Fifteen months ago, Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson began his college career in the least award-worthy way possible.

On the first play of the Cardinals’ 2015 season opener, against Auburn, Jackson lined up as a running back for a trick play. The quarterback split out in motion, and Jackson took the snap instead, rolling to his right and underthrowing a double-covered receiver. The pass was corralled by an Auburn defensive back.

Jackson had thrown his first interception — on his first play.

On Saturday, before becoming the first Louisville player to win the Heisman Trophy, Jackson recalled that moment. Acknowledging that he had been nervous he would throw an interception, he said that as he walked off the field, he could not wait for Coach Bobby Petrino to call his number again.

“Coach got to put me back out there,” Jackson recalled thinking. “I know I’m going to do something now because I got it out of the way.”