2021 Heisman Trophy Trust Journal

HEISMAN JOURNAL DECEMBER 2021 / VOLUME 96 / NUMBER 1

Honoring Pat Sullivan 50 T H A N N IV E R SARY

Danny Wuerffel 2 5 T H A N N IV E R SA RY

Robert Griffin III 1 0 T H A N N IV E R SA RY

Curtis Granderson HE ISM A N HU M A N ITAR I AN

HEISMAN 2021 Adventure starts where the road ends.

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Heisman Trophy Trust Board of Directors

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President’s Message

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Heisman 50th Anniversary Honoree

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Heisman 25th Anniversary Honoree

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Heisman 10th Anniversary Honoree

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Heisman High School Scholarship

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2021 Heisman Humanitarian

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Heisman Charities

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A Brief History of the Heisman Trophy

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2021 Sectional & State Representatives

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Behind the Scenes of the 2020 Heisman Ceremony

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2021 Heisman Contenders

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2021 Heisman Trophy Winner

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2021 Heisman Voting Results

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Remembering Rudy Riska

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TRUSTEES

HEISMAN STAFF

HEISMAN CONSULTANTS

Michael J. Comerford, President James E. Corcoran William J. Dockery Anne F. Donahue N. Richard Kalikow Vasili Krishnamurti Brian D. Obergfell Carol A. Pisano Sanford Wurmfeld

Robert B. Whalen Heisman Executive Director

Paul Goldberg Heisman.com Editor-In-Chief

Timothy Henning Associate Director

Donna Koppinger Mary Jane Moran Events Coordinators

Honorable John E. Sprizzo 1934–2008

Rudy J. Riska 1936–2021

Bob Garguilo VIP Guest Liaison Rich O’Sullivan Travel Consultant

HEISMAN WEEKEND SUPPORT STAFF Ryan Boyle, Shea Cassady, Aaron Cruz, Olivia Danosky, Brian Dombrowski, Lori Evon, Anna Fiordilino, Jeff Gandolfo, Mike Garcia, Dante Giraldi, Kelly Henning, Brittany Judson, Brianna Klinger, Mike Miller, Max Nager, AJ Pegno, Garrett Potter, Stephanie Pryor, Rachel Robins, Robbin Seipold, Kim Terranella, Dave Terranella, Nick Villanueva , Mike Wieneke

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The Heisman Trust thanks Nike for their support.

Heisman Trophy Trust M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The Heisman Trophy Trust ensures the continuation and honor of this award. The Trust, furthermore, has a charitable mission to support amateur athletics, and to provide greater opportunities to the youth of our country. Our goal, through these charitable endeavors, is for the Heisman Trophy to symbolize the fostering of a sense of community responsibility and service to our youth, especially those disadvantaged or with special needs. All assets of the Trust, beyond the expense of maintaining the annual presentation of the Heisman Memorial Trophy, are reserved for such charitable causes. The Trustees, who all serve pro bono, are guided by a devotion to college football, and are committed to community service and the valued tradition which the Trophy represents.

HEISMAN TROPHY TRUST - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Michael J. Comerford President

James E. Corcoran

William J. Dockery

Anne F. Donahue

N. Richard Kalikow

Vasili Krishnamurti

Brian D. Obergfell

Carol A. Pisano

Sanford Wurmfeld

Honorable John E. Sprizzo 1934-2008

HEISMAN 2021

Dear Friends, Welcome Back! We are pleased to celebrate the 87th Annual Heisman Memorial Trophy weekend, in-person, after missing last year due to the pandemic. The full throttle action on the gridiron was as exciting and thrilling as ever. We appreciate all the hard work of the conferences, school administrators, coaches, and most importantly the student athletes for allowing us to partake in the joy of college football.

We are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate, with all of you, the best of College Football 2021.

For the past 87 years, the Heisman Memorial Trophy has been presented to the most outstanding college football player in the nation. The pageantry of College Football, to the delight of fans, returned this year and so have we. Please join us in celebrating this year’s Heisman Trophy winner, recognizing the fraternity of Heisman winners, particularly those celebrating significant anniversaries, and promoting the charitable endeavors of the Heisman.

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The Heisman Memorial Trophy epitomizes the pursuit of excellence with integrity, through diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The Trust’s mission is to preserve the integrity of the Trophy and guarantee its continuance. The Trust also has a charitable mission to support amateur athletes and provide greater opportunities to the youth of our country. Our goal through these charitable endeavors is for The Heisman Trophy to symbolize the fostering of a sense of community responsibility and service to our youth, especially those disadvantaged or with special needs.

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The Trust remains dedicated to that charitable mission. Thanks to the generous support of our partners— Nissan, ESPN, Jostens, Deloitte, Acceptance Insurance, as well as Campus Legends, who joined the Heisman family this year—the Heisman Trust is able to help thousands of deserving and underserved individuals each year. To date, the Trust has donated in excess of $20 million to hundreds of not-for-profit organizations throughout the United States. This year the Trust has once again provided over $2 million to worthy causes.

For the past twenty years, the Trust has been guided by the devotion of its Trustees, who generously give freely of their time, wisdom, and expertise. I thank Trustees William Dockery, James Corcoran, Anne Donahue, N. Richard Kalikow, Vasili Krishnamurti, Brian Obergfell, Carol Pisano, and Sanford Wurmfeld.

Recognition is due as well to our staff members Rob Whalen, Executive Director, and Tim Henning, Associate Director, who ably manage the day-to-day operations of the Trust.

I would be remiss if I didn’t honor the legacy of Rudy Riska. Rudy, our executive Director Emeritus, and the man behind the Heisman for 40 years, passed away in September of this year. He successfully built and cultivated friendships and relationships which continue to be the foundation of the Heisman Trophy. He was a generous man with an even bigger heart and a friend to all he met. Rudy’s impact on the Heisman Trophy is immeasurable and his presence will forever be intertwined in the fabric of the Heisman Trophy.

He will always be remembered dearly by the Heisman Family.

Thank you once again. I hope you will enjoy tonight’s dinner program. On behalf of the entire Heisman Trust, I offer you our continued best wishes for good health throughout the New Year and beyond.

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2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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Heisman 50 th Anniversary Honoree

PAT SULLIVAN John Heisman was the head coach at Auburn from 1895 through 1899, before and after many other stops on his historic coaching journey. More than seven decades after Heisman moved on from the Tigers, one of Alabama’s favorite sons, Pat Joseph Sullivan, became the first Auburn player to win the famed trophy that bore Heisman’s name. Fifty years ago, on November 24, 1971, Pat Sullivan won the Heisman in a close vote thanks to a brilliant senior season that capped three standout years as Auburn’s quarterback.

Pat Sullivan was born in Birmingham and was a known QB commodity early, excelling in the Toy Bowl football league as a youth at Blessed Sacrament School. By the time he entered high school at John Carroll Catholic, the ever-humble Sullivan was on his way to becoming a three-sport prep star in football, basketball and baseball, ultimately starring at quarterback.

By his senior year, Pat was the most sought after recruit in the state and had weekly recruiting dinners. With a strict schedule set by his parents, Monday nights were reserved for Alabama, Tuesday nights for Auburn. Well, Tuesdays and the Tigers won out and Sullivan chose to play for Auburn coach Shug Jordan, enrolling as a freshman in 1968.

Pat played for the freshman team in 1968 (beating Alabama’s frosh squad to

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SULLIVAN

highlight the year) before joining varsity as a 1969 sophomore. He immediately lit up the Plains, throwing for 16 touchdowns and almost 1700 yards, leading Auburn to an 8-3 record and a berth in the AstroBluebonnet Bowl, its best season since 1963. As a junior, Pat led the nation with 2,856 yards of total offense, including 2,586 passing yards, setting an NCAA record for yards per play (8.57) while leading Auburn to a 9-2 record (including his third win over Alabama), a win in the Gator Bowl and a final No. 10 finish in the AP Poll. That set the stage for his memorable Heisman-winning 1971 season that kicked off with a 60-7 win over Chattanooga on September 18.

Auburn took on No. 9 Tennessee in week 2 and trailed 9-3 late in the game. Following a lackluster first half, Sullivan led the Tigers on a gamewinning 89-yard TD drive, throwing for 59 yards on the scoring march to secure a 10-9 triumph and ending the Volunteers’ 23-game home winning streak.

Sullivan next threw for 253 yards and two scores in a 38-6 win over Kentucky, starting a streak of five straight games with at least 204 passing yards, all in double digit victories. He passed for 238 yards and three scores in a win over Southern Miss, a season-high 281 yards and three more scores in a victory at Georgia Tech and 204 yards and a TD in a rout over Clemson.

by Paul Goldberg

Pat Sullivan | 50 th Anniversary Honoree

Sullivan ran for two first-quarter scores (his only rushing TDs of the season) and threw two fourth-quarter scores in a 40-7 romp over Florida in front of a record home crowd of 63,500 and then rifled three more TD passes in a 30-21 win over Mississippi State to open November.

The Tigers, at 8-0, next traveled to Athens to face unbeaten Georgia.

Sullivan got the best of the Bulldogs in the schools’ 75th meeting, leading the Tigers to a 35-20 win, tossing a season-best four TDs to go with 248 passing yards. It was the performance that clinched the Heisman for Sullivan. Watching the announcement from his parents’ home in Birmingham, he won the trophy with 1,597 total points, 142 ahead of Cornell star running back Ed Marinaro, to become Auburn’s first winner.

Three days later, No. 4 Alabama got the best of Sullivan and Auburn in a 31-7 win, knocking the Tigers out of the national title chase, and they also fell to No. 2 Oklahoma, 40-22 in the Sugar Bowl. But although his Auburn career didn’t finish on the high note the Tiger faithful wanted, it was a small chip in an otherwise platinum-plated career that saw him throw for 6,534 career passing yards and 54 touchdowns, scoring another 18 on the ground, the 72 total TDs tying an NCAA record. His senior-year totals saw him pass for 2,262 yards and 21 touchdowns, rushing for two more.

Also an outstanding student, Pat was named an Academic All-American in 1971 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business administration in 1972. He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 1972 NFL draft, playing four seasons there followed by one year split between Washington and San Francisco.

After time in private business and five years as a radio analyst for Auburn football, Sullivan returned to the game as the Auburn quarterbacks coach in 1986, helping the Tigers to three SEC titles in six seasons at his alma mater. Sullivan served as the head coach at TCU from 1992–97 (winning a share of the 1994 Southwestern Conference title), was the offensive coordinator at AlabamaBirmingham from 1999–2006 and then was the head coach at Samford from 2007–2014 (winning a Southern Conference crown in 2013), while becoming the Bulldogs’ winningest coach.

Sullivan, who battled cancer throughout the final two decades of his life, passed away on December 1, 2019, a day after the Iron Bowl, something he helped Auburn win twice. He was one of the most cherished athletes in the history of the state, beloved not only at Auburn but at UAB and Samford as well. So popular in the state was Sullivan that in the summer of 2019, months before his passing, he was voted as Alabama’s greatest prep player as well as its best quarterback in a summer-long state-wide poll.

A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and the National High School Hall of Fame, Sullivan was honored with a statue in front of Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2012 along with fellow Auburn Heisman winners Bo Jackson and Cam Newton. This fall, Auburn celebrated Sullivan and the 1971 Tiger team that helped him win the the school’s first Heisman on November 13 in front of a packed home crowd, another reminder of the massive place he will always have in the Auburn family.

Pat and wide receiver Terry Beasley made a dynamic team.

2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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Heisman 25 th Anniversary Honoree

DANNY WUERFFEL A quirk of fate, a lucky assignment, a little of both? Florida star Danny Wuerffel, the son of an Air Force chaplain, won the 1996 Heisman Trophy a quarter of a century ago. But had the military not assigned his father to the Sunshine State as Wuerffel was entering high school, we might be celebrating someone else’s 25-year Heisman anniversary. Perhaps it was destiny that landed Wuerffel in Florida, allowing him to blossom into a prep phenom, a college star, and ultimately sending him in his father’s footsteps of service, albeit via a different path.

While we celebrate the 25th anniversary of his 1996 Heisman, it gives us a chance to also spotlight Wuerffel’s desire to give back via his work with Desire Street Ministries and his partnership with community-based folks in Florida who developed the Wuerffel Trophy, given annually to the college football player “who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.”

Wuerffel was born in Pensacola, Florida, but he didn’t grow up there. His father, Jon, was a Lutheran minister and a chaplain in the Air Force and, in typical military fashion, the family did its share of globetrotting. They lived in South Carolina, Spain, Nebraska and Colorado before a move back to Florida—to Fort Walton Beach­—in the early 1990s. As the family has said, it was sheer chance that sent them to Florida and not back to Europe, or just about anywhere else at that time.

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WUERFFEL

Fort Walton Beach High became the first beneficiary of the Air Force’s decision to move Wuerffel’s father to Florida, as he became a two-sport star in football and basketball at the school. As a senior, he led his Vikings to a Florida Class 4A state football title with an undefeated season, drawing scholarship offers from across the country before he settled on the University of Florida under the Gators’ first Heisman winner, Steve Spurrier.

Wuerffel’s impact was immediate. As a 1993 freshman, he earned his way into a QB platoon and passed for 2,230 yards and 22 TDs. He eventually became the starter as a 1994 sophomore and totaled 1,754 yards and 18 scores. Wuerffel became a full-time starter as a 1995 junior and leaped into the national spotlight, leading the Gators to a 12-1 season, an SEC title and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl where No. 2 Florida fell to national champion Nebraska. He threw for 3,266 yards and 35 TDs and finished a strong third in the Heisman vote behind 1995 winner Eddie George and Tommie Frazier.

By the time 1996 rolled around, he was among a list of Heisman favorites and did not shrink from the spotlight. Florida opened the season with blowout wins over Southwest Louisiana and Georgia Southern before the Gators’ first test of the season, a September 21 date at No. 2 Tennessee. Wuerffel and No. 4 Florida passed the test just fine as the Gators—behind four of the QB’s TD throws—raced to a 35-0 lead early in the

by Paul Goldberg

Danny Wuerffel | 25 th Anniversary Honoree

second quarter before easing up on the gas, eventually winning 35-29 in front of the biggest recorded college football crowd (107,608) in 66 years. What followed were a series of blowouts as Florida dominated Kentucky (65-0), Arkansas (42-7), No. 12 LSU (56-13), No. 24 Auburn (51-10) and Georgia (47-7) over the next five games. Wuerffel threw for 1,643 yards and 17 TD passes in that stretch, despite leaving the games early.

Congratulations

to all the finalists, and this year’s recipient of the

HEISMAN TROPHY As well as our namesake, Danny Wuerffel, celebrating his 25th Anniversary of joining the Heisman family

In fact, Florida was so good in 1996, that Wuerffel completed just three of the Gators’ first 10 games and played little more than a half in six of them. The game against lowly Vanderbilt on November 9 was surprisingly not one of them, as Florida got out to a 28-6 lead but saw the Commodores score 15 straight points to make it close. Florida was held well below its offensive averages, but Wuerffel still accounted for all four scores via his arm.

It was back to blowouts with a 52-25 win over South Carolina in week 10 as Florida finished 8-0 in SEC play for the second year in a row. A week later, however, top-ranked Florida suffered its only setback of the season, a 24-21 loss to No. 2 Florida State in the only No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in the series. Wuerffel passed for 362 yards and three scores, but also tossed three interceptions as the Gators fell behind 17-0 and could not recover. It was only Wuerffel’s third loss as a starter. Florida, however, would get another crack at Florida State on an even bigger stage, but not before Wuerffel made history.

The Gators bounced back from the loss to the Seminoles with a 45-30 win over No. 11 Alabama to win their fourth straight SEC title, with Wuerffel throwing for 401 yards on 20-of-35 passing with six TDs and two interceptions. Wuerffel’s performance solidified his standing in the Heisman race and one week later, he became Florida’s second winner of the trophy with 1,363 points, well ahead of Iowa State’s Troy Davis (1,174) thanks to 300 firstplace votes. He captured the Heisman 30 years after Spurrier.

Thanks to a Nebraska loss to Texas, Florida climbed into a rematch with Florida State in the Sugar Bowl less than three weeks later.

And thanks to No. 2 Arizona State falling to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, the Gator-Seminole sequel was the de facto national

COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S PREMIER AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE

title game. A close contest early in the second half turned into another blowout as No. 3 Florida trounced No. 1 Florida State, 52-20. Wuerffel threw for 306 yards and three TDs while running for another score, leading the Gators to the program’s first ever national title.

Wuerffel finished his Gator career as the most decorated player in the program’s history. He threw for 10,875 yards and 114 touchdown passes, the best in SEC history and second-most in major college history at the time, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in public relations. In addition to the Heisman Trophy, he was also the recipient of the 1996 Campbell Award, the Maxwell Award, the Johnny Unitas Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. The following spring, Wuerffel was drafted in the fourth round of the 1997 NFL draft (99th overall) by the New Orleans Saints. He spent six years in the NFL with the Saints, Packers, Bears and Redskins, before retiring.

But the end of his NFL career beget the start of a new mission.

Wuerffel had begun work with the New Orleans-based Desire Street Ministries—a non-profit, faith-based organization focused on spiritual and community development that served under-resourced neighborhoods—during his time with the Saints.

Wuerffel felt such a connection to the work done by Desire Street Ministries that he became its executive director following his NFL career and the organization’s reach now extends throughout the Southeast.

The Wuerffel Trophy, working in conjunction with the All Sports Association based in Fort Walton, was developed “to inspire other people to be community-minded, to live for others, to sacrifice their own interests for the benefit of the community and other people.” First given in 2005, it has become the premier NCAA football award based on community service.

Danny Wuerffel is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame and has earned numerous other service-based honors. He continues to serve as an exemplary figure for student-athletes who try to balance athletic, academic and community service success.

2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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Heisman 10 th Anniversary Honoree

ROBERT GRIFFIN III On December 10, 2011, Robert Griffin III became the first Baylor Bear to win the Heisman Trophy, capping a marvelous season in which the athletic quarterback could seemingly do anything he wanted to do on the football field. So it was a fitting fashion choice to complement his black pinstripe suit and gold and black tinted tie with, of all things, red and blue Superman socks, cape and all. He walked up, up and away onto the Heisman stage after his name was announced, bounding into the history books to complete an improbable tale as compelling as any superhero movie.

Griffin was born in Okinawa, Japan on February 12, 1990, to Robert Jr. and Jacqueline Griffin, a married pair of U.S. Army sergeants stationed in Japan and Griffin’s home until he was three. Griffin’s parents had already made many stops during their military careers and following Okinawa, moved to Tacoma, Washington, and New Orleans before putting down roots in Copperas Cove, Texas when Griffin was 7. As a youth, Griffin excelled as a track athlete, training with his father’s club team.

By the time he got to Copperas Cove High, Griffin was on his way to becoming a threesport star in football, basketball and track, with the Olympics as a legitimate goal.

On the gridiron, he led Copperas to the 2007 Class 4A state championship as a senior, falling in the title game but still finishing with a 13-2 record. That success was arguably eclipsed by his exploits on

2011

GRIFFIN III

the track. Griffin set Texas state records in both the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles, his 35.33 in the latter just 1/100th off the national record. His best 2007 time in the 400 meter hurdles was the fastest among any junior in the world, and he was among the top 5 in the shorter distance.

Griffin graduated a semester early from Copperas, his prep resume not only packed with athletic accomplishments but with a bullet point that read “Class President.”

College ready indeed. Originally set on attending the University of Houston, Griffin switched to Baylor, choosing to follow head coach Art Briles from the Cougars to the Bears when Briles changed jobs. Enrolling a semester early, Griffin got a jump on his collegiate track career as a 2008 spring semester freshman, finishing third at the NCAA Championships in the 400-meter hurdles after winning the race at the Big 12 meet. He was fast enough to earn an invitation to the 2008 Olympic Trials and promptly reached the 400m hurdles semifinals where he finished 11th overall.

But football beckoned and by the fall, he was a freshman starter under Briles and threw for 2,901 yards and 15 scores while rushing for 843 yards and 13 more TDs. A knee injury cost him his 2009 season but there was no sophomore slump. As a 2010 redshirt, Griffin passed for 3,501 yards and 22 TDs while leading the Bears to their first bowl appearance since 1994.

by Paul Goldberg

Robert Griffin III | 10 th Anniversary Honoree

The 2011 season was among Baylor’s most anticipated in years and got off to a banging start with a 50-48 upset over No. 14 TCU, ending the Horned Frogs’ 25-game regular-season win streak.

Griffin threw for a career-high five TDs with 359 yards passing, rushed for 38 yards and caught a key third-down pass on Baylor’s late game-winning fourth-quarter drive after TCU had erased a 24-point deficit. Baylor got to 3-0 with easy wins over Stephen F. Austin and Rice, with Griffin throwing for a combined 603 yards and eight TDs with 129 rushing yards in the two blowouts.

In the second-to-last game of the season, Griffin was forced out early with an injury, leaving with 168 total yards and three TDs. But he was back in the regular-season finale against Texas as he led the No. 12 Bears to a 48-24 win, securing Baylor’s best season in a quarter of a century. He passed for 320 yards and two scores while running for two more, putting the finishing touches on a masterpiece season. Griffin’s final regular-season numbers saw him throw for 3,998 yards and 36 TDs with just six interceptions with another 644 rushing yards and nine TDs.

Griffin entered the Bears’ week 4 tilt with No. 15 Kansas State having thrown more TD passes than incomplete passes and had another monster game with 346 yards and five more TDs. But his first interception of the season came late in the game and helped the Wildcats to a 36-35 win. Griffin bounced back to lead Baylor over Iowa State with 319 total yards and one rushing and one passing TD before two tough losses, one at Texas A&M and another at No. 3 Oklahoma State. Against the Aggies, Griffin passed for a school-record 430 yards and three scores. He almost equaled it with 425 yards (and two picks) against the Cowboys, but the Bears were overmatched in both games.

And with that, he earned 405 first-place votes and 1,687 overall points on the 920 Heisman ballots to become the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner, solidly ahead of second-place Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck and third-place Alabama running back Trent Richardson. Griffin, who was also the AP Player of the Year, the Davey O’Brien winner and a Wuerffel Trophy and Walter Camp finalist, capped his season by leading Baylor to a 67-56 shootout win over Washington in the Alamo Bowl, passing for 295 yards with one passing and rushing score, giving Baylor its first 10-win season since 1980.

Baylor and Griffin got back on track and won three consecutive one-possession games, starting with a 42-39 victory over Missouri.

In the win over the Tigers, Griffin eclipsed 400 yards passing for the third straight time and the Bears set a school record with 697 total yards. Griffin next passed for 312 yards and three scores and ran for another 103 yards and one more TD in a 31-30 overtime win at Kansas. He orchestrated a 21-point fourth-quarter rally to tie the game, throwing the game-winning TD in OT (the game not clinched until the Jayhawks missed a two-point conversion after their own TD). At 6-3, No. 22 Baylor hosted one-loss No. 5 Oklahoma. Already a major Heisman candidate, this was the game that saw the hurdler Griffin leapfrog to frontrunner status.

Griffin shattered his weeks-old school record with 479 passing yards and four TDs against the Sooners, including a scrambling, game-winning 34-yard TD strike with eight seconds left to lift Baylor to a 45-38 win, its first victory over a top 5 team since beating No. 3 USC in 1985.

With a political science degree already in hand, Griffin declared for the 2012 NFL draft and was taken with the second overall pick by Washington, going on to win Rookie of the Year while throwing for over 3,000 yards his first two years in the league. But injuries took their toll on the young QB, who could only play in nine games in 2014, was inactive on the Washington roster in 2015, and was limited to five games in his first year in Cleveland in 2016.

After three years with Baltimore (2018–20) and still bothered by injuries, Griffin began dabbling with a new career and became a full-time football analyst for ESPN in 2021. Receiving rave reviews from all corners, Griffin is now a rising star within the ESPN broadcasting ranks, joining a long list of Heisman winners who have gone on to share their insights with fans on the air.

Ten years has gone by fast, almost as fast as Robert Griffin III in the open field, but the memories he gave us in 2011 will be slow to fade for sure.

2020 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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2021 Meet our outstanding national finalists

ADOM APPIAH

Spartanburg Day School Spartanburg, SC

DIA CHAWLA Pillow Academy Greenwood, MS

DOMINIC COLEMAN

Granada Undivided High School Granada, CO

COLIN ELIAS

Staten Island Technical High School Staten Island, NY

GAGE GOHL

Lincoln High School Sioux Falls, SD

KENDAL JOHNSON

Lewis Cass High School Walton, IN

For the graduating class of 2022, the high school years have posed no shortage of obstacles. Virtual learning, cancelled sports seasons, and even personal battles with the virus itself have forever left their mark on the students who will receive their diplomas this coming spring. Yet, as this year’s applicants for the Heisman High School Scholarship have proven, not even a global pandemic can dampen the sprit or quell the drive of those scholar-athletes who have earned the right to call themselves Heisman-worthy.

In the long-standing tradition of the Heisman Memorial Trophy, the Heisman High School Scholarship, presented

by Acceptance Insurance, seeks to honor and reward graduating seniors who exemplify the pursuit of excellence with integrity—a pursuit that has been put to the test like never before. By meeting the stringent application criteria for academics, athletics, and community service—despite extraordinary circumstances—every one of this year’s applicants have already proven himself or herself a champion on many dimensions. Further, by taking the Acceptance pledge, these young men and women have affirmed their desire to live in a kinder, more just world, and to actively help create that world through a lifelong commitment to community service. They are leaders. They are examplesetters. And they are game changers in every sense of the word. It is from this impressive pool of highly accomplished candidates that the very best of the best have risen to the top.

RHYLEE POUPORE

Northern Adirondack Middle/ High School Ellenburg Depot, NY

18 2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

PRESTON REED

Jasper High School Jasper, AL

LUCAS STODDARD Berkshire High School Burton, OH

IVA WILSON

Williamsburg Academy Kingstree, SC

AVA WOLIN

Olympia High School Olympia, WA

AVERY WRIGHT

Douglas County West High School Valley, NE

This year’s Heisman High School Scholarship National Winners are Dia Chawla from Pillow Academy in Greenwood, Mississippi and Adom Appiah from Spartanburg Day School in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The Heisman Trust is proud to celebrate Dia and Adom.

As we add their names to the list of our nation’s most esteemed high school senior athletes, we know that it is their leadership, their service, and their perseverance that set the example. We thank them for showing the way to all who aspire to reach their full potential and to make gamechanging differences in our world.

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2021 National Winner DIA CHAWLA Pillow Academy Greenwood, MS

LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD Achieving excellence should be an option for everyone

I hope to promote diversity and friendship by bringing students of different races together.

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Dia Chawla is just one of 5,000 students in the nation to achieve a perfect 36 on her ACT. The score was the culmination of years of hard work. However, Dia realized she had an advantage that many do not in the form of expensive books and tutoring. She lives in an area that is highly segregated with many impoverished students. So, she began an ACT Preparation class with seven African American students from a nearby public school. Based on the success, she invited seven students from her own school to join the class, thus founding the ACT Diversity Preparation Club. “For the first time in decades in my town, there was an intermingling of races in a classroom. All 14 of my students saw improvements in their ACT scores; more importantly, they saw improvement in their outlook. I realized through this class that I was not just the teacher; rather, I was the student, learning about the beauty of acceptance of all people.”

Dia herself has been on the receiving end of non-acceptance.

Because she always focused on academics at the encouragement of her parents, in elementary school, she was the target of mocking for her lack of athletic skill. “During recess and PE, the kids would pick teammates and I was always the last girl selected. My confidence was shot, and I struggled in all sports.” She resolved to change the game and began watching every sports video she could find on YouTube and taking on her older brother in backyard competitions.

“I took a beating, but the hard work ethic I derived from these embarrassing moments lit a fire under my belly.” Dia turned that fire into victories in multiple sports. She became a varsity starter on the tennis team in sixth grade and has

since won a state title. She led her basketball team in free throw percentage her junior year and secured a spot as a key reserve on the 2020 Academy High School basketball overall state championship team. She captained the 2020 and 2021 Academy 4A state championship spirit dance team and has won multiple awards in troupe dance competitions.

These experiences have taught Dia that winning isn’t about where you come from; it’s about the hard work you’re willing to put in. Still, she recognizes that not everyone has the same opportunities to excel. Through her volunteer work with organizations like the Boys and Girls club and a local rural hospital, she’s become keenly aware of the inequities that exist in her own community, and she has made it her mission to do her part to change that. She plans to study pre-medicine and public policy so she can put herself in a position to continue making a difference and ensuring everyone has the chance to realize their potential.

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2021 National Winner ADOM APPIAH Spartanburg Day School Spartanburg, SC

TURNING PASSION INTO PROGRESS The power of sports can change the game for everyone

Representation matters.

We become what we see. Through my actions, I hope to influence the next generation.

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When Adom Appiah’s 7th grade history teacher assigned his class a service project, she couldn’t have imagined just how far Adom would take it. Given his love of sports, Adom’s brainchild was a celebrity basketball game, which he called Ball4Good. The event drew 800 spectators, and the proceeds benefited the local Boys and Girls Club. Based on the project’s success, Adom started a nonprofit to sustain Ball4Good with the help of a grant from the Spartanburg County Foundation.

He has since raised more than $100,000 to support 28 different youth-oriented organizations in his community and has attracted the likes of Zion Williamson of the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, former NFL player Landon Cohen, retired WNBA all-star Andrea Stinson, and former Michigan State University basketball player Anthony Ianni to star in his games. “The greatest reward, however, has been the smiles I’ve been fortunate enough to reveal in my community and beyond,” says Adom.

Based on his experience with Ball4Good, Adom has written three books on the theme of motivating kids to change the world—something he has proven is entirely possible with hard work and a willingness to channel your passions for the greater good. Of course, the right support system is critical, too. Adom shares his successes with his parents, mentors, teachers, coaches, friends, and advisors who helped him along the way. “I have been able to walk through doors that may not have opened for me if my idea had not been accepted or validated. I hope others can learn from my experience and offer mentorship to youth.”

Through Ball4Good, Adom has already achieved more than many philanthropists accomplish in a lifetime. Still, he finds time to give even more to his community. He is the youngest serving board member of the Boys and Girls Club of the Upstate and volunteers and participates in as many as nine other school and community clubs and organizations. All of this while still exceling at his studies and consistently improving his speed on the track and his personal records in soccer and basketball. Adom has learned to use every minute to his advantage, often forgoing phone and social media time to study. As a semifinalist in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, he used his time on the bus traveling to soccer games to read his dictionary. “The sacrifice paid off when I placed 41st out of 11 million.” For Adom, it’s all about discipline, perseverance, and passion for the sports and community he loves that drive him to be the best version of himself. “As I learned from my spelling days, I do not compete against others. Rather, I am my own competition.”

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HEISMAN 2021

2021 Heisman Humanitarian CURTIS GRANDERSON The influence parents have on their children has a long lasting impact. When it comes to Curtis Granderson, the lessons he learned from his parents to give back to others, have in turn helped millions of individuals. Mary and Curtis Sr. Granderson set the example for their young son through their actions. Both teachers, his parents were always helping their students by providing clothing, food and rides to those less fortunate, and Curtis saw firsthand the benefits of his parents’ generosity.

It was only natural that, as Curtis established himself as a professional baseball player, the lessons demonstrated to him during his childhood rose to the surface. Coming off

a 2007 season when he joined a club of only four other MLB players to hit 20 doubles, 20 triples, 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in a single season, Curtis created the Grand Kids Foundation. Granderson’s goals for his foundation went beyond just introducing kids to the sport of baseball; he wanted to aid in positive youth development through education, physical fitness and nutrition.

Over the past fourteen years Curtis Granderson has stepped to the plate every chance he has gotten. The Grand Kids Foundation has directly helped over two million kids live more active lives, while also supporting those in need with backpacks full of school supplies. As Granderson continued

By Michael Wieneke 2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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HEISMAN

2021 Heisman Humanitarian

to expand the reach of his foundation, he identified the need to address food insecurities in the communities they were serving. This led to the creation of Grand Giving, a month-long program, hosted each November, dedicated to raising funds and awareness surrounding the food insecurity that prevents many children from reaching their true potential. Grand Giving has singlehandedly provided over 40 million meals to children and families in need.

Through his foundation Curtis has been a supporter of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, one of the nation’s premier scholarship and leadership development programs for minority college students. He also made a $5 million donation to the MLB academy in Chicago—the single biggest donation that’s ever been made by a Major League player in support of the program. Furthermore, Curtis was instrumental in the building of a stadium at his alma mater, the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The philanthropic work Curtis has done led to him receiving the 2016 Roberto Clemente Award from Major League Baseball. The Clemente award is presented to a player who best represents baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions both on and off the field.

equality and provide greater opportunities for the Black community, both in their game and the places they live in, play in, and care about most. In July, Major League Baseball committed up to $150 million to support the organization as part of a decade-long partnership.

In being named the 2021 Heisman Humanitarian Award recipient, Granderson joins an elite group of athletes who have been recognized for their humanitarian efforts. “Curtis Granderson represents the best of the Heisman Trophy Trust­— commitment to youth development and empowerment through sports,” said Mike Comerford, President of the Heisman Trophy Trust.

“Granderson’s work with the Grand Kids Foundation is transforming the lives of young people across America through education, fitness and nutrition.”

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HEISMAN

Humanitarians

The Heisman Humanitarian Award was established in 2006 to honor outstanding professionals in the sporting world who make tremendous contributions to their communities and uphold the values and principles of the Heisman Trophy Trust.

2019

K R I S T I YA M A G U C H I Kristi Yamaguchi is known for her hard work and dedication throughout her figure skating career. In 1986, she won her first U.S. Championship title with doubles partner Rudy Galindo, another World Juniors Championship two years later, and back-to-back seniors titles in 1989 and 1990. Yamaguchi then focused on singles skating and won the World Championship in 1991 and 1992 and a gold medal in the 1992 Winter Olympics. She was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1998, the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1999, and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2005.

The Heisman Humanitarian Award was created, as an extension to the Heisman Trophy’s greater outreach, to recognize athletes who are providing opportunities to those less fortunate. There is no doubt that Curtis Granderson meets this criteria. The Heisman Trophy Trust is honored to present him with the 2021 Heisman Humanitarian Award.

In 1996, Kristi founded the Always Dream Foundation to support underprivileged and disabled children through summer camps, after-school programs, holiday parties and financial support for back-to-school supplies. As a mother of two daughters and a children’s book author herself, Yamaguchi understands the crucial role that books play in children’s literacy development, so she shifted the focus of her foundation to improving early childhood literacy. Always Dream provides high-quality books, through digital tablets or physical copies, to foster children’s love for reading and increase family engagement. To date, the Always Dream Foundation has served over 10,000 students and partnered with 26 schools in California, Arizona and Hawaii, providing 21st century technology and literacy resources. www.alwaysdream.org

Granderson continues to be an ambassador for the sport in his retirement. Curtis currently serves as President of the Players Alliance, a player-led organization with the mission to create an inclusive culture within baseball and the community, where differences are leveraged to elevate racial

2018 MARK TEIXEIRA Mark Teixeira played 14 seasons with Major League Baseball for the Rangers, Braves, Angels, and Yankees. He was a three-time All-Star and a 2009 World Series Champion.

He finished his career with 409 home runs and finished second in the 2009 MVP race.

Teixeira has long been serious about giving back to the communities in which he has lived and played. After signing his first Major League Baseball contract, he endowed a scholarship at his high school in honor of a friend who had been killed in a car accident.

He also set up a charitable fund that supported six scholarships at three high schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Teixeira currently serves as a board member for The Emerald Corridor Foundation, which works to build and restore safe green spaces and waterways in Northwest Atlanta. The organization helps strengthen the community via education, job training, and employment opportunities. And, since his days with the Yankees, Teixeira has been a stalwart supporter of DREAM, a local New York nonprofit that has also been supported by the Heisman Trophy Trust. DREAM is a youth development organization that uses the power of teams to inspire inner-city youth to recognize their potential and realize their dreams through its school, after-school, and summer programs.

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2017

ERNIE ELS

JOE TORRE

Ernie Els is one of the most accomplished golfers in the world, with 72 career victories, including four major championships—two at the U.S. Open and two at The Open Championship. He is also a seven-time winner of the World Match Play Championship, and was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame his first time on the ballot in 2010.

Joe Torre has become one of the most recognizable faces of baseball over the course of more than a half-century in the game. Despite a successful fifteen-year playing career that included several All-Star selections and the 1971 MVP, Torre is best remembered as one of the most successful managers of all-time. Torre won four World Series rings in five years with the New York Yankees in the late ’90s, and the team reached the playoffs in each of his twelve seasons in the Bronx.

Inspired by their son’s 2009 autism diagnosis, Ernie Els and his wife, Liezl created the Els for Autism Foundation which offers innovative, evidence-based programs for families and individuals across the life-span, in six focus areas: Education, Research, Global Support, Recreation Services, Adult Services and Therapy Services. The Els for Autism Foundation serves families around the world, and also offers in-person programs and services at The Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter, Florida.

In 2002, Torre and his wife Ali founded the Safe at Home Foundation, dedicated to ending the cycle of domestic violence. Inspired by Torre’s own childhood spent living in an abusive home, Safe at Home has launched national awareness campaigns and established in-school initiatives—called Margaret’s Place, in honor of Torre’s mother—that provide children with a safe space and a professional counselor trained in domestic violence intervention. Safe At Home has 15 Margaret’s Place program sites across the country that each year provide services to more than 13,000 young people ages 11 through 18 in schools and community-based settings, many of whom are impacted by trauma and violence in their homes, schools, and communities. www.joetorre.org

“When my wife Liezl and I started the Foundation back in 2009, our son Ben had just been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder,” Els explains. “From the beginning, our goal has been to create The Center of Excellence as an example of what can be available to individuals on the spectrum. The Center has all the essential components on one campus, which makes it easier for families. It’s a game changer for the local and international autism community.” www.elsforautism.org

2016

HEISMAN Humanitarians

2014

2013 A L A N PAG E

D AV I D R O B I N S O N

A star defensive lineman for Notre Dame, Alan Page played for teams that went a combined 25-4-1 while winning the 1966 national title. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings and led them to four Super Bowls, and in 1971 he became the first defensive player to win the NFL’s MVP award. While playing for the Vikings he earned his law degree at the University of Minnesota. After his retirement from football in 1981, Page joined the state attorney general’s office before becoming the Assistant Attorney General. In 1992 he was elected an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court—the first African-American to hold a statewide elected office in Minnesota. He was re-elected three times before retiring in 2015.

David Robinson’s charitable efforts are just as admirable as his achievements on the court.

Beginning at the Gates Elementary School in San Antonio in 1991, he offered a $2,000 scholarship to every fifth grader who finished high school and attended college. He kept his pledge, and in 1998, even quadrupled his donation, awarding $8,000 to each student who received a diploma. Soon after his initial commitment to the Gates Elementary students, David and his wife Valerie founded the David Robinson Foundation. In 2000, the foundation raised $9 million to create the Carver Academy, an independent pre-K through eighth grade school for the underserved population of East San Antonio. Robinson received the Patriot Award, the highest award given by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, which in 2000, was presented to professional athletes to recognize the important role that sport plays in military morale. Robinson also encourages other celebrities to utilize their respective platforms for the greater good. He cofounded the Admiral Capital Group in 2007, and in 2008 he created The Admiral Center, which helps celebrities find the right cause to support, using their influence to bring attention and action. In 2012, the Robinsons partnered with IDEA charter schools to include Carver Academy in the IDEA charter network. www.admiralcapitalgroup.com

Founded in 1988 by Alan and his wife Diane, the Page Education Foundation’s programs help to financially support college students’ academic goals while fostering positive mentor relationships and encouraging role models for children. In return for their scholarship, grant recipients provide fifty hours of volunteer mentoring and tutoring to children in grades K–8. In 33 years, almost $16 million in Page Grants have been awarded to over 7,700 Page Scholars who have studied at post-secondary schools across Minnesota and at Notre Dame. To date, Page Scholars have volunteered almost 500,000 hours of community service. www.page-ed.org

2015

2012 BOOMER ESIASON Former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason is the most visible national figure in the fight against cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening, genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive systems of 30,000 children and adults in the United States. Throughout his career in professional sports and the media, Esiason has been a committed and active participant in many charitable causes, but he began focusing on cystic fibrosis in 1993 when his son, Gunnar, was diagnosed with the disease.

In 1994, Esiason launched the Boomer Esiason Foundation, a dynamic partnership of leaders in the medical and business communities joining with a committed core of volunteers to heighten awareness, education and quality of life for those affected by cystic fibrosis, while providing financial support to research aimed at finding a cure. Since its inception, the Boomer Esiason Foundation has raised more than $115 million to support research toward a cure for CF, as well as programs directly benefiting the CF community. The Foundation has touched many lives by providing hospital grants, transplant grants, scholarships, education, and awareness of CF. Because of their and others’ tireless commitment, the median age of CF patients has risen to nearly forty years old. www.esiason.org

JEFF GORDON Jeff Gordon is a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and one of the world’s most recognizable drivers. He began racing at the age of five and had won 35 main events by age six. With 86 career wins, he ranks third on the all-time wins list.

Inspired by his crew chief’s son’s battle with leukemia Jeff established the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation in 1999, to aid in the fight against pediatric cancer. In 2007 he founded the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital in Concord, NC, serving children in the community with a high level of primary and specialty pediatric care, regardless of their ability to pay. What started as a small project driven by one special child has grown into an organization that has raised many millions of dollars for children’s health organizations. In 2011, Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation extended its efforts, bringing pediatric cancer care to Rwanda, Africa. With the Foundation’s support, organizations are able to improve patients’ quality of life, provide essential treatments, and conduct medical research. The Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation has contributed over $16 million to support children battling cancer. www.jeffgordonchildrensfoundation.org 2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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HEISMAN Humanitarians

2008

2011

PAT L A F O N TA I N E Hockey legend Pat LaFontaine founded Companions in Courage in 1997. CiC raises funds to build interactive playrooms in hospitals throughout North America. Through innovative communication tools, these playrooms replace the isolation of a hospital with a connection to family, friends, and even celebrities. Companions in Courage believes that no child in the fight for life or health should ever have to go through it alone. The foundation aims to give courage, friendship, compassion, and support to children and families who are overcoming life-threatening illness, by providing a space to play and connect.

M A R T Y LY O N S Marty Lyons was selected by the New York Jets in the first round of the 1979 NFL draft, following a successful career as an All-American defensive tackle at the University of Alabama, where he helped lead the team to a National Championship in 1978. Lyons played eleven memorable seasons with the Jets as a member of the famed “New York Sack Exchange,” one of the top defensive lines in NFL history.

CiC has also been selected by Microsoft to administer a program delivering mobile XBox 360 kiosks to patients bedsides throughout North America. Through the generosity of “companions,” innovative communications tools introduce technology to the healing process and improve the hospital experience for all patients by giving them “courage.” The Companions in Courage Foundation partners with some of the best and brightest technology firms to provide resources that benefit pediatric patients and their families. By introducing technology to the healing process, CiC impacts more than 50,000 pediatric patients per year. www.CiC16.org

While still active as a player, he established The Marty Lyons Foundation to fulfill the special wishes of children diagnosed with a terminal or life-threatening illness. Since 1982, The Marty Lyons Foundation has brought much-needed joy to children and families nationwide, with 10 chapters granting wishes in 13 states. To date they have granted more than 8,000 wishes. www.martylyonsfoundation.org

2010

2007 GEORGE MARTIN

WA R R I C K D U N N

George Martin anchored the New York Giants defense as a defensive end from 1975–88.

He served as co-captain of the Giants Super Bowl championship team in 1986, and as president of the National Football League Players Association. Following his football career, Martin became a successful business executive.

Warrick Dunn was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12th overall in the 1997 NFL draft. He was named AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1997 and earned three Pro Bowl selections in his career. He played for the Atlanta Falcons from 2002 to 2007 between stints in Tampa Bay. After his NFL career, Dunn took a stake in the Falcons’ ownership group led by Arthur Blank and is a minority owner of the team.

Martin lost several friends in the attacks of 9/11 and, in the aftermath, learned of the thousands of rescue and recovery workers suffering health-related illnesses resulting from their service at Ground Zero. In response he founded A Journey for 9/11, a nonprofit initiative to raise awareness and funds for their medical treatment. In September 2007 Martin began a charitable cross-country walk from New York City to San Diego, finishing on June 21, 2008.

In total, Martin walked 3,003 miles through 13 states and Washington, D.C., wearing out 27 pairs of sneakers and 413 sets of socks, losing 41 pounds, and gaining countless friends and much support for his initiative. He raised the equivalent of several million dollars in funds and medical monitoring and treatment. Hackensack University Medical Center, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health Systems, and Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City matched the financial donations in medical services. Though Martin’s walk is over, his advocacy for the ailing heroes still continues.

Warrick founded Homes for the Holidays (HFTH) in 1997 to honor his late mother’s dream of homeownership. The program partners with local community organizations to reduce the burden on new, single parent homeowners by fully furnishing their new house, providing downpayment assistance checks, and stocking the pantry with food.

Today, Warrick Dunn Charities has expanded from HFTH into three additional programs: Count on Your Future, Sculpt, and Hearts for Community Service Scholarships.

Together, the programs are dedicated to strengthening and transforming communities by combating poverty, hunger, and improving the quality of lives for families academically, socially, and economically. www.wdc.org

2009

2006 MIA HAMM Mia Hamm is widely regarded as one of the best female soccer players of all time. In 1987, at age fifteen, Hamm became the youngest woman to play with the U.S. National Team.

She won two Olympic gold medals, an Olympic silver medal, two FIFA World Cups, and four NCAA National Championships with the University of North Carolina. She was a founding member of the Women’s United Soccer Association and led the Washington Freedom to the Founder’s Cup. Hamm has won numerous awards on and off the field, including ESPN’s ESPY Awards for Female Athlete of the Year and Soccer Player of the Year.

Hamm established the Mia Hamm Foundation after her brother Garrett passed away due to complications of aplastic anemia. The foundation focuses on raising funds and awareness for families in need of marrow or cord blood transplants, and also expanding opportunities for young women in sports. Mia is a pioneer in her sport and a role model for athletes and fans who believe in equal opportunity, Title IX legislation, and the love of the game. www.miafoundation.org

JOEY CHEEK Joey Cheek, Olympic gold medalist and active philanthropist, was the first recipient of the Heisman Humanitarian Award. In 2006, after winning the Olympic gold medal in the men’s 500 speed skating, Cheek donated his $25,000 medal bonus to Right to Play, an international humanitarian organization that uses sports to empower children in underprivileged countries.

Right To Play programs are implemented in 15 countries throughout the world, using sports to teach children about teamwork, fair play, conflict resolution, self-esteem, communication, commitment, respect, and integrity. Right To Play is committed to improving the lives of children and strengthening their communities by translating the best practices of sport and play into opportunities to promote development, health, and peace. “Elite sport is great, it’s a luxury,” Cheek says. “But play is a necessity. The lessons Right To Play teaches children, they’re necessary for us to have the world we want to live in.”

Cheek also co-founded Team Darfur, with UCLA water polo player Brad Greiner. Team Darfur was an international coalition of athletes committed to raising awareness about the crisis in Darfur, Sudan, which attracted much attention leading up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

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Team First

I-tri

Boys and Girls Club of Bellport

KING Kids

HEISMAN CHARITIES Over the last 20 years, the Heisman Trust has donated more than $15 million to worthwhile charities that provide greater opportunities for disadvantaged and special needs youth. As the Heisman Trust’s philanthropic endeavors continued to grow, the Trustees sought professional support to manage their charitable giving program. In 2017, the Heisman Trust proudly formed a partnership with The New York Community Trust. Established in 1924, the NYCT is one of the largest community foundations in the United States. Building on the charitable legacy of the Heisman, our trustees worked with the NYCT to establish the Heisman Trophy Fund for Youth Development which supports charitable organizations within New York City that use sports to engage underprivileged and special needs youth in educational activities.

The fund seeks to make sports programs that offer educational services widely available to disadvantaged and special needs youth, regardless of their athletic ability. These programs also help young people learn respect, compromise, persistence, teamwork, good

KING Kids

American Youth Table Tennis

2021

sportsmanship, and the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Last year over $1.2 million was awarded to such organizations. These free community programs attract young people who might shy away from academic programs and offer low-income youngsters the opportunity to engage in sports that might otherwise be beyond their reach.

Below we highlight a few of the programs that the Heisman Trust supports through the Heisman Fund for Youth Development at New York Community Trust: KING Kids United transformed its emergent afterschool track and basketball program for girls and boys. It hired Cates Tutoring NYC—a for profit academic service—to provide SAT and ACT prep; recruited a team of volunteers to provide reading, math, and science tutoring; and helped seniors develop competitive college applications. During the pandemic, King Kids pivoted to virtual workouts and online academic support while also hosting small group sessions at their offices for those who were struggling academically.

Team First

Special Olympics

Special Olympics

Team First enhanced afterschool programs at six South Bronx elementary schools thanks to the support from The Heisman Trophy Trust. It hired certified teachers and college students to provide students with academic tutoring and lead classes in creative writing, fitness, and poetry. It joined with the Bronx Botanical Garden to provide students with interactive classes in botany and the life sciences. It created flag football, basketball, soccer, and track teams for elementary school students and a league to enable the teams to compete in intramural games. When city schools closed because of COVID-19, Team First gave students computers and free Wi-Fi accounts, helped families sign into virtual classes and submit homework assignments, provided virtual counseling, and ran virtual sports and fitness clinics.

Inspirational Triathlon Racing International (better known as I-tri) expanded to meet the demand of opening its program to girls attending 12 schools. During the pandemic, I-tri moved its program online and met with girls three times a week for virtual exercise, fitness training, leadership, and art therapy sessions. Over three years, I-tri has worked with over 400 girls; all of these girls completed a triathlon; 90 percent demonstrated a significant increase in fitness levels as well as positive changes in their diets, and 80 percent reported improvements in mood and ability to cope with stress.

I-tri

New Rochelle Basketball Association strengthened afterschool programs at the ten New Rochelle middle and high schools due to the support from the Heisman Trust. The enhanced school-year program now uses high school seniors to tutor fifth through eleventh graders; offers English classes for middle schoolers; runs a seminar on personal finance and provides SAT tutoring to tenth and eleventh graders. New Rochelle was one of first COVID-19 hotspots in the country and when middle and high schools closed, NRBA adapted its academic and SAT prep classes to a virtual platform and their volunteers continued tutoring students online.

The American Youth Table Tennis Organization was created in 2003 to introduce young people to table tennis, the most practiced Olympic sport in the world.

The agency operates afterschool table tennis programs in public schools and community sites; provides table tennis instruction for middle and high school students during the school day; and hosts table tennis clinics, and summer programs. Last March, when the city abruptly closed schools because of the pandemic, the agency hosted virtual coaching clinics and created an online group for coaches. In the two years since the Heisman Trust began their support, more than 400 youth have participated. Teacher surveys showed that the courses helped students improve their math and science skills.

New Rochelle Basketball Association

Boys and Girls Club of Bellport

HEISMAN Charities The Boys and Girls Club of Bellport Area expanded Balance the Ball, an afterschool program for students attending high schools in North Bellport, Coram, and Patchogue. It offers training in soccer and basketball, provides academic support, and teaches physics through basketball. Assessments show that the program is helping participants develop self-confidence and effective social relationships with peers. Seventy percent of students have improved their grades, and all have shown improvement in attendance and behavior in school.

Special Olympics New York offers training in 24 sports.

Its major program—the Urban Initiative—recruits, trains, and certifies teachers as Special Olympic coaches to provide sports activities in New York City Department of Education District 75 schools that serve students with

disabilities. The trained coaches operate school-day and afterschool programs and field teams that compete in regional and statewide tournaments. Students also receive health screenings, dental and medical exams, and participate in bi-monthly health workshops. During the pandemic, after the city closed public schools, Special Olympics New York shifted its Urban Initiative to a virtual platform to keep students engaged and focused on their physical and emotional development.

The Heisman Trophy Trust is excited to announce that through our partnership with New York Community Trust, we have made a commitment of $1 million to expand in both the Southeast and Central United States via donations to The Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta and The Community Foundations of Texas.

Please note: many of the photos used in this article were taken before the COVID pandemic

Grassi applauds the

Heisman Trophy Trust for their charitable mission supporting youth athletics.

Lisa Rispoli, CPA, AEP, TEP 516.336.2444 | lrispoli@grassicpas.com David M. Rottkamp, CPA 212.223.5046 | drottkamp@grassicpas.com

The Heisman Trophy Trust has proudly supported the following organizations and their charitable missions 52nd Street Project A Journey for 9/11 Achilles International Adaptive Sports Program of Ohio Alan Ameche Foundation All Stars Helping Kids Allies in Service ALS Therapy Development Institute Always Dream Foundation America Scores New York American Cancer Society - Elizabeth, NJ American Express American Legion Post #138 American Red Cross American Red Cross - South Florida Region American Softball An Claidheamh Soluis, Inc. Annapolis Maritime Museum Inc. Ara Parseghian Foundation Archie and Bonita Griffin Scholarship Fund Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund Athletes & Entertainers for Kids Athlife Foundation, Inc.-Irvington High School Believe in Kids Foundation Beth Israel Medical Center Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert BIG Vision Foundation Billy Sims Foundation Bloomingdale Family Program Bob Woodruff Foundation Boomer Esiason Foundation Boy Scouts of America - Greenwich Council, CT Boy Scout Troop 1084 Boys & Girls Club of Alachua County Boys & Girls Club of America Boys & Girls Club of Brazos Valley Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell, Inc Boys & Girls Club of Newark Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester Boys and Girls Club of Paterson and Pasaic Boys & Girls Club of South Central Kansas Boys and Girls Club of St. Joseph Boys Club of New York Breakthrough Miami, Inc. Bridge Builders Community Partnership Broadway Cares Brooklyn Boatworks Brooklyn Community Services Brooklyn Heights Association Brooklyn Jesuit Prep Brooklyn Youth Sports Club C2 Mission

Camden Schools Foundation Cardinal Shehan Center Catholic Charities, Archdioces of NY (CYO) Catholic Charities Maine- St. Louis Child Development Center Cavett Kids Foundation Center for Children and Families, Inc. Center for the Homeless Center for Therapeutic Riding of the East End Cerebral Palsy of Westchester Cesar & Ilusión Millan Foundation Chess in the Schools Child Abuse Prevention Program Child and Family Services of Newport County Children’s Cancer Center Childrens Hospital of New Jersey City Care City Harvest, Inc. City Meals-On-Wheels City University of New York Columbia University Medical Center Committee for SHARC Common Ground Montgomery Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Inc. Community Funds, Inc Community Preparatory School Community Rowing, Inc Companions in Courage Foundation Concussion Legacy Foundation (formerly Sports Legacy Institute) Cooke Center for Learning & Development Cookies for Kids’ Cancer CoSIDA Creative Arts Alliance Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity Dancing Classrooms NYC Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption David Robinson Foundation Dawkins Family Foundation Desire Street Ministries Diabetes Research Institute Foundation Dickinson ISD Education Foundation Disabled and Limbless Veterans, Inc. Disabled Sports USA Doc Wayne Youth Services DOMUS Domus Pacis Family Respite Donors Choose Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism DREAM (formerly Harlem RBI) Driven Foundation Dr John E. Upledger Foundation, Inc. Dynamite Youth Center Foundation, Inc. East Harlem Tutorial Program East Hartford Public Schools East Texas Communities Foundation

Economic Opportunity Program Elevate New York Els for Autism Emerging Scholars Program Empire Dragon Boat Team - Breast Cancer Survivors Epworth Children’s Home Ernie Els Foundation Escambia County Public Schools Foundation Ethos Education Group Faith & Family Foundation at Wheatland Farms Family Farms of NE Fla. - The Parent Help Center FCS Urban Ministries Feeding America Fellowship of Christian Athletes, N. Central Fla Figure Skating in Harlem First Descents First Tee of Metro NY Friends of Glastonbury Sports. Inc. Friends of Grace Church School Friends of the Children FSU Foundation, Inc. Future Foundations Family Center Gary Sinise Foundation G.B. Charities George Rogers Foundation of the Carolinas Give and Learn Give Me A Chance Foundation Grants-Milan Rotary Foundation Inc. Guiding Eyes for the Blind Habitat for Humanity International HALOS Hand in Hand Harlem Lacrosse and Leadership HBC Foundation Inc Heroes’ Movement Herschels 34 & Johnson County Class of 1980 Inc. Hillsborough High School JROTC Program Holtz Charitable Foundation Hope Street Kids Horace Mann Horizons at the Rumson Country Day School Hospice Brazos Valley Hudson County Child Abuse Prevention Center Hudson River Community Sailing Hunter College Foundation, Inc. IMG Student-Athlete Foundation Independent Group Home Living Program, Inc. International Rescue Committee Island Harvest Israel Community Service Program, Inc. Jameis Winston’s Dream Forever Foundation JDRF Minnesota & Dakotas Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation JFCS of the Suncoast, Inc Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund

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City Squash

Bridge Golf Foundation

Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation Johnny Rodgers Youth Foundation Jonathan’s Place Jordan-Jackson Group Homes Journey to New Life, Inc. JSerra Catholic High School Jubilee Park & Community Center Judeo Christian Health Clinic Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation KIDS, Inc. Kingston City School District Koinonia Foster Homes & Family Services Last Prisoner Project Leake & Watts Services, Inc. Lighthouse Tabernacle of 7th Day AdventistsHappy Hearts Summer Day Camp Loyola High School LUCY Outreach LUNGevity Foundation Lupus Foundation of America Madison4Kids, Inc. Madison Square Boys & Girls Club Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation Manchester Public Schools Manhattan Youth Recreation & Resources March of Dimes, Oklahoma Chapter Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Mark E Beban Foundation Mark Ingram Foundation Marquis Studios Marty Lyons Foundation Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Mater Dei High School Matt Leinart Foundation Maumee City Schools McGuire Memorial Foundation Melanoma Research Foundation Memorial Sloan Kettering Mercy Center of the Bronx Mia Hamm Foundation Miami Public Schools Mike Rozier Cancer Foundation Millard North High School Minnie’s Food Pantry Minority Athletes Network Etc., Inc. Misericordia Home Molloy College Monmouth Medical Center Foundation Monsignor Bonner High School 36 2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

Motiv8 Foundation Inc. Mount Sinai Medical Center Mr Robbins Neighborhood Muscular Dystrophy Association of LA Mustang Booster Club National Football Foundation National MS Society / Pro Player Foundation National Theatre Workshop of the Handicapped NC Governor’s School Foundation Nebraska Greats Foundation New Alternatives for Children, Inc. New Haven Gridiron Club New Heights Youth New York City Mission Society New York Community Trust New York Foundling New York Legal Assistance Group New York-Presbyterian Hospital North Mianus Bulldogs NYU Lutheran Medical Center Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church Ohio State Alumni Association Opportunity Knocks Orange Bowl Committee Foundation Orange Duffel Bag Initiative Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe Inc. Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance Packer Collegiate Institute Page Education Foundation PALS Program Pathways Home Health & Hospice Paul Bear Bryant Scholarship Fund Peter Westbrook Foundation P.I.L.O.T. Services Playgrounds For All Kids, Inc. Point Lookout Little League Power Play NYC Prep For Prep Prestonwood Christian Academy Inc. Project City Kids PS 130 The Parkside School Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida Inc. Recreation Unlimited Red Hook Initiative Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Right To Play Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins Rogosin Institute Ronald McDonald House of Tulsa, Inc.

Figure Skating in Harlem

Roosevelt Union Free School District Row New York Roy Hill Driven Foundation Rusty Staub Foundation Saco Food Pantry, Inc. Sacred Heart Academy Saint Andre Home Saint Anthony’s High School Saint Camillus School Salisbury Family Services Salt Lake Education Foundation Samford University Athletic Foundation Satellite Athletic Association Saving Mothers Say Yes to Education Scholarship America, Inc. Scholarship Fund of MOAA Schools That Can Sea Haven Sean Dawkins Memorial Fund Seton Foundation for Learning Shelter for the Homeless, Inc. Shepherds Inc. Sister Visitor Foundation Sistercare, Inc. Smilow Cancer Hospital - Yale New Haven Health Snack & Friends Soccer Without Borders Solo Foundation South Bronx United South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Southern Youth Sports Association Special Friends Foundation, Inc. Special Olympics Colorado Special Olympics Connecticut Special Olympics South Carolina Special Olympics Texas Spin Enterprises Sports Authority Foundation Sports Legacy Institute St. Aedan’s Church, Connecticut St. Joseph High School St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital St. Laurence Church St. Patrick’s School St. Raymond School St. Rose of Lima St. Vincent de Paul Society Standing Tall Charitable Foundation

Urban Dove

Steve Owens Foundation Stonehill College - Tim Coughlin Fund Strang Cancer Prevention Center Strang Cancer Research Laboratory StreetSquash, Inc. Summer on the Hill Program Summerhill Community Ministries Support for People with Oral and Head Cancers Synergy Alternative High School Tallahassee Community College Foundation Tamassee DAR School Taylor Haugen Foundation, Inc. Team Steady Buckets TeamMates Mentoring Program Texas A&M University 12th Man Foundation The Braxton Miller Foundation The Louisville Urban League Inc Thunderbird Clubhouse - Oklahoma Tim Brown Foundation Tim Tebow Foundation Torretta Foundation Travis Mannion Foundation TriArts Sharon Playhouse Tri-Town Youth Services

The New York Community Trust was proud to support the following organizations via the Heisman Trophy Fund for Youth Development Achilles International After-School All-Stars America Scores New York American Youth Table Tennis Organization AthLife Foundation Beat The Streets Blazin Youth Academy Boys and Girls Club of Metro Queens Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester

YMCA of Greater NY

Troy Smith Foundation Trustees University of Pennsylvania Tuesday’s Children Tyler Bernstein Memorial Foundation UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Hartford (Camp Harkness) United Cerebral Palsy of New York City United Negro College Fund United States Olympic Museum United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut United Way of Miami-Dade Counties United Way of the Capital Area, CT United Ways of Alabama (Bo Jackson’s Bike for Bama) Unleashed Uplifting Athletes Urban Promise Trenton U.S. Naval Academy Foundation USO Vail Veterans Program V Foundation for Cancer Research VFW Post 4321

Visitation Catholic School Vista Center Walter Camp Football Foundation Inc. Warrick Dunn Family Foundation Washington HS Quarterback Club Waterside School Weill Cornell Medical Center Wellness in the Schools Wendy Hilliard Foundation Westbury Christian School Western DuPage Special Recreation Foundation Winchester Sports Foundation Winterkids Inc. Wolf Run Village, Inc. Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation Wounded Warriors Family Support Write On Sports WUCD Education Fund Wuerffel Trophy, Inc. Xavier High School YIVO Institute for Jewish Research YMCA of Greater NY Yonkers Partners in Education Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River County

Boys and Girls Club of the Bellport Area Boys & Girls Club of Newark Bridge Golf Foundation Brooklyn Boatworks Brooklyn Youth Sports Club Chess in the Schools CitySquash DREAM (formerly Harlem RBI) East Harlem Tutorial Program Figure Skating in Harlem First Tee New York Girls on the Run NYC Grenville Baker Boys and Girls Club Harlem Lacrosse and Leadership Hudson River Community Sailing I Challenge Myself Inspirational Triathlon Racing International KING Kids United Kings County Tennis League

Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club Madison Square Boys & Girls Club New Heights Youth New Rochelle Basketball Association Peter Westbrook Foundation Play Rugby USA Riverside Hawks Rocking the Boat Row New York South Bronx United Special Olympics New York St. Christopher’s Street Squash Team First, Inc. Trident Swim Foundation Urban Dove Vita Sports Partners Write on Sports YCMA of Long Island

2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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Innovator of the Game

A A Historic Historic Celebration Celebration of of

JOHN W. HEISMAN

Legends Legends

As the tradition of the Heisman Memorial Trophy grows with each passing year, the life of the man memorialized by the award fades into the annals of history. No one more thoroughly studied the dynamics of football or witnessed more closely the game’s evolution. No one personally knew more immortals of the gridiron or effected more change in the game’s development, than John W. Heisman.

NEWEST NEWESTMEMBER MEMBEROF OFTHE THE

Born in Cleveland, Ohio on October 23, 1869, John William Heisman grew up on the oil fields of northwest Pennsylvania, in the town of Titusville. Heisman’s first football games were a hodgepodge of soccer and rugby. In 1887, at age seventeen, he left Titusville for Brown University where he played a form of club football with his classmates. In the fall of 1889, after two years at Brown, he transferred to The University of Pennsylvania to pursue a law degree.

Though outsized at 5-foot-8 and 158 pounds, he played varsity football for three years as guard, center, tackle, and sometimes end.

HEISMAN HEISMANFRATERNITY! FRATERNITY!

A COACHING CAREER

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Debilitated after a flash of lightning nearly cost him his eyesight, Heisman took his final exams orally and graduated with his law degree in the spring of 1892. Immediately after college, he got his first coaching job at Oberlin College, leading the team to win all of its seven games in only the second year of the football program. Heisman’s career was launched.

Heisman’s career as a coach developed with stints at Auburn, Clemson, University of Pennsylvania, Washington & Jefferson and Rice. His most impressive coaching reign was with Georgia Tech (1904–1919), where his Golden Tornadoes were a scoring powerhouse with an astounding thirty-three straight wins. Coach Heisman left Georgia Tech after the 1919 season to return as head coach at his alma mater, University of Pennsylvania. After three years he bought out his contract and spent one year at Washington & Jefferson before moving west to Texas and Rice Institute. His coaching career ultimately spanned more than three decades, and in 1927 at age sixty-two, John W. Heisman retired from coaching the game he loved and developed.

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“RETIREMENT” In New York, Heisman found more time to write as well as to serve in advisory positions. His articles appeared in publications such as American Liberty and Colliers Magazine, and he also served as football editor for the professional publication Sporting Goods Journal. This prodigious outpouring did not go unnoticed. On May 23, 1930, John W. Heisman was named the first Athletic Director of the Downtown Athletic Club of New York City (DAC). Serving in this capacity, Heisman founded and organized the Touchdown Club of New York, and later the National Football Coaches Association.

At the insistence of the DAC officers, Heisman devised and set in motion the structure and voting system to determine the best collegiate football player in the country. Though initially opposed to pointing out an individual over a team, he ultimately felt it a consummate team accomplishment to have such recognition. The first Downtown Athletic Club Award was given in 1935 to Chicago’s Jay Berwanger. On October 3, 1936, before the second award was bestowed, John W. Heisman succumbed to pneumonia. The officers of the DAC unanimously voted to rename the DAC Award the Heisman Memorial Trophy that year.

A LIFE ACHIEVEMENT During his coaching career, John W. Heisman changed the face of the game that became America’s passion. What he considered his greatest contribution, the forward pass, was legalized in 1906, after three years of writing and pestering Walter Camp and the rules committee. Much of the official rule book of the day adopted Heisman’s suggestions word for word.

Men who respected and called John W. Heisman friend included coaches Robert C. Zuppke of Illinois, Fielding Yost of Michigan, Amos A. Stagg of Chicago, Dr. J.W. Wilce of the Ohio State University, D.X. Bible of Texas A&M, legendary sportswriter Grantland Rice, golf’s first Grand Slam winner Robert Jones Jr., and former teammate and Honorable Mayor of Philadelphia Harry A. Mackey. As did his life touch many, the spirit of his character continues to inspire the best in those who would receive his Memorial.

From the book, Heisman, the Man Behind the Trophy by John M. Heisman and Mark Schlabach, published by Howard Books a division of Simon & Schuster (2013).

It is used by permission of the author, and is not for copy, reproduction or republication except by expressed written consent of the author, John M. Heisman.

J OJSOTSETNESN. C SO . CM O/M C /OCLOLLELGEEGSEPSOPROTRST S ©2021 ©2021 Jostens, Jostens, Inc. Inc. 212740 212740

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Coach Jim Crowley has running back Warren Mulrey of the Fordham Rams team of 1935 pose with the clay model of the Heisman Trophy at Rose Hall field, going through the various motions of the sidestep.

HEISMAN HISTORY Nearly a century ago, college football established that it was here to stay. As fanfare increased around the sport and its popularity spread, the Downtown Athletic Club (DAC), renowned for its devotion to sports, decided that it was time to honor outstanding college football players.

The DAC appointed a Club Trophy Committee to present the first annual award at the end of the 1935 football season in the Club’s headquarters in southern Manhattan.

That first award—initially named the DAC Trophy— was presented on December 9, 1935 to Jay Berwanger, a triple-threat cyclone and legendary “one-man-gang” in the University of Chicago’s backfield. With the creation of the trophy, the DAC recognized the promise and enormous legacy of college football, and had the foresight to institute one of the first, and now most sought-after, awards in American sports.

In 1936, following the death of legendary player and coach John W. Heisman, the trophy was renamed in appreciation of his inventiveness and contribution to football strategy. Recognizing the role a school plays in a player’s success, the Heisman Trophy Committee voted to award two trophies each year—one presented to the college football player, and the second awarded to his school. In the decades since it was created, the Heisman Memorial Trophy has become more than an award: its

bestowal is a defining moment in the career of a college football player, when he is invited to join the ranks of the elite fraternity of Heisman Trophy winners. To this day, the Trophy remains a national symbol of collegiate football experience, prowess, and competitiveness, awarded annually to an athlete designated as the Outstanding College Football Player in the United States.

THE DESIGN OF THE HEISMAN TROPHY Before the now-famous stiff-arm design, the Club Trophy Committee agreed that the traditional cup or bowl seemed too commonplace, lacking in distinction, and not emblematic of the athletic talent that was to be celebrated. It was decided instead that the trophy should be the bronze embodiment of a muscular footballer driving for yardage. To create the trophy, the DAC commissioned Frank Eliscu, a well-known sculptor and National Academy of Design Prize winner. Eliscu chose Ed Smith, a leading player on the 1934 New York University football team as his primary model. He prepared a rough clay study that was sanctioned by the DAC Committee, and sent it uptown for approval by the head football coach at Fordham University, Jim Crowley, one of the legendary Four Horsemen of Notre Dame. The prototype was set up on a field, and Crowley’s players were asked to assume

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HEISMAN HISTORY various positions to illustrate and verify the sidestep, the forward drive, and a strong right-arm thrust. Eliscu closely observed these actions and modified his clay prototype.

The result was a truly lifelike simulation of a player in action, which was then duplicated in plaster—a preliminary step towards its ultimate production in bronze.

A final inspection of the cast was made after dinner at the McAlpin Hotel on November 16, 1935. The dinner was attended by Coach Elmer Layden (another member of the Four Horsemen) and the Notre Dame football team who had just played in a memorable 6-6 tie game with Army in front of 78,114 fans. Layden and the Fighting Irish squad were impressed by the animated realism of Eliscu’s model—especially noted by Wally Fromhart, Don Elser, and Wayne Millner—and that evening the team put its seal of approval on the new trophy.

will be no misunderstanding regarding the eligibility of a candidate, the recipient of the award MUST be a bona fide student of an accredited college or university, including the United States Academies. The recipients must be in compliance with the bylaws defining an NCAA student athlete.”

Independent accounting firm Deloitte is responsible for distributing the ballots and voting instructions, and tabulating the results. Since 2002, electors have been able to securely submit their ballots to Deloitte online.

Deloitte tallies the votes according to the point system outlined above and the individual with the most overall points receives the Heisman Trophy. The 2021 Heisman ballots were distributed on November 29 and were due back to Deloitte by December 6 at 5:00pm EST. There were 928 votes for 2021.

Starting from the understanding that there was always a minimum of three finalists, the invitation of more finalists was determined by how close the succeeding points totals were to each other. A large gap in points would trigger a cutoff. For instance, in the 2008 Heisman vote, Florida’s Tim Tebow finished third with 1,575 points. In fourth place, Graham Harrell of Texas Tech totaled only 213 points and, because of the huge gap between those totals, he was not invited to the ceremony.

In 2010, Kellen Moore’s fourth place finish of 635 points brought him much closer to LaMichael James’ thirdplace finish of 916, so Moore was included as one of the four finalists. The fifth-place finisher, Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State, had just 105 points. There was a clear demarcation of support between him and Moore, so the 2010 finalists were capped at four.

HEISMAN BALLOTING—HOW IT WORKS

WHAT MAKES A FINALIST?

THE CEREMONY—PAST AND PRESENT

While the task of designating the Outstanding College Football Player of the year was daunting, a more crucial decision was choosing the group who would select him. A panel of electors was chosen, consisting of informed, capable, and impartial sports journalists from all across the country.

The Heisman Trophy Trust governs the policies and procedures of the balloting process. A multitiered system was established, and still serves as the framework that distributes the group of electors proportionally across the United States. Six Sectional Representatives are responsible for the appointment of the State Representatives. State Representatives select the voters within their particular state, with the number of votes dependent on the population and the number of media outlets within the state.

The 2021 Sectional and State Representatives are listed on the following page. Each section has 145 media votes, for a total of 870 media votes across the country. Additionally, every former Heisman winner has a vote and, in 1999, a program was introduced allowing the public to become part of the balloting process by making one fan vote eligible in the overall tabulation. This program continues in part thanks to the Heisman’s partnership with Nissan.

The ballot includes space for an elector to nominate three individuals for the Heisman Trophy; a first, second, and third choice must be indicated on each ballot. The first choice on a ballot receives three points in the overall tabulation; the second choice receives two points; and the third choice receives one point. The Heisman Committee created this point system in an effort to eliminate sectional favoritism. The ballots state that “in order that there

A Heisman finalist is an active college football player who receives an invitation to attend the annual Heisman ceremony held in New York City each December. The finalists are announced on the Monday before the televised Heisman Trophy Ceremony. Prior to 1982, only the winner of the Heisman was invited to New York, so there were no ‘Heisman finalists’. Beginning in 1982, multiple candidates were invited to take part in the live television show that accompanied the announcement of the winner.

Herschel Walker, John Elway and Eric Dickerson were the first Heisman finalists, though Elway did not attend that year’s event.

Beginning this year, 2021, the Heisman Trophy Trust will officially invite four finalists to New York City for the Heisman Trophy Weekend. In years prior, the number of finalists varied. There were always at least three finalists invited in a given year and the total rose to as high as eight in 1989 (though only four actually attended). Since 1982, the most common total to have been invited was five (11 times), followed by four (10 times) and three (nine times). In 1994 and 2013, there were six finalists invited to the ceremony and there has never been more than six finalists to actually attend a ceremony.

As of 2021, the four invited Heisman finalists are determined as the four individuals that receive the most votes. Prior to 2021, the determination of the finalists were one of the most misunderstood parts of the Heisman process. One might hear media or fans complain that a certain player was snubbed by not being invited to the Heisman ceremony, but the finalists were not determined arbitrarily.

From 1935 through 1976, early each December, the winning player was brought to New York City, along with his coach and dignitaries from his university. There, in a special convocation of past and current football luminaries, and with press, radio, and TV coverage, the player was crowned as the Heisman Trophy winner. A week or so later the winner was further honored at a large, formal dinner in New York to which all former Heisman winners were invited. At this gala banquet, replete with renowned personalities in sports, entertainment, and politics, the actual award was presented, with appropriate remarks from the winner and his coach.

Until 1973, this gala dinner was held at the Downtown Athletic Club. By 1973, the event’s popularity outgrew the DAC facilities, and it was moved to the Grand Ballroom of the New York Hilton, where it remained until 1986. But even the Grand Ballroom of the New York Hilton was unable to accommodate the many fans that regarded the Heisman Trophy as the most prestigious and coveted individual collegiate athletic award in America. A Heisman winner instantly becomes a hero to millions of football devotees.

Until 1976, the Heisman Trophy had been a local New York affair that was only modestly publicized. In response to hundreds of letters and strong urging by the DAC members, the Officers and Governors of the Downtown Athletic Club, together with the Trophy Committee, decided that the Heisman Award was indeed an event of great interest to many people outside the Club. They decided the ceremony deserved a far wider audience and in 1977, the President of the DAC and the

42 2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

Heisman Committee decided to present the award as part of an hour-long, primetime television spectacular.

The program was designed to enhance the prestige of the Downtown Athletic Club and the Heisman Trophy, while bringing an exciting new sports television special to viewers. The Heisman Trophy winner was announced at the dinner, along with six other outstanding players meriting special DAC Awards that recognized the vital importance of linemen and defensive units. These winners received a distinctive, modern crystal sculpture created for the DAC

by Tiffany & Co. The following year, the DAC returned to the traditional format of announcing and presenting the Heisman winner. At that time, Pannell Kerr Forster tallied the balloting for the awards. The DAC was notified of the Heisman results on November 28, and the media was informed of the winner at a press conference that day.

In order to maintain some element of suspense, the winners of the other six DAC Awards were revealed at the Heisman Dinner and Presentation that was held on December 7. They would be the last group so honored; in 1979 the Heisman Committee decided to discontinue the six special DAC Awards and only give out the Heisman Memorial Trophy.

Since 1980, the winner of the Heisman Trophy has traditionally been announced on the second Saturday in December, with the Presentation Dinner Gala being held the following Monday evening. The award was announced annually through 2000 at the Downtown Athletic Club. Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the presentation was moved to the New York Marriott Marquis in 2001, and then to the Yale Club of NYC in 2002–03. In 2004, the announcement was held at the New York Hilton and in 2005 it was moved to the Nokia Theatre in the center of the Broadway Theater district in Times Square. The Theater was renamed from the Nokia Theatre, to the Best Buy Theater and ultimately to the PlayStation Theater, during the Heisman’s tenure there until 2019.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, there were no in-person events last year. Instead, the 2020 Heisman Memorial Trophy announcement was broadcast live on ESPN from the ESPN Studios in Bristol, Connecticut, with each of the finalists participating via satellite from their respective schools. The Heisman Trophy announcement returned in-person for 2021, at an exciting new venue, Jazz at Lincoln Center.

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HEISMAN 2021

SECTIONAL REPRESENTATIVES FAR WEST — Robert S. Hammond Laramie Boomerang/WyoSports.net | Laramie, WY

SOUTH — Lee Corso ESPN | Orlando, Florida

SOUTHWEST — Dave Campbell Waco Tribune-Herald | Waco, TX

NORTHEAST — Don Criqui CBS Sports | New York, NY

MIDWEST — Bob Hammel Bloomington News | Bloomington, Indiana

MID ATLANTIC — Dick Weiss Blue Star Media/NY Daily News | Philadelphia, PA

BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE

FIRST VIRTUAL HEISMAN TROPHY CEREMONY

STATE REPRESENTATIVES ALABAMA Jon Johnson Dothan Eagle

INDIANA Bob Hammel Bloomington News

NEBRASKA Mike Babcock Freelance Writer

RHODE ISLAND Michael Szostak Rhode Island Public Radio

ARIZONA Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star

IOWA Randy Peterson Des Moines Register

NEVADA Ed Graney Las Vegas Review-Journal

SOUTH CAROLINA Gene Sapakoff The Post & Courier

ARKANSAS Nate Allen Nate Allen Sports Service

KANSAS Kellis Robinett Wichita Eagle

NEW HAMPSHIRE Roger Brown Union Leader

SOUTH DAKOTA James Cimburek Press & Dakotan

CALIFORNIA Jon Wilner San Jose Mercury News

KENTUCKY William F. Reed, Jr. Billy Reed Enterprises LLC

NEW JERSEY Keith Sargeant NJ.com

TENNESSEE Jimmy Hyams WNML Radio Knoxville

COLORADO Randy Holtz Freelance Writer

LOUISIANA Scott Rabalais The Advocate

NEW MEXICO Randy Harrison Albuquerque Journal

TEXAS Robert Cessna The Eagle

CONNECTICUT Sean Barker Hearst Connecticut Media

MAINE Dave Eid WGME TV

NEW YORK CITY Kelly Whiteside USA Today

UTAH Wesley Ruff KTVX - Channel 4

DELAWARE Kevin Tresolini News Journal delawareonline.com

MARYLAND Mike Burke Freelance Writer

NEW YORK STATE Hank Domin Syracuse.com

VERMONT Alex Abrami Burlington Free Press

MASSACHUSETTS Mark Blaudschun TMG College Sports

NORTH CAROLINA Sammy Batten Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer

VIRGINIA David Teel Richmond Times-Dispatch

MICHIGAN Jack Ebling Ebling Media

NORTH DAKOTA Abe Winter The Bismarck Tribune

WASHINGTON Dave Mahler KJR Radio

MINNESOTA Chip Scoggins Minneapolis Star Tribune

OHIO Bruce Hooley PressProsMagazine.com

WEST VIRGINIA Michael Casazza CBS Interactive/247Sports

MISSISSIPPI Parrish Alford Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

OKLAHOMA John Hoover Sports Illustrated Sooners

WISCONSIN Jim Polzin Wisconsin State Journal

MISSOURI Vahe Gregorian Kansas City Star

OREGON Gary Horowitz KBZY Radio

WYOMING Reece Monaco KFBC Radio

MONTANA Greg Rachac Montana Billings Gazette

PENNSYLVANIA Dave Jones Harrisburg Patriot-News

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Christine Brennan USA Today FLORIDA Mike Bianchi Orlando Sentinel GEORGIA Marc Weiszer Athens Banner-Herald HAWAII Paul Arnett Honolulu Star-Advertiser IDAHO Dave Tester Tester Broadcasting ILLINOIS Bob Asmussen Champaign News-Gazette

44 2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

In 2019, the commute for ESPN’s Chris Fowler to his annual gig as the host of the Heisman Trophy ceremony where Joe Burrow became the 85th winner of the award took just a few minutes, a quick jaunt from his Manhattan apartment to the nearby PlayStation Theater. But for the 2020 award, Fowler hit the road to an old home-away-from-home for the veteran broadcaster, destined for Bristol, Connecticut. For the first time, the Heisman ceremony was going virtual, originating from ESPN’s Studio E, the same space ABC used for the NFL draft in April and one ESPN employed for the NBA draft. The four Heisman finalists—Alabama’s DeVonta Smith and Mac Jones, Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Florida’s Kyle Trask­— were all at their respective schools to participate via satellite.

In Bristol, Fowler joined co-host Maria Taylor and a small army of behind-the-scenes staff that turned the Heisman ceremony into an intimate affair despite its virtual setting.

There’s not much, if anything, the COVID pandemic hasn’t altered over the past year. For the Heisman, that meant no traditional award ceremony for the first time since 1982 and no black tie banquet the following night to celebrate the winner and honor the heritage of the award and its many recipients.

So in the summer, planning for a virtual ceremony began in earnest, starting well before the November 14 decision that the 2020 winner would be announced on January 5, the latest the award has ever been given out. The “Worldwide Leader in Sports” has made countless adjustments in all of its broadcasts to accommodate COVID protocols, but the Heisman broadcast was a unique challenge. For starters, ESPN had to lean heavily on Alabama, Florida and Clemson while preparing for the broadcast as they could not send crews or satellite trucks to the schools’ facilities.

“You have a model in place with the finalists and 25–30 past winners in a room, and then you have to pivot,” said Rob Adamski, the Show Producer on the broadcast. “It evolved to partnering up with the schools and using them to run the cameras and audio and lights and create sets for each of the three locations. All the schools were great partners. You only have a limited amount of control, but you share your vision and ultimately, they have to pull it off. And they did.”

Because of ESPN’s long-established relationships with the ACC and SEC Networks, and the frequency of satellite interviews dating back well before the pandemic, the three schools were well versed in the network’s needs and able to prep broadcast ready sets on campus. The necessary fiber and camera connections were already in place. An added touch for each of the schools’ sets were authentic Heisman trophies, delivered days earlier. Whichever finalist won would be able to have their moment with a true trophy.

“It can be a bit unnerving because you are used to using your own crew, but it ended up working very well. It was a great partnership with the schools,” said Tom Lucas, the Show Director in his second year on the broadcast.

Alabama created a set to include both of its finalists and head coach Nick Saban. All were mic’d up, as were Jones’ parents off site, while Smith’s parents were mic’d and on camera from their hometown of Amite City, Louisiana. Clemson’s set, in one of their team meeting rooms, included Lawrence, his parents and fiancé, as well as head coach Dabo Swinney.

Similarly, on the Gainesville campus, Trask, his parents and head coach Dan Mullen were live and ready to go. “It’s quite the process to make sure you’re hearing everyone’s mic, all of the IFBs are good, all of the video is good,” Lucas said.

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It’s an even bigger process making sure almost half of the living Heisman fraternity of winners were also ready to appear remotely. ESPN GameDay served as a sort of template for what the Heisman production was attempting to pull off.

This season, the eponymous college football pregame show couldn’t feature its usual human collage of hundreds (if not thousands) of fans that color the background of their typical on-site set, so they went digital to showcase their show’s collective supporters. “Every time you’re forced to do something differently, you inevitably discover something you would not have discovered if you didn’t have to do it differently,” ESPN’s Coordinating Producer Kate Jackson told Sports Business Journal. “You just have to be nimble and flexible and ready to adjust.”

Partnering with Ross Production Services, ESPN and the Heisman joined forces to have close to 30 former winners (as well as the two 2020 recipients of the Heisman High School Scholarship) shown live remotely on the broadcast, including ESPN co-hosts Tim Tebow and Desmond Howard. Ross, and six members of ESPN’s crew, were tasked with making sure the dozens of camera feeds throughout the show looked and sounded right. “We were trying to re-imagine a really special broadcast that had had a great precedent since 1982 and one that ESPN has been blessed to partner with since 1994,” Adamski said. “It’s like doing a 180.”

The live feeds of the past winners complemented the set ESPN designed that featured digital versions of the 85 previous Heisman winners on the studio’s massive LED screen, echoing the portraits that typically line the in-person ceremony.

At the center was a polished Heisman Trophy on a pedestal that served as the show’s guest star.

In a studio typically dominated by anchors behind a desk, creating just the right atmosphere was another test.

“The challenge for us was how to create an intimate environment that had some gravitas to it,” Lucas said. “We chose that studio because of the LED wall. It helped provide that intimate look as opposed to a typical news-based show.”

Three days before the show, the production was in full swing, putting together elements of the broadcast and building out the design in the studio, which included a black glossy floor specially installed. On January 3rd, the ESPN crew ran through a technical rehearsal, without any of the hosts, from top to bottom. On January 4th, the show’s hosts joined for a complete rehearsal and ESPN squeezed in one more compressed run-through early on the morning of the broadcast. At 7 pm ET on January 5th, the show kicked off with a taped intro, written and voiced by veteran ESPN scribe Wright Thompson, before cutting to Fowler as the host, setting the stage for the 60-minute special presentation.

Behind the scenes was a crew of some 75 people manning the control room, edit stations and various other roles responsible for pulling off a flawless broadcast that featured live shots from across the country interspersed with various

produced pieces. The montages of the finalists in their youth was an especially nice touch. “We were able to bring a lot of people onto team Heisman,” Adamski said. “People who had never been a part of it, people who specialized on live shots, and give a lot of Bristol-based teammates some cool opportunities. And it turned out wonderfully.”

Everyone knows how the show ended. The Heisman Trust’s Anne Donahue walked onto the set to announce Smith as the winner, the wide receiver getting hugs from Jones and Saban before ESPN cutting to a shot of his ecstatic parents, capped by Smith’s heartfelt comments. Donahue’s first time announcing the Heisman winner was in 2012. This, like everything else, was different. “The level of excitement was less but so was the pressure on my nerves! I missed having the personal interaction with the finalists,” she said. “In 2012, the last time I presented, I made a point of saying something about each of the finalists, rather than congratulating them as a whole. That is easier to do when the finalists are sitting in front of you. The Heisman Team was great to work with as always. It was not an easy year—everything had to be changed and even the changes needed to be changed!”

Off air, Heisman Trust Associate Director Tim Henning, who had also made the trek to Bristol for the show, completed a long night by hosting the Heisman’s first virtual press conference. “Like everything else, this was the first time we ever held a virtual press conference. Normally, I would get to talk to the finalists and eventual winner and prep them a bit before they speak to the press, but not this year,” said Henning. Given that COVID safety protocols prevented having a representative of the Heisman Trust, or Heisman photographer, on hand at the actual campuses, Henning had to make arrangements with the sports information directors at all three schools, should their finalists win. In addition to the technical requirements that ESPN had, there were also protocols established regarding the Heisman Trophy, and installing the winners name plate on the trophy, as well as capturing images of the newest winner with his trophy. Henning had been in regular contact with each of the finalists’ schools to iron out those details in advance.

After Smith was named the 2020 winner, Josh Maxson, Alabama’s Assistant Athletic Director, was instrumental in getting Smith ready for the presser. Alabama’s photographer, Kent Gidley, grabbed the shots the Heisman Trust needed for Henning to distribute to the various photo wires and other media throughout the country that had requested the images.

“I have worked with Josh and Kent in the past which made things a bit easier.” said Henning. “At the end of the day, the ceremony came down to an incredible amount of teamwork between ESPN, the Heisman Trust and the schools. Thankfully, we were working with an all-star team, which resulted in an awesome show.”

by Paul Goldberg

46 2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

1

3

6

2

4

5

7

8

1. ESPN’s Chris Fowler hosted the virtual 2020 Heisman Ceremony. 2. Fowler interviewing some of the Heisman Trophy winners. 3. Florida’s Kyle Trask.

4. Alabama’s DeVonta Smith. 5. Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence. 6. The four finalists anxiously await the results. 7. Heisman Trophy Trustee Anne Donahue and her husband Mike in the ESPN studio. 8. Heisman winners and ESPN analysts Tim Tebow and Desmond Howard interview the four Heisman finalists.

2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

47

1973 TONY DORSETT PITTSBURGH

2006 TROY SMITH O H I O S TAT E

1982 MARCUS ALLEN

1987 V I N N Y T E S TAV E R D E

USC

2007 TIM TEBOW FLORIDA

MIAMI

1995 RASHAAN SALAAM COLORADO

2008 SAM BRADFORD OKLAHOMA

1996 DANNY WUERFFEL

2011 CAM NEWTON AUBURN

FLORIDA

1997 RICKY WILLIAMS TEXAS

2013 M A R C U S M A R I O TA OREGON

2000 ERIC CROUCH NEBRASKA

T H E G R A N D D A D D Y O F T H E M ALL®

2019 JOE BURROW LSU

P A S S I O N

•

S T R E N G T H

•

T R A D I T I O N

•

H O N O R

CONTENDERS JORDAN ADDISON PITTSBURGH

2021 JORDAN DAVIS

DT/DL MICHIGAN

RB

QB OREGON

QB 50 2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

COASTAL CAROLINA

KAYVON THIBODEAUX

OHIO STATE

DE

ALABAMA

TREVEYON HENDERSON OHIO STATE

KENNY PICKETT PITTSBURGH

MICHIGAN STATE

RB

RB

MATT CORRAL MISSISSIPPI

QB HENDON HOOKER

QB SAM HOWELL

TENNESSEE

NORTH CAROLINA

QB DESMOND RIDDER

QB WILL ROGERS

CINCINNATI

QB KENNETH WALKER III

SYRACUSE

VIRGINIA

RB

QB SEAN TUCKER

BRENNAN ARMSTRONG

LB

QB GRAYSON McCALL

NC STATE

DE CJ STROUD

WAKE FOREST

DEVIN LEARY

WILL ANDERSON JR.

RB SAM HARTMAN

IOWA STATE

AIDAN HUTCHINSON

BYU

WR BREECE HALL

GEORGIA

TYLER ALLGEIER

MISSISSIPPI STATE

QB CALEB WILLIAMS

QB BRYCE YOUNG

OKLAHOMA

ALABAMA

QB

QB 2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

51

2021

Heisman Memorial Trophy

GALA DINNER WELCOME Rece Davis, Master of Ceremonies and Host of ESPN’s College GameDay

NATIONAL ANTHEM Performed by Will Wells and the Whole Team Winnin’

REFLECTION Tim Tebow

ANNOUNCEMENTS Michael J. Comerford, Heisman Trophy Trust President

HEISMAN HUMANITARIAN AWARD Introduction by James Corcoran, Heisman Trophy Trustee Heisman Humanitarian Video

CURTIS GRANDERSON 2021 Heisman Humanitarian Award Recipient Heisman Trophy Trust Charity Video

DINNER Raffle and Silent Auction Winners Announced

JIM PLUNKETT: 50TH ANNIVERSARY (2020) 1970 Heisman Trophy Winner

EDDIE GEORGE: 25TH ANNIVERSARY (2020) 1995 Heisman Trophy Winner

ROBERT GRIFFIN III: 10TH ANNIVERSARY (2021) 2011 Heisman Trophy Winner Ring Presentation

PAT SULLIVAN: 50TH ANNIVERSARY (2021) 1971 Heisman Trophy Winner

DANNY WUERFFEL: 25TH ANNIVERSARY (2021) 1996 Heisman Trophy Winner

DIGNITARIES ON BEHALF OF UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA PRESENTATION OF THE 87TH ANNUAL HEISMAN MEMORIAL TROPHY Michael J. Comerford, Heisman Trophy Trust President

BRYCE YOUNG 2021 Heisman Memorial Trophy Winner Acceptance of Trophy Will Wells and the Whole Team Winnin’ will provide tonight’s musical accompaniment.

Alabama Quarterback

BRYCE YOUNG 2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

53

• 2021 Heisman Trophy Winner •

BRYCE YOUNG “Every athlete dreams of being on a team that everyone will remember because they were able to do great things.”

Bryce Young, the 2021 Heisman Memorial Trophy winner, shared those words earlier this season. As the fourth true sophomore to be named the most outstanding college football player (along with Tim Tebow, Mark Ingram, and Lamar Jackson), Young is certainly mature beyond his years and is a leader on the team aiming to do and achieve great things.

Young has undoubtedly set the course for those achievements, whether that is breaking the single game passing record for the University of Alabama like Young did against Arkansas with 559 yards, winning the first Iron Bowl (over Auburn) to go to overtime in the near 130-year history of the series, breaking the single game passing record in SEC championship history with 421 yards over Georgia, or now

standing as the first quarterback and fourth athlete in the history of Alabama football to win the Heisman.

With such renowned quarterbacks in Alabama history including names like Namath, Stabler, McCarron, Hurts, Tagovailoa, and Jones among others, being the first Tide quarterback to win college football’s most prestigious award is no small feat. Perhaps it was fate that Young’s first touchdown pass as a freshman during the 2020 season was to 2020 Heisman Winner DeVonta Smith.

But also like Alabama’s winners before him—Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry, and DeVonta Smith—Bryce Young is focused on helping lead the Tide to a national championship, which would be the Tide’s 7th championship since Ingram won the Heisman in 2009.

by Brian Dombrowski

2021 YOUNG

2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

55

Deloitte & Touche LLP 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112-0015 USA Tel: +1 212 492 4000 Fax: +1 212 489 1687 www.deloitte.com

2021 YOUNG

December 11, 2021 Heisman Trophy Trust 111 Broadway – Suite 103A New York, NY 10006 Attention: Mr. Michael J. Comerford Dear Trustees: We are pleased to submit the following tabulation of the 2021 Heisman Memorial Trophy Award balloting, which was performed in accordance with the agreed-upon procedures stated in our letter dated November 10, 2021.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Name Bryce Young Aidan Hutchinson Kenny Pickett C.J. Stroud Will Anderson Kenneth Walker III Matt Corral Desmond Ridder Jordan Davis Breece Hall

School Alabama Michigan Pittsburgh Ohio State Alabama Michigan State Ole Miss Cincinnati Georgia Iowa State

1st 684 78 28 12 31 18 10 5 9 0

Total Votes 2nd 107 273 175 118 79 53 32 15 15 5

3rd 45 174 197 127 74 85 56 36 18 7

Total Points 2,311 954 631 399 325 245 150 81 75 17

The number of points by region and position within each are as follows for the four finalists: Northeast Name

Pts.

Pos.

1

Bryce Young

355

1

2

Aidan Hutchinson

150

3

Kenny Pickett

4

C.J. Stroud

Mid-Atlantic Pts.

South

Southwest

Midwest

Far West

Pos.

Pts.

Pos.

Pts.

Pos.

Pts.

Pos.

Pts.

384

1

422

1

400

1

357

1

393

1

2

137

3

116

2

180

2

204

2

167

2

94

3

167

2

112

3

85

3

69

5

104

3

53

5

58

4

52

6

82

4

75

3

79

4

Very truly yours,

Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited

Pos.

Young definitely has the ability and confidence to deliver that team goal. Alabama Coach Nick Saban has shared that Young is the ‘calm amidst the chaos’ when guiding his team, whether that is playing against rival Tennessee or LSU or in the final gametying drive of the aforementioned Iron Bowl when facing 4th and 7, Young simply smiled at the line of scrimmage before delivering a perfect pass to keep the drive alive.

Young’s confidence stems from the belief in proving to himself what he can accomplish. Given his size, he was often counted out, but Young himself simply wanted to work hard, try his best and maximize what he could do.

As former Alabama quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Namath once declared, “when you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun. And when you can have fun, you can do amazing things.”

Broadway Joe once helped lead Alabama to a championship in 1964. And now, nearly 60 years later Bryce Young will walk out onto Broadway and make his own mark in New York City as the 87th Heisman Memorial Trophy winner, brimming with confidence and living out those dreams of being part of a team that has already achieved great things and knows there are more to come.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2021 HEISMAN FINALISTS

NFL Auction is proud to support the Heisman Trophy Trust and their philanthropic efforts. Visit NFL.com/auction for signed and game worn memorabilia from your favorite players. 100% of the proceeds from NFL Auction go back to various NFL non profit partners.

DeVonta Smith

2020 Heisman Winner

Baker Mayfield

2017 Heisman Winner

Marcus Mariota 2014 Heisman Winner

Joe Burrow

2019 Heisman Winner

Lamar Jackson

2016 Heisman Winner

Jameis Winston 2013 Heisman Winner

Remembering RUDY RISKA

Over the years, Rudy’s life was intertwined with the largest celebrities and athletes of the day. The list includes Muhammad Ali, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Jack Kramer, Thurman Munson, Joe DiMaggio, Billie Jean King, Jack Dempsey, Carl Erskine, Bobby Thomson, Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller, Gale Sayers, Rick Pitino, Gerry Cooney, George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Dr. J. Erving, Don Imus, Don Criqui, and coaches Mike Krzyzewski, John Wooden, Joe Paterno, Bobby Bowden, Eddie Robinson, and countless others.

Kyler Murray

2018 Heisman Winner

Derrick Henry

2015 Heisman Winner

Mark Ingram

2009 Heisman Winner

The NFL does not profit from the sale or auction of items on the NFL Auction platform.

Charitable contributions are donated to the NFL’s nonprofit partners.

In 2002 Rudy, along with John and Peter Clark, wrote a book about his life at the DAC. An excerpt of the book reads: “In addition to the programs Rudy established at the DAC he was instrumental in creating and maintaining a strong rapport with leading athletic, educational, and community organizations, including the Amateur Athletic Union; the National Collegiate Athletic Directors Association; the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports; the West Point Athletic Association; the Boys Club of New York; the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball Scouts; the Boxing, Baseball, Basketball and Football Writers Associations; the Junior Olympics; the New York Police and Fire Department Sports; the National Collegiate Boxing Association; the Howe Cup of Women’s Squash; the Women’s Sports Foundation; the Golden Spike Award of Collegiate Baseball; the Eastman Kodak Basketball Awards; the Touchdown Club of New York; St. John’s University and many others.” He was also instrumental in the formation and guidance to both The Wooden Award and The Tewaaraton Award.

Rudy Riska was born across the street from The Downtown Athletic Club of New York City (DAC), of which he would become a lifetime employee. A talented high school athlete, Riska was signed by the New York Yankees and played professional baseball for three seasons. Following his baseball career, he enlisted in the United States Army where he served for three years prior to joining the staff of the DAC in 1961.

Rudy was tasked with changing the culture of the DAC from a dining establishment to a true athletic facility. It was a job in which he excelled. Rudy created cherished fitness and sports programs for the DAC members and their children.

He established All Sports Nights that honored notable athletes from across the sports universe. The DAC was famous for awarding The Heisman Memorial Trophy to the most outstanding college football player in The United States.

Rudy would go on to serve as the Executive Director of the Heisman Trophy and the unofficial torchbearer of the trophy.

For 30 years, Riska also served as the director of athletics at the DAC and had the prestigious honor of being executive director of the National Association of Club Athletics Directors.

Of the relationships Rudy maintained with celebrities and athletes, the most special to him though, were his relationships with the Heisman Trophy winners, whom he shepherded in New York when they won the award, and whom in return looked at him as a member of their extended family. A 2010 New York Times profile on Riska read: “For nearly 50 years, it was Riska’s job to be the advocate of the Heisman Trophy and the indispensable, behind-the-scenes facilitator and confidant for its winners. Those responsibilities made him among the most popular and influential people in college football.”

It has been said that Rudy became known as the “conscience of the Heisman and caretaker of the fraternity of winners.” He was the consummate gentleman—a truly generous man— and it was not uncommon to walk into his office to say hello and walk out with a gift or two. He had a keen eye and a true attention to detail. Rudy appreciated a good conversation, whether it be with a longtime friend or stranger. He treasured lasting relationships and loved to establish connections and make introductions between others.

Rudy loved sports. He often would tell people how fortunate he was to be able to have a lifetime career where he could pursue his passion. In a 2011 interview in Brooklyn’s Catholic newspaper The Tablet, Rudy reminisced: “What made the

by Tim Henning 2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

59

In 2002, Rudy Riska published a book detailing his 40 years at the Home of the Heisman.

Many sports celebrities wrote about their friendships with Rudy; below are some of their quotes.

The world has been a better place to live in because of Rudy Riska. My life has been fuller because of my association with Rudy and the great Heisman winners. Thank you for being my friend, Rudy.

—Jay Berwanger, 1935 Heisman Trophy Winner Through the years, all of the past winners have grown by association with one another, and that is hard to do. There are a lot of ways that life tends to pull you apart. Whenever we seem to get a little bit tattered, there was always one guy there to pull the strings back together—Rudy Riska. Rudy has single handedly knit together the fabric of the fraternity of Heisman Trophy winners. To me, achievement is a function of effort over time. It is not just effort and is not just being there a long time.

It is putting the effort in over a long period of time. Rudy Riska epitomizes this. It has been my experience that no matter what I have been involved in over the years, there are always a lot of people whose contributions are important. But within the events that are really successful and truly special, there is always one individual person who has the spirit, the soul, the passion, the commitment, and the belief in what it is all about who will not allow it to be anything but great. For me, and I think for all the Heisman winners, Rudy has been that individual with the Heisman, and for that we will forever be grateful. Rudy Riska is truly the spirit and the soul of the Heisman Trophy.

—Pete Dawkins, 1958 Heisman Trophy Winner Rudy has always worked hard to put the Heisman Trophy and the past winners up another notch. I truly enjoy coming back each year and seeing all of the great guys and being part of the enthusiasm surrounding the Heisman. I don’t know how many more trips out to New York I have left in me, but if Rudy calls, you can count on Johnny Lattner to be there.

—John Lattner, 1953 Heisman Trophy Winner

Through it all, there was a consistent smile, a supporting handshake, and a hand on my shoulder, guiding me through crowds of friendly strangers; it was Rudy. Frank Eliscu produced it, the DAC and the sports writers awards it, and fortunate collegiate participants receive it. But, the Heisman’s Most Valuable Player is Rudy Riska.

—Gary Beban, 1967 Heisman Trophy Winner When I think of the Heisman Trophy, I, of course, think of my University of Oklahoma teammates and coaches. But, what first comes to mind is Rudy Riska. Rudy exemplifies the Heisman award and what it stands for. Rudy is the glue that keeps the Heisman family together. 1969 was a very special year, Rudy Riska became a part of my life forever.

—Steve Owens, 1969 Heisman Trophy Winner Rudy is a great man and a great friend. He does things first class.

—Yogi Berra Rudy not only cares for the individual Heisman winners, such as myself, year-after-year, but he has cared for and held dear the Heisman Trophy and what it represents, for many years. If I had to pick one individual that has all the characteristics you would want to see in a Heisman Trophy winner, it would be Rudy Riska.

—John Cappelletti, 1973 Heisman Trophy Winner There is a reason that I have only missed one Heisman ceremony since 1966—Rudy Riska. Rudy is a friend to all of the former Heisman winners and he truly does a great job of keeping the fraternity of Heisman winners together. I am proud to call him my friend.

—Steve Spurrier, 1966 Heisman Trophy Winner

Rudy has given of his time freely for many charity functions and his warmth and gentleness brightens any affair he attends.

He has always been a friend to the Heisman winners, but it’s well known he becomes friends with everyone he meets.

—John Lujack, 1947 Heisman Trophy Winner

I admire Rudy as a man who puts other things aside when it comes to the Heisman Trophy. The one thing that Rudy cares the most about is maintaining the integrity of the Heisman Trophy, making sure it stands alone as the top award of college football. In that regard, he has certainly done an outstanding job. Although people have come and gone at the Heisman, and the Heisman has grown so much in attention and national recognition, the one constant throughout the years has been Rudy Riska. His attention to detail and the effort he expends in promoting the Heisman award and its winners has truly made it a truly special fraternity. My hat is off to Rudy—as a friend and a keeper of the Heisman flame.

—Jim Plunkett, 1970 Heisman Trophy Winner

When I think back to the two years that I attended the Heisman banquet and reflect on my experiences in New York, I have very few memories that do not include Rudy Riska. For myself, the Heisman award, its traditions, its prestige, and all that it has come to be is synonymous with Rudy Riska.

—Danny Wuerffel, 1996 Heisman Trophy Winner

Rudy Riska is the best friend the Heisman trophy has ever had. The guy has contributed so much to the growth of the Heisman, while retaining the strength and meaning of the award. Fans of college football and the Heisman trophy owe him a debt of gratitude.

—Chris Fowler, ESPN Rudy Riska Memoriam

Rudy is the glue that has kept the Heisman Trophy together.

He is the link that keeps all the winners together. He is a great guy with a tremendous respect for the Heisman Trophy and what it stands for.

—Roger Staubach, 1963 Heisman Trophy Winner

60 2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

job so good was that I was in sports my whole life.” In later years, Rudy grew to love the game of golf and planned and played in countless charity golf tournaments. He and his brother and best friend Steve, who predeceased him, would travel to play at golf courses throughout the area. He would especially enjoy catching up with the other celebrity athletes playing at the tournaments.

Rudy Riska retired in 2003 after more than 50 years with the club as the executive director of both The Heisman Trophy Trust and The Heisman Foundation. Under Riska’s helm, The Heisman Foundation helped raise and donate more than 1 million dollars to various foundations and charitable organizations throughout the country. Rudy was the recipient of several honors including the Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award given to him by The National Football Foundation.

“Rudy Riska was both my mentor and my friend, and I will forever be grateful. His gift was his incredible ability to create lasting friendships in a momentary encounter. Meeting Rudy was meeting a friend for life. His selflessness, compassion, and generosity were unmatched. He put people at ease in his presence and was quick to offer kind words of encouragement,” stated Rob Whalen, the current Executive Director of the Heisman Trophy Trust and longtime employee of Rudy’s. “His impact on the Heisman Trophy is immeasurable. It was often said Rudy was the glue that held the Heisman family together, but it was Rudy’s friendship to all that was the simple common denominator. He will be dearly missed, and his legacy of friendships are irreplaceable. The world has lost a great friend.”

Rudy is survived by his wife of almost sixty years, Lorraine, his two daughters, Elizabeth and Barbara, and four grandchildren, Brian, Emma, Jessica and Kristin. The Heisman Trophy Trust extends our sincere condolences to his family and the countless individuals who had the honor to call him a friend.

Pictured from top: Rudy (right) poses with Johnny Rodgers (’72) and Bunnie Cannon, daughter of Billy Cannon (’59) | Rudy and Doug Flutie (’84) | Rudy (seated bottom right) joins the fraternity of Heisman Winners and newest member Jameis Winston at the 2013 Dinner Gala | Left to right: UF winners Danny Wuerffel (’96), Steve Spurrier (’66), and Rudy catch up

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HEISMAN

1935 Berwanger

2021

field of secondary education however beckoned again and he joined the faculty of the Peddie School in New Jersey as a teacher, coach, and administrator. He passed away on June 27, 2000. Larry Kelley was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1969.

Balloting

1937 Frank

1935

In twenty-three games for the Maroons, Chicago’s “one-man gang” gained more than a mile from scrimmage—a net yardage of 1,839, or an average of 4.19 for 439 attempts. Jay completed 50 of 146 passes for 921 yards, scored 22 touchdowns, and booted 20 extra points for a total of 152 points. He averaged 46.3 yards on 34 kickoffs and 38 yards on 233 punts. After graduation, Jay went into sales for a sponge rubber manufacturer in Chicago.

Enlisting in the Navy Air in 1942, he spent most of the war teaching instrument flying. In September 1945, he started his own manufacturing business and split his time between Oak Brook, Illinois, and Manzanillo, Mexico. He passed away on June 26, 2002. Jay Berwanger was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1954.

Clint was the Bulldogs’ No. 1 hero for three years, along with Larry Kelley, and was “the best back Yale ever had,” according to veteran coach Earl “Greasy” Neale. Twice All-American and Yale’s captain, he gained a mile and a quarter on the gridiron for the team in rushing and passing. As a ball carrier, his power and 10-second, 100-yard-dash speed combined to make him a constant threat. After college, armed with a degree in economics, Clint tackled the expanding field of advertising, joining Blackett-Sample-Hummert in Chicago. He then served for five years in the Air Force under General Doolittle, fighting in bomber groups in Italy, Africa, and England. In 1949 he formed his own advertising agency, which was sold in 1976 to Interpublic in New York. Clint became Chairman of Bridlewood Corporation, a private holding corporation in Chicago, and was Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Brain Research Foundation of Chicago, and Trustee of the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Boston. He was the National Football Hall of Fame’s 1988 Gold Medal Recipient. He passed away in July of 1992. Clinton Frank was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1955.

1 2 3 4

Chicago Running Back

Jay Berwanger, Chicago Monk Meyer, Army William Shakespeare, Notre Dame Pepper Constable, Princeton

1936

Larry Kelley Yale End

1938 O’Brien

62 2021 HEISMAN JOURNAL

1937

Clinton Frank

Balloting

1939 Kinnick

Larry Kelley, Yale Sam Francis, Nebraska Ray Buivid, Marquette Sammy Baugh, Texas Christian Clinton Frank, Yale

Jay Berwanger

1936 Kelley

1 2 3 4 5

Against the Bulldogs’ traditional rivals, Harvard and Princeton, Larry scored at least once in every game. The first end to win the Heisman, his sensational pass-catching accounted for 15 Yale touchdowns, and he was a defensive giant. In his sophomore year, the rangy 6-foot-1 end brought Princeton’s long string of victories to a close when he caught a pass on the tips of his fingers and defeated the Tigers, 7-0. After Yale, Larry went into education, teaching and coaching until World War II. After the war, he tried his hand at the “cold, tough, business world,” and did well. The

Yale Quarterback

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Clinton Frank, Yale Byron White, Colorado Marshall Goldberg, Pittsburgh Alex Wojciechowicz, Fordham Joe Kilgrow, Alabama

1938

Davey O’Brien TCU Quarterback

the gridiron greats, he holds the all-time college record—at 400—for most rushing and passing plays in one season. A good runner and punter, he was an outstanding selector of plays and was the first Heisman winner to emerge from the Southwest Conference. After a brilliant 15-7 Sugar Bowl victory over Carnegie Tech, in which he kicked a field goal and threw a touchdown pass, the Philadelphia Eagles recruited him with a $12,000 bonus and a two-year contract. In his first season, Davey passed for 1,324 yards, breaking Sammy Baugh’s record.

In his second season, he completed a still unchallenged record of 33 out of 60 passes against the Redskins. Davey retired to become an FBI agent and following that stint in the early ’50s, changed course to become a business executive. He passed away on November 18, 1977. Davey O’Brien was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1955.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Davey O’Brien, Texas Christian Marshall Goldberg, Pittsburgh Sid Luckman, Columbia Bob MacLeod, Dartmouth Vic Bottari, California

1939

Nile Kinnick

Iowa Running Back

Nile, the Hawkeyes’ greatest player, gained 1,674 yards in his football career. In his senior year, he completed 31 passes for 638 yards, 11 for touchdowns. His 106 rushes netted 374 yards, and his 71 punts over three years were good for 2,834 yards—an average of 39.9 yards per kick. His return of kickoffs and punts totaled 604 yards, and he made 11 of his 17 drop kick attempts. In his acceptance speech at the Heisman dinner, Nile reflected the prevailing isolationist mood of the country, saying that he thanked God he had been born in America, “where they have football fields instead of in Europe, where they have battlefields.” And he added that he knew, “the football players of this country had rather battle for such medals as the Heisman Trophy rather than for such medals as the Croix de Guerre and the Iron Cross.” During World War II, Nile was a pilot attached to an aircraft carrier in the Caribbean. In June 1943, he crashlanded his fighter in the sea and was killed in action. Nile Kinnick was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1951.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Nile Kinnick, Iowa Tom Harmon, Michigan Paul Christman, Missouri George Cafego, Tennessee John Kimbrough, Texas A&M

This 5-foot-5, 140-pounder sparked Texas Christian to an undefeated season his senior year. Davey threw 194 passes, completed 110 for 1,733 yards, and 19 touchdowns. One of

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HEISMAN

1941 Smith

1943

2021

Angelo Bertelli

1940

Tom Harmon

Michigan Running Back

In his three seasons, “Old Ninety-Eight” scored 33 touchdowns, kicked 2 field goals, kicked 33 points after touchdowns for 237 points, and threw 16 touchdown passes. He gained 3,438 yards rushing and passing, and played almost every minute of his three-year career. A solid 193 pounds, Tom was a power runner noted for his cut-backs through tackle—often seen on the field with his jersey ripped by tacklers unable to hold on to him. He was probably the finest ball carrier in the country in his time.

After a four-year stint as a pilot during World War II (for which he earned a Silver Star and the Purple Heart), he married actress Elyse Knox and played for the Los Angeles Rams in 1947–48.

Tom’s subsequent career in broadcasting proved as successful, if not more, than his time spent on the field. In 1949, after two posts as Sports Director of WJR in Detroit and commentator on KIEV in Glendale, he became Sports Director of the Columbia Pacific Network, managing daily radio and television shows. Tom reported live on major sporting events from the Olympics to the Rose Bowl for CBS, ABC, and NBC, to name just a fraction of his 10,000 broadcasts. Until Tom’s passing in March 1990, he was broadcasting the Los Angeles Raiders football games. Tom Harmon was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1954.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Tom Harmon, Michigan John Kimbrough, Texas A&M George Franck, Minnesota Frankie Albert, Stanford Paul Christman, Missouri

1941

Bruce Smith

Minnesota Running Back

Bruce received his Heisman two days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The marquis triple-threat tailback of his era, Smith epitomized the single-wing offense and could seemingly do it all. Although over 200 pounds, he was one of the Big Ten Conference’s fastest men. In 1941, he led the Gophers to their second consecutive undefeated season and national championship. After graduation, the All-American halfback earned MVP honors in the College All-Star game against the Chicago Bears. The next year, before going off to fight in WWII, Smith went to Hollywood and starred in the movie Smith of

Minnesota, about a small-town family whose son becomes an All-American halfback. Smith went on to become a Navy fighter pilot, and also played service football for the Great Lake Navy team. Returning home in 1945, he signed with the Green Bay Packers and later the Los Angeles Rams. He played for four years in the NFL but injuries prevented him from performing up to his collegiate standards. In 1947, he nearly died when he ruptured a kidney during a Chicago Bears game. He retired at the young age of 29, moving back to his hometown to raise a family. Sadly, Smith was diagnosed with cancer in the spring of 1967 and died of the disease later that year. Bruce Smith was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1972 and, in 1977, became the first Minnesota player to have his number (54) retired.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Bruce Smith, Minnesota Angelo Bertelli, Notre Dame Frankie Albert, Stanford Frank Sinkwich, Georgia Bill Dudley, Virginia

1942

Frank Sinkwich

Georgia Running Back

Frank was in a Marine uniform when he accepted his Heisman Trophy. He passed for 2,331 yards during his college career, and still holds the Orange Bowl total offense record—382 yards rushing and passing. His 13 passes for 243 yards and 3 touchdowns, and 139 rushing yards including a 43-yard TD run, totaling 382 yards, is still regarded as the greatest performance in any Orange Bowl Classic. Frank played several seasons in professional football, and coached at the University of Tampa in Florida for the 1950–51 seasons. He then entered the wholesale beer distribution business in Asheville, North Carolina, Athens and Gainesville, Georgia, and was elected President of the Georgia Beer Wholesalers in 1977. Frank was a member of the University of Georgia President’s Club, Outstanding Alumni, and a member of the Athens Country Club and Chamber of Commerce. He passed away on October 22, 1990. Frank Sinkwich was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1954.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Frank Sinkwich, Georgia Paul Governali, Columbia Clint Castleberry, Georgia Mike Holovak, Boston College Bill Hillenbrand, Indiana

Notre Dame Quarterback

Angelo made the T-Formation click for the Fighting Irish until his entry into the Marine Corps in 1943. He completed 169 of 324 passes in twenty-six games, accounting for 2,582 yards; 29 of those completions were for touchdowns. In his senior year, his team averaged more than 40 points a game. His legerdemain with the football, and capacity for the big play, gripped the attention of football fans and sportswriters alike. Grantland Rice called Angelo a great passer and a T-Formation magician. Frank Leahy, in his book The T-Formation, called Angelo “The man around whom we built all our hopes and dreams when we shifted into the T in 1942.

He more than lived up to our highest expectations as he led Notre Dame to their many successful years with the T.” Angelo saw action as a Marine officer in Iwo Jima and Guam. He and his wife, Jill, have four children and five grandchildren. He passed away on June 26, 1999. Angelo Bertelli was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1972.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

1940 Harmon

Angelo Bertelli, Notre Dame Bob Odell, Pennsylvania Otto Graham, Northwestern Creighton Miller, Notre Dame Eddie Prokop, Georgia Tech

1944

Leslie Horvath

Ohio State Quarterback

Les hit his peak in his senior year, gaining 924 yards on 162 carries for 5.7 yards per carry. He scored 12 touchdowns in 1944, and completed 14 of 32 passes for 344 yards—6 of the 14 pass completions were for touchdowns. He set a new Big Ten rushing record and played in all of his team’s nine games. One of the more versatile backs seen on any football team, he kicked, passed, blocked, tackled, and carried OSU through a perfect season, all of which won him the title of the “Playing Coach.” Les was no slouch in the classroom either, graduating in June 1945 with a degree in dentistry. Les entered the Navy in June 1945 as a double threat: dental officer in the morning and assistant football coach to Paul Brown in the afternoon. He continued coaching when he was transferred to Hawaii, and won the service championship. After a three-year fling with the pros (Rams and Browns), Dr. Horvath established a practice in Los Angeles. His hobby was golf and from 1970–72, he very successfully coached Bantam Football, winning the League Title for Glendale. He passed away in November of 1995. Leslie Horvath was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1969.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

1942 Sinkwich

Leslie Horvath, Ohio State Glenn Davis, Army Felix Blanchard, Army Don Whitmire, Navy Buddy Young, Illinois 1944 Horvath

1943 Bertelli

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HEISMAN

1945 Blanchard

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1945

Felix ‘Doc’ Blanchard Army Fullback

1946 Davis 1947 Lujack

An All-American for three years, the 6-foot, 205-pound “Mr. Inside” scored 38 touchdowns and gained 1,908 yards on three powerhouse West Point teams that were unbeatable during the World War II years. The pulverizing fullback ran the 100 yards in 10 seconds flat. In his very first game against North Carolina, Felix averaged 58 yards on kickoffs, punted once for 40 yards, and carried the ball 4 times for a 4.5 yard average, although he only played for 17 minutes. Felix was the first junior to win the Heisman Trophy. After graduation from USMA, he spent his entire working career with the Army Air Force, retiring with the rank of Colonel.

After retirement, “Doc” enjoyed relaxing and life in Texas where he could fish and hunt to his heart’s content. He passed away in 2009. Felix Blanchard was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1959.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Felix Blanchard, Army Glenn Davis, Army Bob Fenimore, Oklahoma A&M Herman Wedemeyer, St. Mary’s Harry Gilmer, Alabama

1946

Glenn Davis

1948 Walker

Army Running Back

Glenn was the “Mr. Outside” of the famed Davis-Blanchard duo.

He scored 59 touchdowns in his career and gained an amazing 4,129 yards from rushing and passing for the Black Knights. He holds the major college record for most yards gained per play in one season, and ranks as one of the most versatile players in college football history. He averaged 58 minutes a game against a tough schedule. No major collegian ever approached his remarkable career average of almost one touchdown every 9 plays. Serving in the Army in Korea until 1950, Glenn resigned his commission to join the Los Angeles Rams and played on two championship teams. Injuries cut his career short, however, and he turned to public relations and promotions for the Los Angeles Times special events department, with the primary goal of raising money for youth activities. On July 12, 1996, Glenn married Yvonne Ameche, Alan Ameche’s widow. He passed away March 9, 2005. Glenn Davis was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1961.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Glenn Davis, Army Charles Trippi, Georgia John Lujack, Notre Dame Felix Blanchard, Army Herman Wedemeyer, St. Mary’s

1947

John Lujack

Notre Dame Quarterback

John is considered one of the greatest T-formation collegiate quarterbacks of all time. Filling in for Angelo Bertelli, who was in the Marines in 1943, he quarterbacked a 26-0 victory over the previously unbeaten Army Cadets. John gained 2,080 yards in three years, and achieved a marvelous passing record of 144 completions out of 282 throws. His accurate arm accounted for many of Notre Dame’s 24 victories in the Golden Dome. In his three seasons at Notre Dame (1943, and after military service, 1946–1947) the Fighting Irish were National Champions.

In 1947, he received the Athlete of the Year award. After graduation, John played four years with the Chicago Bears and was named All-Pro on defense in 1948 and All-Pro on offense in 1950. In 1949 he established a new NFL passing record of 468 yards and 6 touchdowns in one game against the Chicago Cardinals. From 1952–53 he served as Notre Dame’s backfield coach under Frank Leahy, coaching John Lattner, the 1953 Heisman winner. In 1954, John became a Chevrolet dealer. He currently resides in Davenport, Iowa, in the summers and Indian Wells, California, during the winters, enjoying his hobby of golf.

John Lujack was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1960.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

John Lujack, Notre Dame Bob Chappius, Michigan Doak Walker, Southern Methodist Charles Conerly, Pennsylvania Harry Gilmer, Alabama

1948

Doak Walker

SMU Running Back

The greatest player to come out of the Southwest Conference, Doak was the second junior to win a Heisman Trophy. For three years he was an All-American at Southern Methodist, where, in 35 games, he scored 303 points on 40 touchdowns, 60 extra points after touchdowns, and one field goal. Doak gained over 3,500 yards running and passing, and established several other Southwest Conference records that still stand. He led the Mustangs to the Cotton Bowl in 1948 and 1949. Doak was

signed by the Detroit Lions, where he played for six seasons, leading the league in rushing in his best year. After retiring from football, he formed his own firm, Walker Chemical Co., which he subsequently sold, and following, served as Vice President of Fischbach & Moore Electric Group. Doak was married to former Olympic skier Gladys “Skeeter” Werner. He passed away in September of 1998. Doak Walker was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1959 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Doak Walker, Southern Methodist Charlie Justice, North Carolina Chuck Bednarik, Pennsylvania Jackie Jensen, California Stanley Heath, Nevada

1949

Leon Hart

Notre Dame End

Leon was the second end to win the Heisman Trophy. He co-captained Notre Dame’s 1949 National Championship team, and was considered by some experts to be the all-time All-American at his position. Leon played both offense and defense. He was a savage blocker and tackler, running the end-around play from fullback with devastating effect. He was voted on All-American teams three of his four years, during which Notre Dame never lost a game. He received every major football award in 1949, including Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press. Leon received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was Bonus Choice of the Detroit Lions in 1950, and in 1951 was voted All-Pro on offense and defense. During Leon’s eight seasons with Detroit they won four divisional titles and three world championships. He and his beloved late wife, Lois, are survived by five sons, one daughter, and fourteen grandchildren. He passed away September 24, 2002. Leon Hart was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1973.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Leon Hart, Notre Dame Charlie Justice, North Carolina Doak Walker, Southern Methodist Arnold Galiffa, Army Bob Williams, Notre Dame

1949 Hart

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J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics: Josh Brooks Head Football Coach: Kirby Smart

HEISMAN

1951 Kazmaier

1953

John Lattner

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1950

Victor Janowicz

Ohio State Running Back

Invaluable as a defensive player, Vic was the key factor in the Buckeyes’ success in 1950, and the third junior to win the Heisman Trophy. The late Woody Hayes, the venerable Ohio State coach, had this to say about Vic: “He was not only a great runner, but also passed, was a place kicker and punter, played safety in defense and was an outstanding blocker. Vic epitomized the triple-threat football player.” After a stint in the service, Vic signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a catcher for 1953 and 1954. He returned to football in 1954 with the Redskins and played defensive back. In 1955, he led the NFL in scoring until the final day of the season when Doak Walker beat him out. In 1956, a near fatal automobile accident ended his football career. Subsequently, Vic was appointed an administrative assistant to Jim Petro, the Auditor of the State of Ohio. In 1991, the Columbus Downtown Quarterback Club honored him as “the greatest OSU athlete in the past fifty years.” He was also a member of the OSU, Elyris, and the Polish-American Hall of Fame. Vic passed away in February of 1996. Victor Janowicz was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1976.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Victor Janowicz, Ohio State Kyle Rote, Southern Methodist Red Bagnell, Pennsylvania Babe Parilli, Kentucky Bobby Reynolds, Nebraska

1951

Richard Kazmaier

Princeton Running Back

Dick’s team was the best in the East in 1951, and was ranked sixth nationally. The Tigers completed that season with a 22-game winning streak and back-to-back undefeated teams.

Dick was the nation’s total offense leader in 1951, and the most accurate passer in the country. He was also voted the Athlete of the Year in 1951 by the Associated Press. The last single wing triple-threat tailback to win the Heisman, Dick is also the Trophy’s last Ivy League winner. Dick was Chairman of Kazmaier Associates, Inc., a family investment company. He served as a Trustee of Princeton University, and as Chairman of

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the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under President Ronald Reagan. The National Football Foundation honored Dick by presenting him with the Distinguished American Award for 1993. Richard passed away on August 1, 2013. Kazmaier is survived by his wife of sixty years, Patricia, as well as five of his six daughters and many grandchildren.

Richard Kazmaier was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1966.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Richard Kazmaier, Princeton Hank Lauricella, Tennessee Babe Parilli, Kentucky Bill McColl, Stanford John Bright, Drake

1952

Oklahoma Running Back

A great star on a star-studded Sooner team, Billy scored 18 touchdowns, gained over 1,000 yards rushing, and caught 8 passes for 200 yards. In his senior year, he threw 18 passes and completed 7 for 209 yards and 3 touchdowns. A fierce competitor, he is best remembered for his running savagery against Notre Dame, scoring 3 touchdowns and surging 195 yards rushing on 17 carries, for an average of 11.5 yards per carry. In 1953, Billy turned pro for the Edmonton Eskimos and won the Schenley Award as the top player in Canada, before serving as an officer in the US Army. He spent one year (1956) with the Baltimore Colts and then moved to Florida in 1957 to become assistant to the president of Mackle Company, a major real estate developer. Billy was active in fund-raising, alumni association work, and served on President John F. Kennedy’s Physical Fitness Program. He passed away on November 17, 2001 and is survived by his wife and three children. Billy Vessels was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1974.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

John scored 20 touchdowns and 120 points for the Fighting Irish.

He gained 1,726 yards from scrimmage and caught 39 passes for 479 yards. He advanced the ball 3,095 yards by running, catching passes, returning punts and kickoffs, and intercepting passes.

During his time at Notre Dame, the team lost only three times in three years. The 195-pound, smack-over halfback turned in fine performances in showcase games against the top caliber teams of Oklahoma, Purdue, Southern Cal, and Iowa. John went from Notre Dame to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and then served for two years in the Air Force from 1955–57. Following his military service, he took up coaching at St. Joseph High School and later Denver University. In 1962, he opened a steak house in Chicago, which bore his name, as well as a second restaurant there called Marina City. His Heisman Trophy was always proudly on display at Lattner’s Steak House. John was Vice President of sales for PAL Graphics, Inc. and was active in fundraising for many charities.

He also served on the Physical Fitness Committee of the State of Illinois. He passed away on February 13, 2016. John Lattner was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1979.

Balloting

Billy Vessels

Billy Vessels, Oklahoma Jack Scarbath, Maryland Paul Giel, Minnesota Donn Moomaw, UCLA John Lattner, Notre Dame

Notre Dame Running Back

1 2 3 4 5

1950 Janowicz 1952 Vessels

John Lattner, Notre Dame Paul Giel, Minnesota Paul Cameron, UCLA Bernie Faloney, Maryland Bob Garrett, Stanford

1954

Alan Ameche

Wisconsin Fullback This stampeding fullback who played in thirty-seven games over four years scored 25 touchdowns, gained 3,345 scrimmage yards, and was mainly responsible for the Badgers’ 26 victories between 1951–54. His ability to play 55 or more minutes per game earned him the nickname “The Iron Horse.” Upon graduation, Alan held all rushing records for single game and season performances at Wisconsin, scoring more points and touchdowns than any player in the school’s history; he was Wisconsin’s greatest grid star.

Alan played as a fullback with the Baltimore Colts for six seasons (1955–60). He then founded Gino’s, Inc., a chain of successful restaurants, and served as its Corporate Secretary and a member of the Board. Alan was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from St. Joseph’s College, was Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, a Trustee of Malvern Prep, and was Corporations Chairman for the United Negro College Fund. He passed away on August 8, 1988. Alan Ameche was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1975.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

1953 Lattner

1954 Ameche

Alan Ameche, Wisconsin Kurt Burris, Oklahoma Howard Cassady, Ohio State Ralph Gugliemi, Notre Dame Paul Larson, California

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1955

HEISMAN

Howard Cassady

1955 Cassady

1956 Hornung

“Hopalong” was one of Ohio State’s best ever, scoring 37 touchdowns in thirty-six games for 222 points. He gained 2,466 yards rushing for an average of 5.6 per try. A player’s player, his 964 yards with a total of 15 touchdowns his senior season led the team, as Ohio State repeated as Big Ten champions. Often overlooked were his sparkling defensive plays; he never had a pass completed over him in four years of Big Ten competition. He held the Buckeyes’ yardage-gained record for many years and was voted All-American 1954–55. Howard also played baseball for Ohio State for four years, and in 1955 was named Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press. He played eight years with the Detroit Lions, one with the Philadelphia Eagles, and one with the Cleveland Browns. He then founded his own company that manufactured concrete pipe, which he sold in 1968 when he began selling steel with Hopalong Cassady Associates. Howard later worked for American Shipbuilding in Tampa, and was a scout and coach for the New York Yankees. He was inducted into the Columbus Clippers Hall of Fame in August 2005. Howard and his wife, Barbara have three children and four grandchildren. He passed away in September 2019.

Howard Cassady was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1979.

Balloting

1957 Crow

1958 Dawkins

1 2 3 4 5

Howard Cassady, Ohio State Jim Swink, Texas Christian George Welsh, Navy Earl Morrall, Michigan State Paul Hornung, Notre Dame

1956

Paul Hornung

Notre Dame Quarterback

Despite a mediocre Notre Dame team, the blond, 220-pound “Golden Boy,” carried the ball 94 times his senior year for 420 yards for an average of 4.5 per try. He completed 59 of 111 passes for 917 yards, 3 touchdowns, and a .532 completion percentage, giving him a total offensive figure of 1,337 yards. The jack-of-all-trades could run, pass, block, and tackle. Paul was probably the greatest all-around player in Notre Dame’s history and is the only Heisman winner to have played on a losing team, as the Fighting Irish were 2–8 in 1956. As almost every football fan knows, Paul went to the Green Bay Packers, leading the NFL in scoring for three straight years, and was voted MVP in 1960 and 1961. He accomplished his records despite injuries and military obligations, and it is no wonder that his coach, Vince Lombardi, called him “the most versatile man who ever played the game.” He was President of Paul Hornung Sports Showcase and Paul Hornung Enterprises, Inc., Vice President of Real Estate and Investment Co. and a member of the National High School Hall of Fame. He passed away in November 2020. Paul Hornung was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

Balloting

1959 Cannon

1 2 3 4 5

2021

Ohio State Running Back

Paul Hornung, Notre Dame John Majors, Tennessee Tom McDonald, Oklahoma Jerry Tubbs, Oklahoma Jimmy Brown, Syracuse

1957

John David Crow

Texas A&M Running Back

Despite suffering some early season injuries in 1957, during his senior campaign, John David carried the ball 129 times for 562 yards, scored 6 touchdowns, passed for 5 more, and added 5 interceptions. John David was named a scholastic All-American his senior year and was named to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. John David had a memorable professional career with the Cardinals and 49ers, playing eleven years and setting rushing and touchdown records, some of which still stand. He rushed for 5,000 yards and gained over 3,000 yards on pass receptions. Returning to college ball in 1968, he worked as offensive backfield coach under his old A&M mentor, Bear Bryant, in Alabama. He then went on to the Cleveland Browns and San Diego Chargers in a similar capacity and was named Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Northeast Louisiana State University in 1975, a position he held until 1980. John David served Texas A&M as Associate AD, AD, and as Director of Development for Athletics until his retirement in 2001 and was named a distinguished alumnus of Texas A&M. He served on the Board of Directors of Gulf Greyhound Partners, Ltd. and The Green Group, Inc. John David and his wife Carolyn have three children (one deceased), seven grandchildren, and five great granddaughters. He passed away in 2016. John David Crow was elected to the Texas and Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, and the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame 1976.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

John David Crow, Texas A&M Alex Karras, Iowa Walt Kowalczyk, Michigan State Lou Michaels, Kentucky Tom Forrestal, Navy

1958

Pete Dawkins

Army Running Back

Pete, the sixty-ninth Army football captain and a polio victim, posed a double threat as a runner and a left-handed passer.

In three years, he rushed for 1,123 yards, threw 16 passes, 7 for touchdowns, caught 27 passes for 716 yards and scored 158 points, leading the Cadets to an undefeated season. Pete was Class President and Cadet First Captain, and went on to attend Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, where he played for the university’s rugby team for three years. Later,

he attended Princeton, where he received an MPA and PhD. His military career was equally impressive, and he rose to the rank of Brigadier General with commands in both the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. After serving twenty-four years, Pete retired from the Army and entered the world of business. After several years on Wall Street, he ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate, and subsequently served for over twenty years in executive positions in Primerica Corporation, Travelers, and Citigroup.

Pete is currently Senior Advisor at Vitu Financial, the largest non-bank liquidity provider in the global markets. He was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1975 and, along with Roger Staubach, received the Hall of Fame’s Gold Medal Award in 2007.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Pete Dawkins, Army Randy Duncan, Iowa Billy Cannon, Louisiana State Bob White, Ohio State Joe Kapp, California

1959

Billy Cannon

Louisiana State Running Back At LSU, Billy gained 598 yards rushing, an average of 4.3 yards, completed 2 passes for 20 yards, caught 15 punts and ran them back for 221 yards, returned 8 kickoffs for 191 yards, scored 7 touchdowns and punted 44 times for an average of 40.3 yards.

The shifty, slashing 6-foot-1, 210-pound “Atomic Cannon” was clocked in the hundred at 9.4, and was the scourge of LSU’s Southeastern Conference opponents for three years. Billy went on to a distinguished pro career with the Houston Oilers (four years), the Oakland Raiders (six years), and the Kansas City Chiefs (one year). He was named All-Pro halfback with Houston and All-Pro tight end with Oakland. During his pro years, Billy went to dental school at the University of Tennessee, graduating in 1968 with a DDS. He continued his studies at a graduate program in orthodontia at Loyola in Chicago, earning two additional degrees. Billy and his wife, Dorothy, have five children and resided in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he was an orthodontist. Billy Cannon passed away in 2018. He was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2008.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Billy Cannon, Louisiana State Richie Lucas, Penn State Don Meredith, Southern Methodist Bill Burrell, Illinois Charles Flowers, Mississippi

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HEISMAN

1960 Bellino

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1963

1961 Davis

Roger Staubach

Navy Quarterback

1960

Joseph Bellino

Navy Running Back

At 5-feet-9 and 181 pounds, Joe gained 834 yards, over half of his team’s total 1,650 yards, in Navy’s 1960 season (9-1).

He completed 5 of 14 passes, 2 for touchdowns, caught 15 passes for 264 yards and 3 touchdowns. His quick-kicks averaged 47.1 yards, and he returned 5 punts for 97 yards and 11 kickoffs for 240 yards. He was Navy’s chief scorer in 1960 with 18 touchdowns for 110 points and played safety on defense, averaging over 40 minutes per game. After a four-year stint in the Navy, Joe was signed by the (then) Boston Patriots and played for three seasons. In 1968, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals, but preferred to retire from football rather than move his family. Although semi-retired, for the last thirty years, Joe worked in the automobile industry, specializing in the wholesale auto auction and consumer leasing business. Joe was Director of National Accounts for ADESA Boston, also Director of the Northern Bank and Trust Company, and was active in many charities in the New England area. He served over twentyeight years in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve and held the rank of Captain, USNR, Retired. Joe passed away in 2019, survived by his wife, Ann, and two children, Therese and John. Joseph Bellino was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1977.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Joseph Bellino, Navy Tom Brown, Minnesota Jake Gibbs, Mississippi Ed Dyas, Auburn Bill Kilmer, UCLA

1961

Ernest Davis

Syracuse Running Back

Ernie, a big, rugged 6-foot-2, 211-pounder, played left halfback and was his team’s leading ground-gainer for three seasons.

He completed 1961 with 823 yards on 150 carries, averaging 5.5 yards. He scored 15 touchdowns and totaled 94 points, leading Syracuse in pass receiving with 16 catches for 157 yards. He broke Jim Brown’s career records in rushing (2,386 yards), yards gained all ways (3,414), scoring (220 points), and touchdowns (35). Ernie was the first African American to win

the Heisman Trophy. After graduating from college, he was signed by the Cleveland Browns for the (then) astronomical sum of $80,000. Shortly after signing, and before he suited up for his first pro game, Ernie was struck down by leukemia. He died on May 18, 1963, after a sixteen-month battle for survival.

Ernest Davis was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1979.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Ernest Davis, Syracuse Bob Ferguson, Ohio State Jimmy Saxton, Texas Sandy Stephens, Minnesota Pat Trammel, Alabama

1962

Terry Baker

Oregon State Quarterback

The West Coast’s first Heisman winner established an amazing record in total offense, running and passing for 4,980 yards at Oregon State. In 1962, Terry completed 111 passes out of 202 attempts for 1,723 yards, including 15 touchdown passes. He led his team in net yards gained rushing, averaging 4.5 yards per carry and kicked 33 of his team’s 42 punts, averaging 37.4 yards per punt. A fine all-around athlete, he is the only Heisman winner to also play in an NCAA Final Four. Terry graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1963, then played pro ball with the Los Angeles Rams and the Edmonton Eskimos.

He attended law school at USC, received his Juris Doctorate in 1968, and was admitted to the Oregon State Bar that year. Terry served on the staff of the President’s Commission on Campus Unrest and Kent State Task Force in 1970. He practiced law in Portland, Oregon, as a partner in the law firm Tonkon Torp LLP until retiring in 2012. He received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award in 1988 and was elected to the GTE Academic All-American Hall of Fame in 1991. Terry Baker was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1982.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Terry Baker, Oregon State Jerry Stovall, Louisiana State Bob Bell, Minnesota Lee Roy Jordan, Alabama George Mira, Miami

Roger was hailed by Navy coach Wayne Hardin as “the greatest quarterback Navy ever had.” In 1963, he completed more than 115 passes, 9 for touchdowns, and as a sophomore completed 67 of 98 pass attempts as the leading percentage passer in the nation. In the Michigan-Navy game of 1963, he connected on 14 passes for 237 yards, and against West Virginia, he completed 17 passes. He was the fourth junior to win the Heisman Trophy. Of Roger’s subsequent professional career with the Dallas Cowboys, not much needs to be said other than that he proved himself to be one of the finest quarterbacks in history in terms of both performance and team leadership. Roger joined the Cowboys in 1969, following four years of service in the Navy, with one year in Vietnam. He was voted MVP in Super Bowl VI. Roger was the Executive Chairman of Americas of Jones Lang LaSalle, an international diversified commercial real estate company headquartered in Chicago. Roger Staubach was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1981 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985—the first year he became eligible for this honor.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Roger Staubach, Navy Billy Lothridge, Georgia Tech Sherman Lewis, Michigan State Don Trull, Baylor Scott Appleton, Texas

1964

John Huarte

Notre Dame Quarterback

The grim-jawed passer led Notre Dame to a brilliant season of nine victories in ten games. Although he played only 5 minutes as a sophomore and 45 as a junior, he established nine Notre Dame records and tied another. He completed 114 of 205 passes for 2,062 yards and 16 touchdowns for an average of 18.1 per completion in his senior year. He was the sixth Notre Dame player to win the Heisman Trophy. After graduation, John played ten years of pro football, eight in the NFL, and two in the WFL playing for Memphis. He is the owner and president of Arizona Tile, a group of twenty-five granite tile centers located throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Texas, and is the No. 1 distributor of these products in North America.

He is married to the former Eileen Devine of New York City and they have five children and eleven grandchildren. John Huarte was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2005.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

1952 Baker

John Huarte, Notre Dame Jerry Rhome, Tulsa Dick Butkus, Illinois Bob Timberlake, Michgan Jack Snow, Notre Dame 1963 Staubach

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1964 Huarte

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HEISMAN

1965 Garrett

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1965

Mike Garrett

1966 Spurrier

Balloting

1967 Beban

1968 Simpson

USC Running Back

In three years with the Trojans, Mike gained 4,876 yards in rushing, passing, receiving, punt returns, and kickoff returns.

Mike’s 1,440 rushing yards led the nation’s runners in 1965 and his 3,221 career yards on the ground was among the best in NCAA history. The 5-foot-9, 189-pound halfback broke nearly all of his college’s football offensive records and many of the AAWU Conference on the West Coast. After college, Mike played four years with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning a Super Bowl in 1970, and four more with the San Diego Chargers. In San Diego, Mike also founded a community-based educational program for underprivileged children. Mike returned to his alma mater, the University of Southern California, as Associate Athletic Director and was then named Athletic Director in 1993. He has remained actively involved in youth programs in Los Angeles, starting East Los Angeles Youth Activities to deal with gang youth, and has been a motivating force behind several charity sports programs.

Mike and his wife, Suzanne, have four children, Sara, Daniel, and twins, Michael William and John Sherman. Mike Garrett was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1985.

1 2 3 4 5

Mike Garrett, USC Howard Twilley, Tulsa Jim Grabowski, Illinois Don Anderson, Texas Tech Floyd Little, Syracuse

1966

Steve Spurrier Florida Quarterback

1969 Owens

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6-feet-2 and 203 pounds, “Super Steve” broke many Florida and Southeastern Conference records in a career that spanned 31 games. He completed 392 passes out of 692 attempts for a total yardage of 4,848, including 37 touchdowns and picked up 442 yards rushing. The number one draft choice of the San Francisco 49ers, he played for nine years, spelling John Brodie as quarterback in 1972 and leading the 49ers to a third consecutive NFC West Title. In the ’72 season he threw for 5 touchdown passes to tie Brodie and Albert for the team record. A collegiate head coach for 29 years, he was 20-13-1 at Duke and won the ACC title in 1989. As Florida head coach, his team won the SEC title in 1990–91, 1993–96, 2000 and the National Championship in 1996. He was the winningest coach in Florida history with a record of 122-27-1 for 12 years. As head coach at the University of South Carolina, his teams have qualified for a Bowl game all nine years, with an Eastern Division title in 2010. In 2011, he led South Carolina to the best record, 11-2, and is the winningest football coach in that school’s history. He won nine Conference

Coach of the Year awards and the Davey O’Brien Legends Award.

He is married to the former Jerri Starr; they have four children and fourteen grandchildren. Steve Spurrier is one of four people to be elected to the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame as both a player (1986) and a coach (2017).

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Steve Spurrier, Florida Bob Griese, Purdue Nick Eddy, Notre Dame Gary Beban, UCLA Floyd Little, Syracuse

1967

Gary Beban

UCLA Quarterback Gary quarterbacked UCLA to twenty-three victories against five losses and two ties in his three-year reign with the Bruins. He completed 240 of 454 passes for a total of 4,070 yards, while rushing for 1,280 yards, crossing the goal line 35 times, and running for 2 two-point conversions. Against USC in his senior year, Gary completed 16 out of 24 passes for 301 yards and 2 touchdown strikes of 53 and 20 yards. After college, Gary played for the Redskins until 1970. He then joined CB Commercial, the nation’s leading full-service real estate organization. After serving as an industrial property specialist and holding various management positions, Gary served as the President of CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) from 1987 to 1998, and co-chaired the Global Account Management Group until his retirement in 2008.

Still active with CBRE as an advisor and client account manager, he also serves as a Director of the Hubbell Realty Company.

Gary Beban was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1998.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Gary Beban, UCLA O.J. Simpson, USC Leroy Keyes, Purdue Larry Csonka, Syracuse Kim Hammond, Florida State

1968

O.J. Simpson

USC Running Back

The second Heisman Trophy winner from USC, O.J. piled up a monumental record in two seasons at USC. In eighteen games he gained 3,187 yards, scored 21 touchdowns in 1968 and 13 in 1967. His 40 carries in the UCLA game his senior year gave him an NCAA record of 334 for one season. His 205 yards in that same game swelled his season total to 1,654 for another NCAA record.

Since graduation, O.J. has become not only a legendary rusher in the NFL, but an actor, and an advertising pitchman. He closed out a great football career in 1979 with the 49ers. He went on to be seen on television and movie screens regularly. He was a sports broadcaster for NBC and ABC. He owns and is CEO of two companies, Orenthal Productions and O.J. Simpson Enterprises.

O.J. Simpson was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

O.J. Simpson, USC Leroy Keyes, Purdue Terry Hanratty, Notre Dame Ted Kwallick, Penn State Ted Hendricks, Miami

1969

Steve Owens

Oklahoma Fullback Steve was named to the All Big Eight Conference team in 1967– 69; received Big 8 Player of the Year in 1968–69; was a Consensus All-American in 1968–69 and was selected by his teammates as co-captain of the 1969 Sooners. Steve was drafted in the 1st round by the Detroit Lions, was the first Lion to gain over 1,000 yards in a season, and was an All-Pro selection in 1971. After six years with Detroit, he retired with a serious knee injury. In 1991, Steve was named to The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, and was the Walter Camp Foundation Alumnus of the Year. He was inducted into the Orange Bowl Hall of Honor in 1992. Steve is CEO of Steve Owens Associates and Steve Owens Insurance Group, which offer a full range of insurance and service related products, located in Norman, Oklahoma. Steve keeps strong ties to the University of Oklahoma, serving as AD from 1996–98. He is the founding member of the Norman Public School Foundation and Miami (OK) Public School Foundation. He has been a spokesman for the Ronald McDonald House and played a key role in raising funds to bring the House to Oklahoma City. Steve has given his time to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Child Welfare Citizens Advisory Board, the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Football Foundation, and the Advisory Board for the Norman Family YMCA. He is on the Board of Directors of Arvest Bank and also serves on the Selection Committees for the Doak Walker and the Danny Wuerffel Awards. Steve resides in Norman with his wife, Barbara. They have two sons, their beloved Blake, and Mike, his wife Lindsay and children Quincy, Austin, Madden and Campbell. Steve Owens was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1991.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Steve Owens, Oklahoma Mike Phipps, Purdue Rex Kern, Ohio State Archie Manning, Mississippi Mike Reid, Penn State

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Matt Leinart • 2004

Carson Palmer • 2002

Marcus Allen • 1981

USC Salutes Its Heisman Winners

Charles White • 1979

O.J. Simpson • 1968

Mike Garrett • 1965

HEISMAN 2021

1970

Jim Plunkett

Stanford Quarterback In three seasons with the Indians, Jim’s total offense records included most pass attempts (962), most pass completions (530), most net yards passing (7,544), most touchdown passes (52), most plays total offense (1,174), and most yards total offense (7,887). His net yards passing and most yards total offense were NCAA records at the time. When he connected for 22 of 36 passes for 268 yards against Washington, he broke the career passing mark of 7,076 yards held by Steve Ramsey of North Carolina. After Rose Bowl heroics (leading Stanford over Ohio State in 1971, 27-17), Jim went on to the New England Patriots—as a No. 1 draft choice—where he compiled a brilliant freshman record as starting quarterback passing for 2,158 yards, and winning Rookie of the Year honors. He played in every Patriots game until injuries sidelined him in 1975. He was traded in 1976 to the 49ers, and in 1980, joined the Oakland Raiders and quarterbacked them to two Super Bowl wins, in 1980 (in which he was named MVP) and 1983. Jim retired after a stellar seventeen-season pro-football career, and works as an analyst for the Oakland Raiders pre-season television and co-hosts a weekly Oakland Raiders highlight television show.

He was named the First Recipient of the Leukemia Society of America’s Ernie Davis Award. Jim Plunkett was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1990.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Jim Plunkett, Stanford Joe Theismann, Notre Dame Archie Manning, Mississippi Steve Worster, Texas Rex Kern, Ohio State

1971

Pat Sullivan

Auburn Quarterback A three-season starter, Pat led Auburn to 25 victories in 30 games. The Tigers averaged well over 34.4 points and 425.8 yards a game and Pat accounted for 73 touchdowns (18 running and 55 passing) to equal the all-time NCAA mark. He received the Sammy Baugh Award (1970), the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award (1971), and was the 1972 MVP of the College All-Star Game. After graduation, Pat played for the Atlanta Falcons. In 1976, he was traded to the Washington Redskins and in 1977, to the 49ers. Following his pro career, Pat was successful as an insurance and tire company executive in

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his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. For 5 years, he served as the color analyst on Auburn’s radio broadcast. In 1986 he returned to Auburn as QB coach. In 1992 he became the Head Football Coach at TCU and was named SWC Coach of the Year in 1994. Pat was the Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach at The University of Alabama at Birmingham from 1999–2005, and the Assistant Head Coach in 2006. In 2007 he was named Head Football Coach at Samford University in Birmingham and led them to a 2013 SO-CON championship. Pat retired from coaching in 2014 and worked for the President of Samford University in Campus and Community Development. Pat volunteered for the UAB Head and Neck Cancer Survivor Care Program. He and his wife Jean have three children and eight grandchildren. He passed away in December 2019. Pat was a member of the Gator Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Senior Bowl Hall of Fame. In 1981 Pat Sullivan was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, in 1991, the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, and in 2012, the National High School Hall of Fame.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Pat Sullivan, Auburn Ed Marinaro, Cornell Gregg Pruitt, Oklahoma John Musso, Alabama Lydell Mitchell, Penn State

1972

Johnny Rodgers

Nebraska Wide Receiver

The first wide receiver to win the Heisman, Johnny was one of the most versatile players in Cornhusker history. Operating as a punt and kickoff returner, he broke offensive and punt return records by the dozen. In his three-year career he racked up 5,586 all-purpose yards for an NCAA record. Johnny sits among Orange Bowl royalty, winning three straight Orange Bowls and two National Championships concluding his Heisman-winning season with a 5-touchdown performance against Notre Dame.

He rushed for 3 touchdowns, caught a 50-yard touchdown and even threw a 52-yard touchdown on a halfback pass play. His 24 points scored in 1973 and 30 career points scored in Orange Bowl games are both tied for first all-time. Johnny chose to go to the CFL and played for the Montreal Alouettes where he was named Rookie of the Year in 1973 and All-Pro from 1974–1976.

He also had a career with the San Diego Chargers. Johnny is “The Huskers Player of the Century“ and “Most Valuable Player in the History of the Big Eight Conference.” In 2011 he authored his second book “10 Minutes of Insanity,” The Johnny Rodgers Story, a must read for anyone who wants our youth to know

that just one bad decision can have life long consequences. All readers will find this book interesting, informative, and inspiring.

In 2011, he established the Johnny ”The Jet” Rodgers National College Football Return Specialist Award and the Jet Legacy Award to honor Return Specialists from the past. In 2018–19 The Johnny Rodgers Career and Technical Education Scholarship program will provide over 200 youth scholarships to Metropolitan Community College to help youth establish a career in the trades.

All proceeds from The Jet Awards go to fund scholarships in the TRADES. Johnny Rodgers was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2000.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska Greg Pruitt, Oklahoma Rich Glover, Nebraska Bert Jones, Louisiana State Terry Davis, Alabama

1973

1970 Plunkett 1971 Sullivan

1972 Rodgers

John Cappelletti

Penn State Running Back

In 1972, John had the 3rd best year in Penn State history when he gained 1,117 yards rushing. In 1973, he had the 2nd best year in Penn State history, rushing for 1,522 yards. In his two-year career, he gained 100 yards in thirteen games and had a career total of 2,639 yards and 29 touchdowns for an average of 120 yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry. John’s statistics cover two years as running back as he played defensive back in 1971. He was named to virtually every All-American team, including the Kodak All-American team. John’s acceptance speech at the Heisman Dinner (with Vice President Gerald Ford next to him on the dais) was considered the most moving ever given at these ceremonies, as he honored his brother, Joey, a victim of leukemia. John was a first-round draft choice of the Rams, and spent two years grinding out short yardage. In 1976, he was promoted to starting duties and rushed for 688 yards in 177 carries. Placed on the injured reserve list in 1979, he was traded to the San Diego Chargers in 1980 and retired after the 1983 season. John was previously a partner in Family Classic Cars in San Juan Capistrano, California.

He and his wife, Betty, have four sons, John Jr., Thomas, Joseph, and Nicholas, who, with his wife Elizabeth, had the Cappelletti’s first granddaughter, Elianna. John and Betty reside in Laguna Niguel, California. John Cappelletti was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1993.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

John Cappelletti, Penn State John Hicks, Ohio State Roosevelt Leaks, Texas David Jaynes, Kansas Archie Griffin, Ohio State

1973 Cappelletti

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HEISMAN

Billy Sims

1978

2021

1974-75

Archie Griffin

Ohio State Running Back As a junior, Archie Griffin was named to every All-American team and was called “the greatest football player I’ve ever coached” by Woody Hayes. Combining power, speed, and an uncanny ability to break 4 or 5 tackles on a single play, he smashed the all-time record for running backs in the Big Ten, amassing 4,064 yards.

As a senior, Archie extended his record of consecutive 100-plus yard games to 31, and his overall yardage to 5,176. Archie was exceptional in many ways: he was magnificently consistent, grinding out 100-plus yards week in and week out, and he was a leader on the field and off, despite his modesty. Archie Griffin is the only player ever to win the Heisman twice: 1974 and 1975.

But most of all, Archie reflected the high standards of the Griffin family, which exemplified hard work, devotion to excellence, and resilience. After graduating early from Ohio State with an excellent scholastic record, Archie was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals and played seven seasons. Archie retired in June of 2017 after thirtythree years of service in the Ohio State Department of Athletics (Associate Director), Alumni Association (President and CEO), and Advancement (Senior Advisor). Archie Griffin was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1986.

Balloting

1974

1 2 3 4 5

Archie Griffin, Ohio State Anthony Davis, USC Joe Washington, Oklahoma Tom Clements, Notre Dame Dave Humm, Nebraska

Balloting

1975

1 2 3 4 5

Archie Griffin, Ohio State Chuck Muncie, California Ricky Bell, USC Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh Joe Washington, Oklahoma

Tony Dorsett 1976

Pittsburgh Running Back

In his fantastic four-year career at Pittsburgh, Tony established so many NCAA records that he deserves his own record book. Just to skim the surface, Tony had most yards gained; most seasons gaining 1,000 yards; most seasons gaining 1,500 yards; most rushes; most yards rushing; most yards gained in a season; as well as many freshman records. As a freshman, Tony weighed only 155 pounds, but a strenuous weight-lifting program brought him up to 192 pounds. Even as a “lightweight” he was a star, finishing thirteenth in Heisman voting as a freshman. The 1976 season saw

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Tony eclipse several important marks—the most important being his 1,948 yards rushing which gave him a four-year total of 6,082.

Tony equaled the record for most games rushing 100 yards or more (11 for a season, 33 for his career). In winning the Heisman Trophy, Tony beat Ricky Bell, his only serious competition, by an overwhelming 701–73 margin in first place votes. After playing in the collegiate national championship in 1976, Tony went to the Dallas Cowboys for the 1977 season, starting in the backfield under the 1963 winner, Roger Staubach. Tony was named NFL Rookie of the Year in 1977, and played in the Super Bowl. He retired from the NFL in 1990, and is owner of Touchdown Productions.

Tony Dorsett was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh Ricky Bell, USC Rob Lytle, Michigan Terry Miller, Oklahoma State Tom Kramer, Rice

1977

Earl Campbell

Texas Running Back

Earl has an affinity for the number “4”: four times he was All-Southwest running back—the first time in that conference’s history one man earned such an honor; his college career in rushing is 4,444 yards; and in his fourth year of college he captured both the Heisman Trophy and consensus All-American.

Earl’s top game was in 1977, where he gained 222 yards rushing against Texas A&M. His incredible talent for rushing brought him eighteen games in which he gained 100 yards or more. After graduating with a degree in speech communications from the University of Texas, Earl was the first player drafted by the NFL for the 1978 season by the Houston Oilers. With the Oilers, he showed definite record-breaking tendencies, becoming one of the few rookies in their first season to go over 1,000 yards rushing, and breaking the single season rushing record for a rookie. Earl set the Oilers team record for most touchdowns in a single season and tied the record for touchdowns in a single game. Retired from the NFL, Earl is Assistant to the Athletic Director at the University of Texas, He is also the President of Earl Campbell Foods, Inc., called the fastest growing food company in America. Earl Campbell was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Earl Campbell, Texas Terry Miller, Oklahoma State Ken MacAfee, Notre Dame Doug Williams, Grambling College Ross Browner, Notre Dame

Oklahoma Running Back

Billy became the sixth junior to win the Heisman and was the nation’s leading rusher and scorer for 1978, averaging 160.1 yards and 10.9 points. He set the Big Eight Conference single season rushing record of 1,762 on 231 carries for a phenomenal average of 7.6 yards every time he touched the ball. Billy was the only back in the nation’s top 50 to average 7.0 per carry, and became the first player in Big Eight’s history to rush for more than 200 yards in three straight games. In 1978, Billy was elected College Player of the Year by both the Associated Press and the United Press, and was Sports Magazine’s Player of the Year. He finished as the Heisman runner up to Charles White in 1979, then went on to become the NFL’s Rookie of the Year for Detroit in 1980.

In 1990, he was inducted into the Michigan Hall of Fame and, in 1994, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. In 2004 Sims co-founded Billy Sims BBQ and he continues to be actively involved in the day to day running of the company. He spends his days off with his kids and grandchildren. Billy Sims was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1995.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

1974–75 Griffin

Billy Sims, Oklahoma Chuck Fusina, Penn State Rick Leach, Michigan Charles White, USC Charles Alexander, Louisiana State

1979

Charles White

USC Running Back

Coach John Robinson stated, “Charlie is simply the most competitive athlete I’ve ever seen.” Incredibly, as USC’s all-purpose back, Charlie averaged 30 to 40 carries a game. Against Notre Dame, he scored 4 touchdowns, carrying 44 times and rushing for 261 yards. In his regular season career he rushed for 5,598 yards, including Bowl Games: 6,245 yards. Charlie had a lifetime average of 5.4 yards per carry, caught 59 passes for 541 yards, and scored 53 touchdowns—a Pac 10 record. Charlie set a total of 22 records in the NCAA, Pac 10, and USC. In his senior year, he led the nation with an average of 194.1 yards per game and in the last ten games of that year, he averaged 201 rushing yards per game.

Charlie graduated with a degree in Speech Communications.

Drafted by the Cleveland Browns, he also played for the Los Angeles Rams and led the NFL in rushing in 1987. He has five children, Nicole, Julian, Ashton, Tara, and Sophia, and one granddaughter, Giovanna Lee Hemmen. Charles White was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1996.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

1977 Campbell

1976 Dorsett 1978 Sims

Charles White, USC Billy Sims, Oklahoma Marc Wilson, Brigham Young Art Schlichter, Ohio State Vagas Ferguson, Notre Dame 1979 White

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HEISMAN

1981 Allen

2021

1980

George Rogers

South Carolina Running Back

Ball carriers can get pigeonholed as musclers or runabouts, not George. South Carolina backfield coach, Bob Brown, called him “the ideal mix of bigness and quickness.” New Orleans Saints coach, Bum Phillips, who made George the top NFL ’81 draft choice, also noted George’s double edge—he could dodge a defender or run over him. As tailback for the SC Gamecocks, George rolled up twenty-one consecutive, 100-yard games, including every game in his senior year, when he led the nation in rushing with 1,781 yards and tied for third in touchdowns with 14. When the 1980 college season opened, he was a Heisman long shot, but when the voting was over he led decisively, beating out Hugh Green of Pittsburgh. In his first NFL season with the Saints, he was one of the league’s leading ground-gainers. He later won a Super Bowl with the Washington Redskins, and retired from football in 1988. To give back to his community, George started the George Rogers Foundation of the Carolinas, Inc. which provides financial assistance to first-generation college students and support to community-based youth development non-profit organizations. His foundation recently partnered with the University of South Carolina to provide scholarships to former athletes returning to college to complete their degrees. George is the first in his family to attend and graduate from college and wishes others to have the same opportunity that was available to him. George Rogers was elected to the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame in 2013, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 and the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1997.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

George Rogers, South Carolina Hugh Green, Pittsburgh Herschel Walker, Georgia Mark Herrmann, Purdue Jim McMahon, Brigham Young

1981

Marcus Allen

USC Running Back

USC’s Marcus Allen is the only player in the history of football to win a college National Championship, a Heisman Trophy, an NFL MVP award, a Super Bowl title, and a Super Bowl MVP award. The fourth tailback from the University of Southern California to win the Heisman Trophy, Marcus achieved this honor by being the first rusher to cover more than 2,000 yards in one season. He had eight 200-yard plus games, including the season’s first five in a row—becoming the first player to have five-straight 200-yard games. He finished his senior year with 2,342 yards. In addition to the Heisman, Allen won the Maxwell and Walter Camp Player of the Year awards. On October 31, 1982 in USC’s 41-17 win over

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Washington State, Marcus totaled 289 yards on 44 carries and scored 4 touchdowns. Marcus was drafted in the first round by the Los Angeles Raiders and remains the all-time leading rusher in Raiders history. He played professionally until 1997, when he retired from the Kansas City Chiefs. Marcus Allen was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.

Balloting

1

Marcus Allen, USC

2 3 4 5

Herschel Walker, Georgia Jim McMahon, Brigham Young Dan Marino, Pittsburgh Art Schlichter, Ohio State

Camden, NJ “Mike kept sticking out on the film,” Solich remembers.

Mike was a wishbone fullback in high school, yet still managed to gain 300 yards in a single game. During his Heisman year he averaged nearly 8 yards per carry, was also the recipient of the Timmie and Maxwell Awards, and was Walter Camp’s Player of the Year. Mike was a No.1 USFL draft pick by the Pittsburgh Maulers and then the Jacksonville Bulls. He was taken in the supplemental draft by the Houston Oilers in 1984, where he played for 7 years. He finished his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons in 1991. In 2005 Mike was inducted into the Camden County Sports Hall of Fame and the New Jersey Sports Hall of Fame.

Besides charity events sponsored by the HWA and the Heisman Trust, Mike started his own foundation, the Michael T. Rozier Cancer Foundation (mikeroziercancerfoundation.org). A 501(c)(3) charity, its mission is to assist cancer patients and their families with unexpected ancillary expenses—to fulfill their needs right here, right now. Immediate concerns like food, transportation to and from treatment, parking and lodging are the main focus. Mike also supports the Beacon Schools, Rotary Club of Winslow Township, and the foundations of many other Heisman winners. Mike Rozier was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2006.

Balloting

1982

Herschel Walker

Georgia Running Back

The seventh junior to win the Heisman Trophy, 6-foot-1, 222-pound Herschel amassed an unbelievable 5,097 yards rushing (an NCAA record for yards rushing in three seasons). He exploded for 50 touchdowns in just thirty-two games, averaging 159.3 yards per game and a whopping 5.3 yards per carry. He led the Bulldogs to a National Championship as a freshman and an amazing three-year record of 32 wins and only 2 losses. Following his junior season, Walker decided to go pro. The NFL still didn’t take underclassmen, but the newly-formed USFL did. Walker signed with the New Jersey Generals and became the marquee player in that league. In his three-year USFL career, Walker rushed for 5,562 yards. Then, in a fourteen-year career in the NFL, he played for the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Giants. He returned to the Cowboys for the last year of his career, and retired in 1997. Herschel Walker was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1999.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Herschel Walker, Georgia John Elway, Stanford Eric Dickerson, Southern Methodist Anthony Carter, Michigan Dave Rimington, Nebraska

1983

Mike Rozier

Nebraska Running Back

Mike owns the Nebraska all-time rushing and scoring records, yet he might never have gone west to Lincoln had Nebraska Assistant Coach Frank Solich not been such a keen observer of game film: while studying footage of another player in Mike’s hometown of

1 2 3 4 5

1980 Rogers 1983 Rozier

Mike Rozier, Nebraska Steve Young, Brigham Young Doug Flutie, Boston College Turner Gill, Nebraska Terry Hoage, Georgia

1984

Doug Flutie

Boston College Quarterback

Doug set the NCAA all-time passing yardage mark while winning BC’s first Heisman in 1984. The first major college football passer to surpass 10,000 career yards (10,579), Flutie was a surefire combination of derring-do, charisma, and dazzling football skills. He had a remarkable senior year, throwing for 3,454 yards and 27 touchdowns as the Eagles finished 9-2, ranking eighth in the polls. Of course, everyone remembers his dramatic last-second bomb to Gerard Phelan that led BC over Miami, 47-45. From 1985–88 he played for the USFL New Jersey Generals. After a brief stint in the NFL, Doug went to the Canadian Football League from 1991–97 and was a six-time CFL Outstanding Player of the Year, threetime Grey Cup MVP, and the first CFL player to throw for 6,000 yards in a season. Doug returned to the NFL in 1998 and he played three seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He was the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year in 1998 and was selected to the Pro Bowl. In 1999, Doug led the Bills to the playoffs and was a Pro Bowl alternate. Doug played for the Chargers from 2001–04, and with the Patriots in 2005, before retiring. He is currently a broadcast analyst for NBC Sports, covering Notre Dame football. In 1998, he established the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism in honor of his son who was diagnosed with the disability. To date, the foundation has raised over $10 million for children with autism. A member of the Flutie Brothers Band, he won “Monday Night at the Mic” on ABC’s Monday Night Football. Doug and his wife, Laurie, have two children, Alexa and Dougie Jr. Doug Flutie was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2007.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Doug Flutie, Boston College Keith Byars, Ohio State Robbie Bosco, Brigham Young Bernie Kosar, Miami Ken Davis, Texas Christian

1982 Walker

1984 Flutie

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george rogers 1980 Heisman Trophy Winner

The University of South Carolina extends our congratulations to this year’s recipient of the Heisman Memorial Trophy.

HEISMAN

1988

Barry Sanders

2021

1985

Vincent ‘Bo’ Jackson

Auburn Running Back

Bo Jackson, Auburn’s great running back and second Heisman winner, is such a remarkable all-around athlete that if there were any Heisman awards in baseball or track and field he would almost certainly have won them too. As the nation’s premier ball-carrier, Bo was the spearhead of Auburn’s return to football prominence. Under the direction of Coach Pat Dye, the school produced the best teams since the National Championship days of 1957, when the Reverend Ralph “Shug” Jordan coached the Tigers to first place in the Associated Press poll. In his freshman year, Bo averaged 6.4 yards per rush, sprinted a 6.18 second sixty-yard dash for the track team, and hit .279 as the starting centerfielder in baseball. In 1985, he led the nation in all four main categories of ball-carrying— total rushing yardage, average per carry, touchdowns scored, and yards per game—as late as the eighth week of the season. Jackson was drafted by the Tampa Bay Bucaneers, but opted instead to play baseball for the Kansas City Royals, the defending World Series champions, who had selected him in the fourth round in the 1986 amateur draft. He played serveral seasons with the Royals, White Sox and Angels, while also returning to football to play for the Los Angeles Raiders. Vincent “Bo” Jackson was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1998.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

1986 Testaverde

Bo Jackson, Auburn Chuck Long, Iowa Robbie Bosco, Brigham Young Lorenzo White, Michigan State Vinny Testaverde, Miami

1986

Vinny Testaverde Miami Quarterback

Vinny, like all great quarterbacks, knows that his offensive line makes or breaks the day, and no one is more generous with his praise than the 6-foot-5, 235-pound aerial wizard from Elmont, Long Island. Oklahoma’s Barry Switzer, the most successful of college football coaches, said of Vinny after he had thrown 4 touchdowns passes to beat his No. 1-ranked Sooners earlier in the season: “In twenty-one years, I have never seen a better quarterback.” To add statistical weight to Switzer’s appraisal, consider that in the first nine games of the 1986 season, Vinny had completed 154 passes in 242 attempts for 2,249 yards and 24 touchdowns. His completion percentage was 63.6, but even

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more impressive was that he threw only 8 interceptions. He was Miami’s then-all-time leader in career touchdown passes with 46.

Vinny was the No. 1 selection for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and played twenty-one years in the NFL: six with Tampa Bay, three with the Cleveland Browns, two with the Baltimore Ravens (voted to first Pro Bowl), seven with the New York Jets (voted to second Pro Bowl), and one each with the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, and Carolina Panthers. He and his wife, Mitzi, have two daughters, Alicia Marie and Madeleine, and a son, Vincent, Jr. Vinny Testaverde was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2013.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Vinny Testaverde, Miami Paul Palmer, Temple Jim Harbaugh, Michigan Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma Gordon Lockbaum, Holy Cross

1987

Tim Brown

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Barry set 34 NCAA records in 1988. A running back averaging 100 yards a game is considered superior; Barry obliterated that statistic by averaging 249 rushing and 300 all-purpose yards per game during Oklahoma State’s 1988 season. In addition, he shattered several NCAA single season and career marks: setting a new NCAA all-time rushing record with a regular season total of 2,628 yards, the then all-purpose yards record with 3,249 yards, and the touchdowns scored record with 39 in just 11 games. He also added another 222 yards and 5 touchdowns in the ‘88 Holiday Bowl. Barry is the only Heisman winner to be notified of his achievement in Tokyo, Japan, where he and his Cowboy teammates were awaiting the final game of the season. Barry was the Detroit Lions’ 1st round pick in the 1989 draft and continued to mesmerize defenses with his awesome speed, versatility, and evasive maneuvers. He was named the 1989 Rookie of the Year, 1991 and 1994 NFC Most Valuable Player of the Year, and 1994 NFL Performer of the Year. He was the NFL MVP in 1997 and the fifth running back to rush for 2000 yards in a season (2053). He was a ten-time Pro Bowl selection and is an eight-time all-NFL and Pro Bowl player, retiring from the NFL in 1999. Barry donates a tremendous amount of time and money to local charities and religious organizations in Detroit, Oklahoma, and his hometown of Wichita, Kansas.

Barry Sanders was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Balloting

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1985 Jackson 1987 Brown

Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State Rodney Peete, USC Troy Aikman, UCLA Steve Walsh, Miami Major Harris, West Virginia

Notre Dame Receiver

The single attribute that sets the great football player apart from the merely good one is the ability to turn the game around on one play. More than any other college star of the 1987 season, Tim possessed this rare talent. Tim Brown, who did everything on a football field except sell tickets, was the seventh Trophy recipient from Notre Dame. He caught passes, ran back punts and kickoffs, rushed when necessary, and drove any defense to distraction just by being on the field. At 6-feet and 195-pounds, Brown was not huge by football standards, but he had great speed, elusiveness in the open field, sure hands, and a fine grasp of the strategy and tactics of what is, in reality, a complex game. Lou Holtz said “He is the most intelligent player I’ve ever been around.” As a measure of Tim’s versatility, consider his statistics for the first nine games of the 1987 season: 32 pass receptions for 729 yards and 3 touchdowns, 29 rushes for 133 yards and 1 touchdown, 19 kickoff returns for 398 yards, and 31 punt returns for 380 yards and 3 touchdowns. Tim played sixteen seasons with the Los Angeles/ Oakland Raiders and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring from the NFL after the 2004 season. Tim Brown was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Oklahoma State Running Back

Tim Brown, Notre Dame Don McPherson, Syracuse Gordon Lockbaum, Holy Cross Lorenzo White, Michigan State Craig Heyward, Pittsburgh

1989

Andre Ware

University Of Houston Quarterback Andre won Houston’s first Heisman with one of the great passing seasons in NCAA history. He threw for 4,699 yards and 46 touchdowns as Houston averaged 53.5 points per game. His list of accomplishments included a 95–21 drubbing of SMU, the most points ever scored by a team with a Heisman winner. Andre set 26 NCAA records as Houston finished 9-2 and ranked 14th nationally. His arrival at Houston in 1987 coincided with the start of the run and shoot offense of new Cougars head coach Jack Pardee. Ware was custom-made for this system. However, he broke his arm five games into his first season and was lost the rest of the way. Ware rebounded as a 1988 sophomore, earning the starting job and throwing for 2,507 yards and 25 touchdowns as the Cougars improved from 4-6-1 to 9-3. After winning the Heisman as a junior, he was drafted in the first round by the Detroit Lions. He later played for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. He was signed by the Oakland Raiders in 1998, and retired from the NFL in 1999. Andre Ware was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2004.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

1988 Sanders

Andre Ware, Houston Anthony Thompson, Indiana Major Harris, West Virginia Tony Rice, Notre Dame Darian Hagan, Colorado

1989 Ware

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1991 Howard

HEISMAN

1990

Ty Detmer

2021

BYU Quarterback At 6-feet, 174-pounds, Ty was the brilliant junior quarterback of the Brigham Young University Cougars. To football fans who love the aerial game, the names of Gifford Nielson, Marc Wilson, Jim McMahon, Steve Young, and Robbie Bosco are enshrined in the pantheon of great passing quarterbacks. Add to this list—Ty Detmer.

“If there’s such a thing as a coach’s dream,” said BYU’s coach LaVall Edwards, “Ty’s it. He is the best quarterback in the country. He’s as good at executing, reading, and knowing what to do as anybody I’ve seen.” In the crucial early season encounter with the No. 1 ranked Miami Hurricanes at Provo, Ty was at his best, passing for more than 400 yards as the Cougars registered a stunning 28–21 upset.

He was even better in rallying his team to a 50–36 victory over Washington State in a game where BYU seemed hopelessly behind at half-time. A 43-point second half, achieved largely through Ty’s heroics, brought the victory. By season’s end, he had a Heismanrecord 5,022 yards of total offense. In his professional career, Ty played for the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, and Atlanta Falcons. He and his wife, Kim, have four daughters. Ty Detmer was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2012.

1990 Detmer

Balloting

1992 Torretta 1994 Salaam

1993 Ward

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1 2 3 4 5

Ty Detmer, Brigham Young Raghib Ismail, Notre Dame Eric Bieniemy, Colorado Shawn Moore, Virginia David Klingler, Houston

Desmond Howard 1991 Michigan Receiver

The 5-foot-10 junior sensation from Cleveland became the second Heisman recipient from Ann Arbor. It was in the Notre Dame game that Desmond showed a spellbound national television audience just why he was the heart and soul of the 1991 Maize and Blue. With Michigan desperate to end a string of four consecutive defeats at Notre Dame’s hands, an early Wolverine surge had run out of steam; the Fighting Irish were poised to take the lead. Then, quickly, Michigan moved into Notre Dame territory. On a crucial fourthdown-and-inches play, Wolverine quarterback Elvis Grbac launched a high floating spiral, the mercurial Desmond raced under it, leaped as far as he could, and cradled the ball in his out-stretched hands for the touchdown that gave Michigan one of its most cherished victories. The play is enshrined in Ann Arbor lore as “The Catch.” In game after game, Desmond made dazzling receptions, ran kickoffs back with reckless abandon and wondrous facility for using his blockers to full open-field advantage, and carried the ball brilliantly on wide-sweeping reverses. Desmond was drafted in the first round by the Washington Redskins and was the MVP of the 1997 Super Bowl for the Green Bay Packers. He retired from the NFL in 2002.

Desmond Howard was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2010.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Desmond Howard, Michigan Casey Weldon, Florida State Ty Detmer, Brigham Young Steve Emtman, Washington Shane Matthews, Florida

1992

Gino Torretta Miami Quarterback

At 6-feet 3-inches, and 205 pounds, senior Gino Torretta was key to the extraordinary success of his team. Against archrival Florida State, one of the strongest teams in the nation, it came down to the fourth quarter. On the crucial third down and long yardage play, Gino came through with a thrilling 14-yard run that left the Florida State defense awestruck. As clever a quarterback as college football had seen in years, he quickly exploited the defense and threw a touchdown to win the game. “Gino showed everybody he is the best quarterback in college football,” said coach Dennis Erickson. Florida State coach Bobby Bowden captured the essence of the day when he noted: “I can sum up this game in one word—‘Torretta.’ Torretta was great.” Gino, the latest in a long line of stand-out Miami quarterbacks, eclipsed all other Hurricane QBs in the record book, with 7,000 aerial yards. After spending five seasons in the NFL, Gino is a Senior Vice President for Gabelli Asset Management Company headquartered in Rye, NY. He is also the Chairman and CEO and the game analyst for Touchdown Radio, which broadcasts a nationally syndicated radio college football game every week. Gino, his wife Bernadette, and their daughter reside in Miami, where they have established The Torretta Foundation to support research in ALS and Myasthenia Gravis. Gino Torretta was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2009.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Gino Torretta, Miami Marshall Faulk, San Diego State Garrison Hearst, Georgia Marvin Jones, Florida State Reggie Brooks, Notre Dame

1993

Charlie Ward

Florida State Quarterback

In 1993 Charlie Ward won Florida State’s first Heisman Trophy, giving FSU and head coach Bobby Bowden its first-ever national title. Ward’s margin of victory was a massive 1,622 points, second largest lead at the time. Ward won over thirty college football awards, received a No. 1 AP ranking and set nineteen school and seven Atlantic Coast Conference records. A native of Thomasville, Georgia, Charlie was the sparkplug on three Seminole NCAA Tournament basketball teams, pushing the Seminoles to the brink of the 1993 Final Four, falling one game shy. Ward’s still holds Seminole basketball records for steals (9) and career (236) and ranks sixth all-time in assists (396). He’s the only Heisman winner to play in the NBA. After graduating from FSU, Ward was

drafted twice by Major League Baseball before being a first-round draft pick in 1994 by the New York Knickerbockers. He went on to help the Knicks reach the playoffs from 1996 to 2001, leading the team to their second Eastern Conference championship and NBA Finals in 1999. He played eleven seasons in New York, San Antonio, and Houston, and served as an assistant coach with the Rockets. Following a high school football coaching career, Ward is the head coach of The Florida State University School men’s basketball team. He co-hosts the weekly Chalk Talk with Charlie television segment on Fox 49’s Live in Tallahassee. Ward and his wife Tonja have been married for 23 years and have three children, Caleb, Hope and Joshua. They founded the Charlie Ward Family Foundation to leave a legacy of giving back to youth development programs and organizations. Charlie Ward was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2006.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Charlie Ward, Florida State Heath Shuler, Tennessee David Palmer, Alabama Marshall Faulk, San Diego State Glenn Foley, Boston College

1994

Rashaan Salaam

Colorado Running Back

The 6-foot 1-inch, 215-pound running back gained 2,055 yards rushing during his Heisman year and joined fellow Heisman winners Marcus Allen, Mike Rozier and Barry Sanders as the first four Division I players to gain more than 2,000 rushing yards in a season. Rashaan rushed for 165 yards against Michigan in Michigan Stadium before 106,000 spectators—the largest crowd to see a Colorado team in action. He led the Buffaloes to an 11-1 season capped by a 3-touchdown performance in the 1995 Fiesta Bowl.

Always humble, Rashaan acknowledged the importance of his teammates: “Without my offensive linemen,” he said, “I would not have been honored with the greatest award in amateur athletics.”

As a junior, Rashaan was a unanimous All-American selection and led the nation in rushing (186.8 yards per game), scoring (13.1) and all-purpose yards (213.6). He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft with the twenty-first overall pick. Rashaan moved from the gridiron into the international business arena and was on the Board of Directors for the Adoria Group, Ltd, a sports and entertainment group based in Beijing, promoting Mixed Martial Arts in mainland China. Rashaan Salaam passed away in 2016.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Rashaan Salaam, Colorado Ki-Jana Carter, Penn State Steve McNair, Alcorn State Kerry Collins, Penn State Troy Davis, Iowa State

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1995 George

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1998

Ricky Williams

1995

Eddie George

Ohio State Running Back

Eddie captured Ohio State University’s sixth Heisman Trophy.

At 6-feet 3-inches, and 227 pounds, the gifted senior tailback gained 1,877 yards rushing for a 152.2 per game average, and scored 23 touchdowns. He also caught 44 passes for 399 yards and 1 touchdown, leading the nation in scoring with an average of 12 points per game. Eddie rushed for over 100 yards in elevenstraight games after gaining 99 in the Kickoff Classic against Boston College. He accomplished all of these feats while rarely playing more than three quarters. Eddie’s finest game was at home, in Ohio Stadium, against a tough Illinois defense. During the 41-3 romp, the Buckeyes rushed for 314 yards and scored 3 touchdowns, 2 rushing and 1 receiving. Coach John Cooper said of Eddie: “I’ve been coaching thirty-three years and this young man has got the best work ethic of any football player I’ve been around. Obviously he’s a great football player, but this award could not go to a finer person, both on the field and off the field, than Eddie George.” Eddie was selected by the Houston Oilers in the first round of the 1996 NFL draft with the 14th overall pick.

He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000. He is currently a Broadway actor. Eddie George was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2011.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Eddie George, Ohio State Tommie Frazier, Nebraska Danny Wuerffel, Florida Darnell Autry, Northwestern Troy Davis, Iowa State

1996

Danny Wuerffel Florida Quarterback

At 6-feet 2-inches and 212 pounds, Danny is the second Florida Gator to capture the award and the first Heisman winner whose head coach, Steve Spurrier, was another recipient of the Trophy.

Danny, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, led the Gators to the National Championship title in 1996 with a 12-1 record. The Gators beat the Florida State Seminoles in the Sugar Bowl to claim their title. In 1996, Danny passed for 3,625 yards with a pass efficiency of 167.86. He threw for 36 touchdown passes for the season, compared with only 13 interceptions. Danny graduated from the University of Florida’s School of Journalism and Public Relations

with a degree in Public Relations. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1997 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints. After three years with the Saints, Danny led the NFL Europe’s Rhein Fire to a World Bowl Championship. He then played for one season each with the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and Washington Redskins. Danny now works full-time as Executive Director of Desire Street Ministries, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Desire Street works with leaders to revitalize under-resourced neighborhoods through spiritual and community development. Danny Wuerffel was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2013.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Danny Wuerffel, Florida Troy Davis, Iowa State Jake Plummer, Arizona State Orlando Pace, Ohio State Warrick Dunn, Florida State

1997

Charles Woodson Michigan Cornerback

Charles was the third Michigan Wolverine to win the Heisman Trophy, joining Desmond Howard and Tom Harmon. At 6-feet 2-inches and 200 pounds, the exciting junior cornerback garnered numerous post-season honors including First Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association. Charles finished the season with 8 interceptions. He is a versatile player who also saw time as a receiver on offense and as a dangerous punt returner on special teams. The Wolverines finished the season with a 21–16 victory over Washington State in the Rose Bowl to go 12-0 on the season and to claim a share of the National Championship with Nebraska. Woodson won the Heisman over Tennessee’s Peyton Manning, making him the first two-way player in a generation to win the award. Charles was drafted fourth overall by the Oakland Raiders in 1998 and was named the 1998 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers in 2011, returned to the Oakland Raiders in 2013 and retired after the 2015 season. Charles Woodson was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2018 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Charles Woodson, Michigan Peyton Manning, Tennessee Ryan Leaf, Washington State Randy Moss, Marshall Ricky Williams, Texas

Texas Running Back

The 6-foot, 225-pound running back is the second Texas Longhorn to win the Heisman Trophy. Ricky also garnered numerous post-season honors including the Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year Award, the Doak Walker Award, and the Maxwell Award, as well as being named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Ricky holds or shares twenty NCAA records, and broke Tony Dorsett’s 22-year old NCAA career-rushing mark in 1998 with 6,279 yards. Ricky and the Longhorns finished the 1998 season with a 38–11 victory over Mississippi State in the Cotton Bowl, to go 9-3 on the season. He was drafted fifth overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1999 NFL draft, the first time in NFL history that one player had been a team’s entire draft class. Ricky retired from the NFL in 2011. He was an assistant football coach at the University of The Incarnate Word. Ricky Williams was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2015.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

1996 Wuerffel

Ricky Williams, Texas Michael Bishop, Kansas State Cade McNown, UCLA Tim Couch, Kentucky Donovan McNabb, Syracuse

1999

Ron Dayne

1997 Woodson

Wisconsin Running Back

At 5-feet 10-inches and 252 pounds, Ron is the second Wisconsin Badger, following Alan Ameche, to win the Heisman Trophy. During Ron’s four-year career at Wisconsin, the Badgers complied a 37-13 record and won two Big Ten titles. Ron led the Big Ten in rushing 3 times in his illustrious career. Ron’s 6,397 career rushing yards was an NCAA record until 2016. Ron and the Badgers finished the season with a 17–9 victory over Stanford in the Rose Bowl to go 10-2 on the season. Dayne is the only Big Ten player in history to win back-to-back Rose Bowl MVP awards. He was also named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. Ron was drafted eleventh overall by the New York Giants in the 2000 NFL draft. Ron Dayne was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2013.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Ron Dayne, Wisconsin Joe Hamilton, Georgia Tech Michael Vick, Virginia Tech Drew Brees, Purdue Chad Pennington, Marshall 1998 Williams

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1999 Dayne

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2000 Weinke

Jason White 2003

2021

2000

Chris Weinke

Florida State Quarterback

At 6-feet 5-inches and 230 pounds, Chris is the second Florida State Seminole to win the Heisman Trophy. Chris was the first three-year starter at quarterback in the twenty-two-year tenure of Florida State Head Coach, Bobby Bowden. In 1999, Chris led the Seminoles to their first undefeated season and their second national title. Charlie Ward, the 1993 Heisman Trophy winner, led Florida State to their first national title in 1993. Chris led the Seminoles to three straight national championship games and compiled a 32-3 record at Florida State as the starting quarterback. During Chris’s Heisman winning season, he led the nation in passing with 4,167 yards during the regular season for an average of 347.3 yards per game. Chris is the second quarterback in NCAA history to pass for more than 9,500 career yards and win a national championship, and is the ACC and FSU record holder for career passing yardage as well as career touchdown passes. Chris was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round (106th overall) of the 2001 NFL draft. He played with the Panthers and the 49ers before retiring. He eventually moved on to a coaching career, taking a job as the quarterbacks coach for the St. Louis Rams.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

2001 Crouch

Chris Weinke, Florida State Josh Heupel, Oklahoma Drew Brees, Purdue LaDainian Tomlinson, Texas Christian Damien Anderson, Northwestern

2001

Eric Crouch

Nebraska Quarterback At 6-feet 1-inch and 200 pounds, Eric is the third Cornhusker to capture the Heisman. He set the all-time record for total offense in the Big 12 with 7,915 and is the 13th player in NCAA Division 1-A history to run and throw for more than 1,000 yards in a season. Entering his senior year with 2,319 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns, already more than any other Nebraska quarterback, Eric added to his totals with 1,510 passing yards and 1,115 rushing through twelve games. His 18 rushing touchdowns in 2001 brought his career total to 59 while his 7 touchdown passes gave

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him 29 for his career. Eric ran for more than 100 yards a halfdozen times, and guided his team into the top 10 each year he was at the helm of the offense. Eric was drafted in the third round by the St. Louis Rams, and also spent time in Germany with Hamburg Sea Devil NFL Europe. He played for the Toronto Argonauts for the 2006–07 seasons as quarterback and for the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL in 2011. He is the owner of Crouch Recreation in Omaha, Nebraska. He currently resides in Omaha, Nebraska, with his wife Nicole and their two children, Lexi and Carsen. Eric Crouch was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2020.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Eric Crouch, Nebraska Rex Grossman, Florida Ken Dorsey, Miami Joey Harrington, Oregon David Carr, Fresno State

2002

Carson Palmer

USC Quarterback

Carson was the fifth Trojan to capture the award, following Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson, Charlie White, and Marcus Allen. At 6-feet 5-inches, the experienced, strong-armed Palmer was a fouryear starter and the Pac 10’s career passing and total offense leader. Carson set seven Pac 10 career records and such USC records as: total offense (a Pac 10 record 11,621), plays (a Pac 10 record 1,824), passing yardage (a Pac 10 record 11,818), passing touchdowns (72, third on the Pac 10 ladder), completions (a Pac 10 record 927), and attempts (a Pac 10 record 1,569). Carson finished his USC season with a win at the 2003 Orange Bowl where he was selected as the MVP. He went on to be the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NFL draft. From 2004–11, he was the starting quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, played for the Oakland Raiders from 2011–12 and the Arizona Cardinals from 2013–2017. He retired from the NFL in January 2018. Carson Palmer was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2021.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Carson Palmer, USC Brad Banks, Iowa Larry Johnson, Penn State Willis McGahee, Miami Ken Dorsey, Miami

Oklahoma Quarterback

At 6-feet 2-inches and 220 pounds, Jason became the fourth Sooner to win the Heisman Trophy following Billy Vessels, Steve Owens, and Billy Sims. Jason led his team to twelve straight victories, throwing for a school record of 40 touchdown passes in a season and securing a spot for the Sooners to play in the Sugar Bowl. At Oklahoma, Jason is ranked second in passing yards in a season with 3,744. In 2003, Jason was the recipient of the Associated Press Player of the Year, consensus All-American, consensus Big 12 Player of the Year, Davey O’Brien Award, and the Jim Thorpe Courage Award. He returned to the University of Oklahoma for the 2004–2005 season to complete his NCAA eligibility.

Jason is partnered with Air Comfort Solutions Heating and Air in OKC and Tulsa, and also owns Jason Whites Store Divided, a colligate sports apparel store. Jason resides in his hometown of Tuttle, Oklahoma with his wife Tammy and their two children Tinley and Tandon.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Jason White, Oklahoma Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh Eli Manning, Mississippi Chris Perry, Michigan Darren Sproles, Kansas State

2004

Matt Leinart

USC Quarterback

At 6-feet 5-inches and 225 pounds, Matt is the sixth USC Trojan to win the Heisman Trophy following Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson, Charlie White, Marcus Allen, and Carson Palmer. In his junior year, Matt led the Trojans to an undefeated season, won the Heisman, and went on to win the BCS Championship Orange Bowl. Matt was just the third quarterback in more than thirty years to lead his team to back-to-back national championships. Later on that year, Matt decided against entering the NFL draft, instead choosing to stay at USC for his senior year and attempt to be part of a first-ever three-time national championship team with the Trojans. He was selected 10th overall in the 2006 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He also had stints with the Houston Texans, the Oakland Raiders, and Buffalo Bills before settling in as a college football commentator for Fox Sports. Matt Leinart was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2017.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Matt Leinart, USC Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma Jason White, Oklahoma Alex Smith, Utah Reggie Bush, USC

2005

1 2 3 4 5

2005 Winner Declared Ineligible Vince Young, Texas Matt Leinart, USC Brady Quinn, Notre Dame Michael Robinson, Penn State

2002 Palmer

2003 White

2004 Leinart

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2006

2021

Troy Smith

2006 Smith

2007 Tebow

2008 Bradford

Ohio State Quarterback

Troy, a once-upon-a-time, red-shirt freshman, quickly developed into Heisman Trophy material as a quarterback by the 2006 season.

Troy, at 6-feet and 220 pounds, joins six previous Heisman winners from Ohio State University: Leslie Horvath, Victor Janowicz, Howard Cassady, two-time winner Archie Griffin, and Eddie George. As a senior, he received 86.7 percent of the Heisman vote, the second highest percentage in the history of the award. Troy capped his illustrious season, securing his claim to the Heisman, with an outstanding performance in his final game against second-ranked Michigan, throwing for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 42-39 victory. Troy surpassed 2,700 total offensive yards in his 2006 Heisman campaign.

Troy was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2007 NFL draft.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Troy Smith, Ohio State Darren McFadden, Arkansas Brady Quinn, Notre Dame Steve Slaton, West Virginia Mike Hart, Michigan

2007

Tim Tebow

Florida Quarterback Tim capped an unprecedented season by becoming the first sophomore in NCAA history to win the Heisman Trophy. In 2007, he accounted for 51 total touchdowns, the most in a season in Florida’s history and in the Southeastern Conference single-season history.

He threw for 29 touchdowns and rushed for 22 more. Tim is the third quarterback from Florida to win the Heisman Trophy following Danny Wuerffel and Steve Spurrier; all three have won the National Championship either as a player or a coach. Tim was drafted by the Denver Broncos as the twenty-fifth overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft. Tim’s primary focus off the field is the Tim Tebow Foundation, established in 2010 with the goal to bring faith, hope, and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour. The foundation fulfills this mission every day by making dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses, building Timmy’s Playrooms in children’s hospitals, providing life-changing surgeries to children of the Philippines through the Tebow CURE Hospital, and sponsoring Night to Shine, a nationwide prom for people with special needs. In addition, Tim serves as an analyst for ESPN and is pursuing a career in professional baseball as a member of the New York Mets organization.

2009 Ingram

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Tim Tebow, Florida Darren McFadden, Arkansas Colt Brennan, Hawaii Chase Daniel, Missouri Dennis Dixon, Oregon

Sam Bradford

2008

Oklahoma Quarterback Sam became the fifth Oklahoma player—and secondconsecutive sophomore­—to win the Heisman. He joins Billy Vessels, Steve Owens, Billy Sims, and Jason White as Sooner Heisman winners. Sam’s combined 53 touchdowns running and passing are tied with Marcus Mariota for the most in Heisman history. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder turned in one of the best seasons by a redshirt freshman in collegiate history in 2007, throwing for 3,121 yards and 36 touchdowns while leading the nation in passing efficiency. That set the stage for a phenomenal 2008 year, as Sam was the trigger man for the highest-scoring offense in NCAA history, throwing for 4,464 yards with 48 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions. He again led the nation in passing and also added 5 rushing touchdowns as the Sooners went 12-1 and qualified for the BCS national title game. He declared for the NFL draft following the 2009 season, and was selected as the first overall pick in the 2010 draft by the St. Louis Rams. He was named the 2010 NFL Rookie of the Year.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Sam Bradford, Oklahoma Colt McCoy, Texas Tim Tebow, Florida Graham Harrell, Texas Tech Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech

Mark Ingram

2009

Alabama Running Back

In his sophomore season, Mark became Alabama’s first Heisman Trophy winner as he helped lead the Crimson Tide to the school’s thirteenth national title. Mark was the sixth player to win both the Heisman and a National Championship in the same season since 1950. Mark set the Alabama single-season rushing record in 2009 with 1,659 yards while catching 32 passes for 334 yards and scoring 20 touchdowns. He was a unanimous first-team All-American (AFCA, FWAA, AP, Sporting News and Walter Camp), and was named the Sporting News

National Player of the Year. As a freshman, Mark led the team with 12 rushing touchdowns in 2008, setting the Alabama freshman record. That season, he gained 728 yards and averaged 5.1 yards per carry. During the regular season of his junior year in 2010, Mark rushed for 816 yards, averaging 5.6 yards a carry, and 11 touchdowns. He also had 252 receiving yards and 1 receiving touchdown. He is the son of former NFL wide receiver Mark Ingram, who won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants. Mark was drafted by the New Orleans Saints with the 28th overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Mark Ingram, Alabama Toby Gerhart, Stanford Colt McCoy, Texas Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska Tim Tebow, Florida

Cam Newton

2010

Auburn Quarterback At 6-feet 6-inches and 250 pounds, Cam became the third Auburn Tiger to receive the Heisman Trophy, joining Pat Sullivan and Vincent “Bo” Jackson. In his 2010 Heisman Trophy winning season, Cam completed 185 of 280 passes for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns while throwing only 7 interceptions. He also accumulated 1,473 yards and an additional 20 touchdowns on 264 rush attempts and caught 2 passes for 42 yards and a touchdown. Newton’s passing and rushing touchdown totals set an Auburn University record, and made him only the second player to tally 20 or more passing and rushing touchdowns in the same season. Newton was named the 2010 SEC Offensive Player of the Year as well as the 2010 AP Player of the year before winning the Heisman in a landslide. Cam was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft. He was named the NFL Rookie of the Year for 2011.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Cam Newton, Auburn Andrew Luck, Stanford LaMichael James, Oregon Kellen Moore, Boise State Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

2010 Newton

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2011 Griffin III

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2011

Robert Griffin III Baylor Quarterback

2012 Manziel

At 6-feet 2-inches and 220 pounds, Robert became the first Baylor Bear to receive the Heisman Trophy. During the regular season of his Heisman-winning campaign, he tallied 3,998 yards and 36 touchdowns through the air, and added 644 net yards and 9 touchdowns rushing. Robert finished the 2011 regular season leading the nation with a pass efficiency rating of 192.3.

He is one of three players in FBS history with 10,000 plus passing yards (10,366) and 2000 plus rushing yards (2,254). For his outstanding performance, the quarterback was also named an AP first team All-American, the winner of the Davey O’Brien Award, and the Big-12 Offensive Player of the Year. Robert was drafted second overall by the Washington Redskins in the 2012 NFL draft and in his debut season, he was the 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year and voted to his first Pro Bowl.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Robert Griffin III, Baylor Andrew Luck, Stanford Trent Richardson, Alabama Montee Ball, Wisconsin Tyrann Mathieu, Lousiana State

Johnny Manziel

2012

2013 Winston 2015 Henry

Texas A&M Quarterback

Johnny became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy, taking home the award following a redshirt season. In Texas A&M University’s first year in the defense-rich SEC conference, quarterback Manziel passed for 3,419 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed for 1,181 yards and 19 touchdowns during the 2012 regular season. Manziel was the first quarterback in SEC history, and only the fifth player ever in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, to have 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season. Upon surpassing 4,600 yards, he set a new SEC record for total yards in a season. Manziel holds a Texas A&M record of logging eight straight games with 300 or more total yards, including games against three of the top ten defensive teams in the country. He personally accounted for over 380 yards per game, which is more than 41 teams averaged in the NCAA FBS. Manziel is the second winner from Texas A&M, joining John David Crow, who won in 1957.

Balloting

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Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M Manti Te’o, Notre Dame Collin Klein, Kansas State Marquise Lee, USC Braxton Miller, Ohio State

Jameis Winston 2013

Florida State Quarterback

At 19 years old, Jameis was the second-consecutive redshirt freshman to win the Heisman Trophy and the third Florida State Seminole, after Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke. In his first year as a starter, he quarterbacked his team to an undefeated season and the 2013 National Championship. Winston had an impressive 3,820 passing yards and 38 passing touchdowns during the regular season and, upon surpassing Weinke’s 33 touchdown passes, he set the new FSU single-season touchdown pass record.

Winston won the 79th Heisman Trophy by the seventh-largest margin of victory in the history of the award. Winston followed up his Heisman-winning season with a stellar sophomore year, throwing for 3,907 yards and 25 touchdowns while leading FSU to a school-record 26-straight wins and a berth in the inaugural college football playoff. He finished his two-year career with a record of 26-1 as a starter, throwing for 7,964 yards and 65 touchdowns. He applied for the NFL draft in 2015 and was selected first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Balloting

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Jameis Winston, Florida State AJ McCarron, Alabama Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois Andre Williams, Boston College Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M

Marcus Mariota

2014

University of Oregon Quarterback

Marcus is the first Oregon player, the first Polynesian, and the first player from Hawaii to win the Heisman. Mariota was born in Honolulu and attended St. Louis High School, where he was a two-sport star in football and track. At Oregon, his junior Heisman-winning season was spectacular. He threw for 3,783 yards and 38 touchdowns with just two interceptions while also rushing for 669 yards and 14 scores (he also caught a TD pass) as the Ducks finished

the regular season with a 12-1 record. His 53 total touchdowns tied Sam Bradford for the most in Heisman history. Mariota led the nation in touchdowns, passing efficiency (186.33) and total offense (4,452 yards). His winning Heisman vote was the third-highest vote total in Heisman history and he appeared on a record 95.16% of ballots. Mariota bypassed his senior season and was the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans.

Balloting

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Marcus Mariota, Oregon Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin Amari Cooper, Alabama Trevone Boykin, Texas Christian J.T. Barrett, Ohio State

2015

Derrick Henry

Alabama Running Back

The 6-3, 242-pound Henry set the national high school career rushing mark with 12,124 yards, breaking Ken Hall’s 59-year-old record. As a 2013 freshman at Alabama, Henry made an impact for the Tide as part of a deep corps of running backs, rushing for 382 yards and 3 touchdowns on just 35 carries (including 100 yards on 8 carries against Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl).

He followed up with a strong 2014 junior season, rushing for 990 yards and 11 touchdowns as he shared carries with T.J. Yeldon. Henry came into his own as a junior, setting the SEC single-season rushing record with 1,986 rushing yards. He also tied the conference mark for rushing touchdowns with 23. His rushing yardage total led the nation, as did his number of rushing attempts (339). He was just the third running back in SEC history (following Herschel Walker and Bo Jackson) to have four 200-yard games in a single season. Henry led No. 2 Alabama (12-1) to the 2015 national title before being selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Tennesee Titans.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Derrick Henry, Alabama Christian McCaffrey, Stanford Deshaun Watson, Clemson Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma Keenan Reynolds, Navy

2014 Mariota

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HEISMAN

2017 Mayfield

2016

Lamar Jackson

2021

Louisville Quarterback Lamar won Louisville’s first Heisman by producing one of the most statistically impressive seasons in Heisman history. He is the youngest player to win the Heisman, at just 19 years, 337 days. The 6-3, 218-pounder accumulated 4,928 yards of total offense, second in Heisman history behind Ty Detmer’s 5,022 in 1990. His 51 touchdowns running and passing ties him with Tim Tebow for third on the all-time Heisman chart. He’s the first player to win the Heisman with at least 30 touchdown passes and at least 21 rushing touchdowns. His 1,538 rushing yards are the most-ever by a Heisman-winning quarterback. He led the Cardinals to a 9-3 record, a No. 15 national ranking and a berth in the Citrus Bowl. Among the highlights: 8 touchdowns in the first half against Charlotte, 610 yards of total offense (411 passing, 199 rushing) against Syracuse and 5 total touchdowns in a 63–20 thrashing of Florida State. Jackson returned as a junior to finish third in the 2017 Heisman balloting before being selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens.

2016 Jackson 2019 Burrow

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Lamar Jackson, Louisville Deshaun Watson, Clemson Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma Jabrill Peppers, Michigan

2017

Baker Mayfield

Oklahoma Quarterback

2018 Murray 2020 Smith

Baker Mayfield won Oklahoma’s sixth Heisman while producing the highest passing efficiency rating in FBS history. He is the first Heisman winner to begin his career as a walk-on athlete since the NCAA instituted athletic scholarships in the 1950s. He is also one of seven players to log three top 5 Heisman finishes, joining Glenn Davis, Doc Blanchard, Doak Walker, Archie Griffin, Herschel Walker, and Tim Tebow. Mayfield took over the starting job for the Sooners in 2015 and made an immediate impact, passing for 3,700 yards and 37 touchdowns while rushing for another 405 yards and 7 scores on the ground. He finished fourth in that year’s Heisman race. In 2016 he set the NCAA record with a passer rating of 196.38, with 3,965 yards through the air and 40 touchdowns. He took his first trip to New York as a Heisman finalist, finishing third behind Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson. Mayfield saved his best season for last, throwing for 4,340 yards with 41 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions while leading the Sooners to a 12-1 record and a berth in the College Football Playoff. He once again set the NCAA record for passing efficiency with a rating of 203.76 and won the Heisman by a comfortable margin, the first senior to do so since 2006. He was the first pick of the 2018 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns.

Balloting

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Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma Bryce Love, Stanford Lamar Jackson, Louisville Saquon Barkley, Penn State Rashaad Penny, San Diego State

2018

Kyler Murray

Oklahoma Quarterback Kyler won Oklahoma’s seventh—and second consecutive— Heisman with a remarkable season, accumulating 4,946 yards of total offense and 51 touchdowns, and leading the Sooners to the College Football Playoff. The first player to win the Heisman the year after taking over for another winner, his victory also marks just the fourth time a school has won consecutive Trophies. He joins Sooner winners Vessels, Owens, Sims, White, Bradford and Mayfield—tying Oklahoma with Notre Dame and Ohio State for most Heismans. Murray attended Allen (Texas) High and the 5-10, 195-pounder was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for his football exploits. He was also a baseball star and was considered a major prospect for the 2015 MLB draft. Murray signed with Texas A&M and appeared in eight games as a true freshman in 2015 then found his way to Norman as a transfer. After sitting out a year, he served as backup to Mayfield, winning the job outright in 2018. He more than filled the big shoes of the reigning Heisman winner, passing for 4,054 yards and 40 touchdowns, with another 892 yards and 11 scores on the ground, leading the Sooners to a 12-1 record, the Big 12 title and a berth in the College Football Playoff. His passer rating of 205.72 was the best in Heisman history, eclipsing the 203.76 set by Mayfield in 2017. Accordingly, Murray captured the attention of Heisman voters. He polled 2,167 points to capture the award over Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa (1,871 points), and Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins (783 points). Expected to bypass the NFL to become a Major League Baseball player, Murray instead chose football and was selected as the first overall pick in the 2019 draft by the Arizona Cardinals.

Balloting

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Kyler Murray, Oklahoma Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State Will Grier, West Virginia Gardner Minshew, Washington State

2019

Joe Burrow

Louisiana State Quarterback Burrow is the second LSU player to win the trophy and first since the late Billy Cannon did so in 1959. His Heisman triumph makes him the third-consecutive transfer player to win the award (and seventh overall), though he is the first to do so under the NCAA’s graduate transfer rule. The 6-4, 216-pounder from Athens, Ohio, had an extraordinary season, passing for 4,715 yards and 48

touchdowns (tying a Heisman record), while adding another 289 yard and three scores on the ground. He had a remarkable completion percentage of 77.9 percent, the best in Heisman history. As the field general for the nation’s top offense, he led No. 1 LSU to a 13-0 record, the SEC title (its first since 2011), and its first berth in the College Football Playoff. Burrow was the first overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

Joe Burrow, Louisiana State Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma Justin Fields, Ohio State Chase Young, Ohio State Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

2020

DeVonta Smith

Alabama Wide Receiver

DeVonta became the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard in 1991. The 6-1, 175-pounder is the first non-quarterback-or-running back to win the Heisman since cornerback Charles Woodson won in 1997. Smith, a fourth-year senior, was named the 2020 SEC Offensive Player of the Year while joining teammate Mac Jones in leading Alabama to the SEC title and the top seed in the College Football Playoff. Smith led the country with 98 receptions and 1,511 receiving yards while his 17 TD catches and 137.4 receiving yards per game were both secondbest. His 8.9 receptions per game tied for second best. He posted four games with 11 or more receptions, including a career-best and SEC title-game record 15 against Florida, 13 at Mississippi and 11 each against Georgia and Mississippi State. He recorded seven games with over 100 yards receiving (all with at least 144 yards), including 231 yards on eight catches at LSU, 203 against the Bulldogs (which included a season-high four TDs) and 184 yards against the Gators. He had six games with at least two TD receptions, three coming at LSU and two in the SEC title game.

Smith also returned a punt for a TD for the first time in his career, going 84 yards at Arkansas in the regular-season finale. He holds the SEC and Alabama career record for receiving touchdowns with 40 and has the most 200-plus yard receiving performances in Alabama history with four. Smith hails from Amite City, Louisiana, where he starred at Amite High Magnet School. DeVonta was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1st round of the 2021 NFL Draft

Balloting

1 2 3 4 5

DeVonta Smith, Alabama Trevor Lawrence, Clemson Mac Jones, Alabama Kyle Trask, Florida Najee Harris, Alabama

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