in his thoughts. Curtis served as a father figure for Peppers after his father went to prison.

"I prayed the other night and just told him, 'Everything is happening how you said it would. All I've got to do is just keep staying focused, stay the course and that's what I've been doing,'" Peppers said. "I always end it by, 'Tell God I'll see you soon.' My brother is always on my mind in everything I go through, everything I do."

Curtis also was among the first to realize Peppers had special football talents. So what would he have said at the Heisman ceremony?

"Told you, lil bro," Peppers said. "That's exactly what he would've said."

Peppers is trying to follow in the footsteps of his boyhood idol and former Michigan star Charles Woodson, the only primarily defensive player to win the trophy.

Like Woodson, Peppers earned his spot among the finalists by contributing in all phases of the game, adding 751 all-purpose yards on offense and special teams plus 26 points scored to his resume of 72 tackles, four sacks and an interception.

That unique skill set earned Peppers the Hornung Award as the nation's most versatile player earlier this week. He fell short in his bids for the Maxwell and Bednarik awards, recognizing the best overall and defensive player, respectively.

"A lot of people seem to think that since I do a lot, I can't do one thing well -- which is mind-boggling to me," Peppers said. "I'm just a guy that is going to do whatever he is asked to do to the best of my ability. Whatever it takes to win."

Michigan won its first nine games of the season before losing two of the last three, falling out of the College Football Playoff and into the Orange Bowl. Peppers said he won't make a decision on entering the 2017 NFL Draft -- he is eligible as a redshirt sophomore -- until after the game against Florida State.

"Last year I felt as though I was an 'almost' kind of guy," Peppers said. "I almost scored, I almost had this, I almost did that. I just try to capitalize on as many plays as I possibly can and keep helping my team win ballgames."

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.

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