2023 Heisman Trophy Trust Journal

HEISMAN JOURNAL DECEMBER 2023 / VOLUME 98 / NUMBER 1

The house keeps getting bigger.

Nissan proudly welcomes the latest Heisman Trophy winner to the Nissan Heisman House.

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W H O ’ S

N E X T ?

Four of the previous eight Heisman Trophy winners have won the College Football Playoff National Championship.

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Heisman Trophy Trust Board of Trustees President’s Message 50th Anniversary Honoree 25th Anniversary Honoree 10th Anniversary Honoree Heisman High School Scholarship 2023 Heisman Humanitarian Heisman Charities A Brief History of the Heisman Trophy 2022 Heisman Weekend in Review 2023 Heisman Hopefuls 2023 Heisman Trophy Winner 2023 Heisman Voting Results

Heisman Trophy Trust

HEISMAN STAFF

2023 STUDENT INTERNS

HEISMAN OFFICE

TRUSTEES

Robert B. Whalen Heisman Executive Director

Brendan Bumgardner Hunter Carroll Miguel Figueroa

111 Broadway, Suite 100 New York, NY 10006 P (212) 425-7000 | F (212) 269-4547 www.Heisman.com

Michael J. Comerford, President James E. Corcoran William J. Dockery Anne F. Donahue N. Richard Kalikow Vasili Krishnamurti Brian D. Obergfell Carol A. Pisano Daniel W. Reed Marva A. Smalls Sanford Wurmfeld Honorable John E. Sprizzo 1934–2008

Timothy Henning Heisman Associate Director Rudy J. Riska (1936–2021) Executive Director Emeritus HEISMAN CONSULTANTS Paul Goldberg Heisman.com Editor-In-Chief Donna Koppinger, Mary Jane Moran Events Coordinators Bob Garguilo VIP Guest Liaison Brianna Klinger Journal Coordinator Rich O’Sullivan, Neal Surrena Travel Consultants

HEISMAN WEEKEND SUPPORT STAFF Ryan Boyle, Shea Cassady, Aaron Cruz, Olivia Danosky, Susan Davis, Brian Dombrowski, Lori Evon, Anna Fiordilino, Jeff Gandolfo, Mark Gandolfo, Mike Garcia, Dante Giraldi, Kelly Henning, Brittany Judson, Brianna Klinger, Brendan McGuinness, Matthew McGuinness, Max Nager, AJ Pegno, Stephanie Pryor, Rachel Robins, Robbin Seipold, Susan Storey, Kim Terranella, Liam Whalen, Robbie Whalen, Mike Wieneke, Thomas Wood

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Catherine Kiernan Todd Van Emst

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by Brianna Klinger and Tim Henning

The Heisman Trophy Trust’s mission is to grow the legacy and preserve the integrity of the Heisman Memorial Trophy, which is annually awarded to the outstanding college football player in the United States whose performance epitomizes great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work.

Beyond awarding the trophy, the Trust has a charitable mission to support and fund both youth development programs in underserved communities and the Heisman High School Scholarship program which recognizes community-minded scholar athletes. Additionally, the Trust annually presents the Heisman Humanitarian Award to outstanding individuals in the sports world who further the Heisman vision. Our goal is to harness the power of the Heisman Trophy’s legacy of athletic excellence to positively impact our nation’s youth and provide more equitable opportunities for underserved communities.

HEISMAN TROPHY TRUST - BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Michael J. Comerford President

James E. Corcoran

William J. Dockery

Anne F. Donahue

N. Richard Kalikow

Vasili Krishnamurti

Brian D. Obergfell

Carol A. Pisano

Daniel W. Reed

Marva A. Smalls

Sanford Wurmfeld

Honorable John E. Sprizzo 1934-2008

HEISMAN TRUST STAFF

Rob Whalen Executive Director

Tim Henning Associate Director

Dear Friends, Welcome to the 89th Annual Heisman Memorial Trophy Dinner Gala.

Thank you for joining us as we celebrate this year’s Heisman Trophy winner and recognize the strong fraternity of Heisman winners in attendance tonight. We also applaud our 2023 Heisman Humanitarian, NY Jets defensive tackle Solomon Thomas, and our Heisman High School Scholarship winners Katelyn Matarese and George Cheng.

2023 was an exciting year for the Heisman Trophy Trust, as we unveiled a newly refreshed and more modern version of the Heisman Memorial Trophy logo. The refreshed logo kicked off the launch of our Beyond the Trophy marketing campaign, which is designed to raise awareness of the important charitable work the Heisman Trophy Trust has been doing for the last 20+ years.

Beyond awarding the trophy, the Trust has a charitable mission to support and fund youth development programs in underserved communities that teach teamwork, sportsmanship, and excellence in academics. We also recognize community-minded scholar-athletes through our Heisman High School Scholarship program which provides funding for college. Finally, we recognize outstanding individuals in the sports world who further our vision with the Heisman Humanitarian Award.

We are pleased that once again this year, the Heisman Trust donated more than $2.5 million in furtherance of our charitable mission. To date, the Trust has donated more than $25 million to hundreds of youth development programs around the country.

We are excited to announce the expansion of the geographic reach of our charitable funding in 2024 to the West Coast. In addition to funding youth development programs in all five boroughs of New York, Westchester County, Long Island, Newark, Atlanta and Dallas, we look forward to expanding to Los Angeles next year.

The charitable work we do would not be possible without the generous support of our partners: Nissan, ESPN, Jostens, and Deloitte. We thank them for their continued partnerships.

As we close out 2023, we are focused on the impact of the changes in college football on the Heisman, particularly the expansion of the College Football Playoffs in 2024 to 12 teams. We will be working with the relevant parties to develop a plan to address these changes before the commencement of next year’s college football season.

On behalf of the Heisman Trophy Trust, I extend our very best wishes for a happy holiday season and good health in the New Year.

Enjoy tonight’s dinner program.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Comerford President, Heisman Trophy Trust

2023 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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HEISMAN 50TH ANNIVERSARY HONOREE

John Cappelletti

Honoring the 50th anniversary of Penn State great John Cappelletti’s Heisman Trophy is honoring, arguably, the most moving moment in the history of the award. In a story that transcended sports and grabbed the attention of the nation, Cappelletti, while accepting the 1973 Heisman Trophy, dedicated the achievement to his younger brother Joey, who was in the midst of a years-long battle with leukemia.

another touchdown in a constant downpour. As had been the case for the previous two games, Cappelletti was on the bench for most of the second half in another one-sided win. It was off to Colorado Springs the next week to take on Air Force and Cappelletti, in the shadow of Pike’s Peak, rushed for a careerhigh 184 yards with one touchdown to lead the Nittany Lions to a 19-9 win over the previously 2-0 Falcons.

“The youngest member of my family, Joseph, is very ill,” John said. “He has leukemia. If I can dedicate this trophy to him tonight and give him a couple days of happiness, this is worth everything.”

On October 13th, it was back to University Park to host Army for the third game in four weeks against one of the service academies as Penn State trounced the Cadets, 54-3. Cappelletti rushed for 151 yards on 17 carries, which included a season-best 60-yard burst. Penn State travelled to Syracuse the following week for a rivalry tilt in old Archbold Stadium and dispatched of the Orangemen, 49-6. They did it largely without the services of Cappelletti, who left the game after only three plays to nurse a shoulder injury suffered against Army.

That brief excerpt of Cappelletti’s moving speech at the Downtown Athletic Club elicited a standing ovation from everyone at the Heisman Trophy ceremony and cemented his place in college football history. Joey had been an inspiration to John for years as his younger brother valiantly dealt with leukemia, first diagnosed when he was three.

John was born in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, where he first attended St. Laurence School before switching to Monsignor Bonner High in Drexel Hill, playing quarterback. He was a running back on the Penn State freshman team, just a few years before the NCAA allowed freshmen to compete.

He might have competed at tailback as a sophomore, but the Nittany Lions already featured a loaded backfield that included future NFL Hall of Famer Franco Harris. So he played defensive back in 1971 before the coaches moved him to running back ahead of his junior season. The 6-foot-1, 210pound Cappelletti rewarded the move with 1,117 yards and 12 touchdowns in 1972, helping Penn State to a 10-2 season and a No. 10 ranking.

Cappelletti’s 1973 Heisman season began with Penn State facing Stanford for the first time on September 15th, a 20-6 win for the sixth-ranked Nittany Lions. It was a bit of an inauspicious season debut for Cappelletti, however, as the senior fumbled twice. He did make up for it with a scoring run and also completed a 17-yard pass. Penn State traveled to Annapolis the following week and shutout the Midshipmen, 39-0, as Cappelletti rushed for 103 yards and a 10-yard score.

Cappelletti made his senior home debut against Iowa on September 29th at Beaver Stadium, rushing for 87 yards and

Seemingly good as new a week later, Cappelletti ran the ball 24 times for 130 yards and four touchdowns in a 62-14 home win over West Virginia as Penn State closed October at 7-0 and ranked fifth. But these four touchdowns were special, especially the final one. In an anecdote chronicled in the book and movie about the brothers’ bond called Something for Joey, John asked his younger brother what he wanted for his upcoming 11th birthday. To which Joey replied: “I want you to score three touchdowns for me. No, four.”

Well, Cappelletti scored three in the first half against the Mountaineers. Pulled from the game in the blowout, it appeared John wouldn’t get the chance to fulfill his brother’s birthday request. But Penn State Head Coach Joe Paterno put Cappelletti in for one more drive in the fourth quarter and he was able to find the end zone for the fourth time that day, pointing to his brother in the crowd after the score.

Cappelletti next went on one of the best three-week stretches in Heisman history to start November, rushing for over 200 yards in three straight games—an NCAA record at the time— and stamping his name as the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. The surge began in Penn State’s final road test of the season, a 42-22 win at Maryland that saw the star back not only rush for a career-best 202 yards but also set a school record with a bruising 37 carries.

by Paul Goldberg 2023 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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legends

A HIS TORIC CELEBR ATION OF

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CONGR ATUL ATIONS TO THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE HEISM AN FR ATERNITY!

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CAPPELLETTI | HEISMAN 50TH ANNIVERSARY HONOREE

Seven days later, he set more personal bests. This time, Cappelletti rushed for 220 yards on 41 carries and scored twice, including a 27-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter that completed Penn State’s 35-29 comeback win over North Carolina State on a snowy day at Beaver Stadium. After the game Paterno said: “I think Cappy is the best player I’ve ever been associated with.” On the other sideline, Wolfpack Head Coach Lou Holtz didn’t disagree much, saying: “If John Cappelletti were to receive the Heisman Trophy, he would not receive an argument from me.”

Cappelletti closed out his three-game streak of 200-yard games with 204 and four touchdowns in a 49-10 rout of Ohio on November 17th, clinching a berth in the Orange Bowl. Penn State completed its perfect regular season by beating in-state rival Pittsburgh 35-13. Cappelletti closed out his Heisman resume with 161 yards on 37 carries for his 13th career 100yard game. Oh, and by the way, a young freshman running back led the Panthers that day with 77 yards and a score, one future Heisman Trophy winner named Tony Dorsett.

Cappelletti, who finished the regular season with 1,522 yards and 17 touchdowns, was announced as the 39th Heisman Trophy winner on December 4, 1973, 533 points ahead of second-place Ohio State offensive tackle John Hicks. Future twotime winner Archie Griffin was fifth.

Joey battled his disease for another two-and-a-half years before succumbing in April of 1976 at the age of 13. John was at his side when he passed. A year later, the movie Something for Joey, chronicling the love between the two Cappelletti brothers, was released.

John Cappelletti, who was drafted 10th by the Los Angeles Rams in 1974, had a successful 10-year NFL career, playing six seasons in LA and another four with the San Diego Chargers.

Cappelletti is a member of the College Football, Philadelphia Sports and National Italian American Sports Halls of Fame.

His number (22) was retired by Penn State in 2013.

Years later, Cappelletti reflected on his Heisman speech in an interview and said: “The speech gave me an opportunity to express some things I think on all our behalf’s. Just what we were feeling. I don’t think even I expected it to come out like that. It’s something you can’t really rehearse. It was just a feeling at the time, the feeling of all my family, not just myself.”

Congratulations John, on the 50th anniversary of your Heisman Trophy and a Heisman ceremony moment that still touches us all.

On December 13th in New York, Cappelletti was on hand for the Heisman Trophy presentation, seated next to Vice President Gerald Ford on the dais. After thanking his family and coaches, Cappelletti—Penn State’s only Heisman winner—began his remarks about Joey. Here is what he said in full about his brother: “I’m very happy to do something like this—I thought about it since the Heisman was announced 10 days ago, and this is to dedicate a trophy that a lot of people earned, I’ve earned, my parents and the people I’ve mentioned and numerous other people that are here tonight and been with me for a long time. The youngest member of my family, Joseph, is very ill. He has leukemia. If I can dedicate this trophy to him tonight and give him a couple days of happiness, this is worth everything. I think a lot of people think that I go through a lot on Saturdays and during the week as most athletes do, and you get your bumps and bruises and it is a terrific battle out there on the field. Only for me it is on Saturdays and it’s only in the fall. For Joseph, it is all year round and it is a battle that is unending with him and he puts up with much more than I’ll ever put up with and I think that this trophy is more his than mine because he has been a great inspiration to me.”

JOHN CAPPELLETTI

1973 HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER

YEAR

ANNIVERSARY

2023 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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HEISMAN 25TH ANNIVERSARY HONOREE

Ricky Williams

The scoreboard at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium was ticking down on November 27, 1998, a day after some 84,000 people in the crowd had celebrated Thanksgiving.

The clock, sure, but most fans had their eyes locked on a different part of the scoreboard which was counting down the remaining yards Texas senior running back and eventual 1998 Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams needed to break the NCAA career rushing record. He began the day with 6,020 yards, 62 short of 1976 Heisman winner Tony Dorsett’s 22-year-old record. Dorsett was on the sidelines in Austin for the Texas vs. Texas A&M grudge match, waiting for the moment Williams would break his mark so he could personally congratulate the Longhorn back.

Late in the first quarter Williams peeked at the scoreboard and he couldn’t help but see that he was close to breaking Dorsett’s mark. “I remember looking up and needing 11 yards to go and there was this moment, one of those numbers moments,” he recalled this fall. “Earlier in the year I’d changed my uniform from 11 to 34 and I’m looking up and I had this sense that I’m going to do it on this play. It was just a sense.”

But we are getting ahead of ourselves. We need to rewind for a moment. Years before he ultimately broke numerous NCAA, Southwest Conference and Texas records, he was a kid from San Diego being raised by his single mother, Sandy, along with his twin sister Cassie and younger sister Nisey. By the time Williams finished middle school, he was excelling in multiple sports and soon became an honor roll student at Patrick Henry High School while competing in football, baseball, track and wrestling.

On the gridiron, Williams was almost unstoppable, rushing for over 2,000 yards and earning 1994 San Diego Union-Tribune Player of the Year honors. He also excelled on the diamond and was a good enough outfielder that the Philadelphia Phillies drafted Williams in the eighth round of the 1995 Major League Draft. When Williams was looking at college programs, he strongly considered what kind of offense he might fit into but also wanted to make sure he could play in the Phillies’ minor league system in the off-season. Williams looked closely at schools like Colorado, USC, San Diego State (chiefly because hometown legend Marshall Faulk had played there) and Texas. He seriously eyed Stanford, too, which was

running a West Coast Offense under Bill Walsh. But when Walsh left Stanford after the 1994 season, Williams decided to become a Longhorn and play under Coach John Mackovic.

Williams earned the starting fullback job in Austin as a true freshman and broke the school’s freshman record for rushing yards in a game in his debut. By season’s end, his 990 rushing yards broke Texas Heisman winner Earl Campbell’s freshman season record and he was named the SWC’s Freshman of the Year. As a 1996 sophomore, Williams again thrived at fullback and led the Longhorns with a team-high 1,272 yards rushing, breaking the 100-yard mark seven times. Williams moved to tailback as a 1997 junior and busted out with school records in yards (1,893), carries (279) and rushing scores (25). His 2,043 all-purpose yards were also a school record.

That year Williams won the Doak Walker Award, earned AllAmerican first-team honors and tied for fifth in the Heisman balloting in a packed field that saw Charles Woodson edge Peyton Manning. Williams later said he took it hard that he didn’t finish higher in the balloting.

The NFL seemed to be calling, and it rang louder when Coach Mackovic was fired after the season. But an innocuous offseason visit to the school’s athletic media relations department helped keep Williams a Longhorn for one more season. While flipping through a college football almanac, Williams noticed how close he was to Dorsett’s NCAA rushing record as well as to a handful of other marks.

At that time, Williams still considered himself a baseball player first—remember he played in the Phillies’ minor league system after each Longhorn football season. He wanted to maximize his college football experience as a complement to baseball. The opportunity to etch his name in the record books—coupled with a growing relationship with first-year Texas Coach Mack Brown—was enough to convince Williams to return for a final year.

He opened his senior season with 215 yards on 36 carries in a 66-36 win over New Mexico State, carving up a team named the Aggies for what would be the first of two times in 1998.

Williams also rushed for a school-record six touchdowns in Brown’s head coaching debut. A week later, Texas stumbled at No. 8 UCLA, falling 49-31. The lone bright spot was Williams,

by Paul Goldberg 2023 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SALUTES HEISMAN TROPHY RECIPIENTS EARL CAMPBELL (1977) AND RICKY WILLIAMS (1998)

WILLIAMS | HEISMAN 25TH ANNIVERSARY HONOREE

whose 160 rushing yards helped him break Campbell’s Longhorn program rushing record (4,443). The low point of the season came seven days later when Texas lost at No. 10 Kansas State, 48-7. Not even Williams could supply highlights, gaining only 43 yards on 25 carries.

Back to the drawing board, and back to Austin, where the Longhorns—and Williams—got well with three home games among their next four. Texas got right with a 59-21 win over Rice, riding Williams to the tune of 318 rushing yards on 30 carries. He not only equaled his three-week-old, school-record six touchdown runs, but all were 16 yards or more.

A week later against Iowa State, Williams’ Heisman campaign got a big boost as he set the Texas school-record with 350 rushing yards to go with five touchdowns (That rushing total still stands as the most ever by a Heisman-winning back). Also in the game, Williams broke the NCAA records for rushing touchdowns, career scoring by a non-kicker and most yards in consecutive games (668).

week before the November 27th meeting with Texas A&M, another Aggies squad he was about to dismantle. Williams began that day 135 yards shy of 2,000 and 62 short of Dorsett’s NCAA mark. Which leads us to flashing back into the Texas A&M game, to a 1st and 10 from the Texas 40 with 1:57 left in the first quarter.

“I got the ball and everything just worked out. All of the other 10 guys all did their job. Kwame (Cavil), our receiver, goes down and cracks the safety, the corner comes up and I get down and he bounces off, and there’s no one there. I’m just in the open field. And I see one of the fastest guys in college football was the opposite corner for the Aggies and he had an angle on me.

So I’m thinking I’ve got to score, I can’t go down on the 1. So my best friend on the team, (receiver) Wane McGarity, blocked him and pushed him out of bounds and I just barely fell into the end zone.”

And there it was, a new NCAA rushing king with his lone score of the game. Officials paused the contest to honor Williams, who went on to rush for 259 yards—and eclipse the 2,000 mark—as Texas upset No. 11 Texas A&M, 26-24. Willams finished the regular season with 2,124 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns with another 24 receptions for 262 yards and another score. Two weeks later, voters made it official as Williams ran away with the 1998 Heisman Trophy as easily as he ran away from linebackers, totaling 2,355 votes and garnering a then-record 78% of the 920 first-place votes (714). Kansas State quarterback Michael Bishop was second and UCLA quarterback Cade McNown were third.

If that wasn’t enough, Williams also paid tribute to Heisman winner Doak Walker, who died earlier that week at the age of 71. Williams, who had befriended Walker after winning his award in 1997, wore a decal on his helmet featuring Walker’s No. 37. A week later, in the Red River Showdown, Williams wore Walker’s No. 37 and led Texas to a 34-3 win over Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl, rushing for 139 yards and two more scores. Following a bye week, Williams tacked on another 259 yards and two scores in a 30-20 win over Baylor and then led the Longhorns to a 20-16 upset at No. 19 Nebraska with 150 yards. Williams appeared mortal again, briefly, in a Texas 37-24 win over Oklahoma State with 90 yards and one score while gaining 141 yards and rushing for one more TD in a 42-35 loss at Texas Tech on November 14th.

As Heisman races go, Williams was a heavy favorite with one regular season game to go. He had to wait out a second bye

Half a year later, Williams was drafted fifth overall by the New Orleans Saints. Despite multiple injuries, he rushed for 1884 yards and 10 scores in his first two seasons, including exactly 1,000 in 2000. That kicked off four straight 1,000-yard seasons, highlighted by a career-best 1,853 with Miami in 2002 (that included 16 TDs) and another 1,372 yards a season later.

Williams retired in 2011 with 10,009 career yards, which is still 31st on the NFL’s career rushing chart, while his 66 career rushing touchdowns are tied for 42nd most. He also finished with 342 career receptions for another 2,606 yards and eight more touchdowns. Williams, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the UT Hall of Honor, has pursued myriad interests following his football career, which has included coaching, broadcasting and working as a wellness expert. In fact, his interest in wellness—which includes yoga and meditation—has dovetailed into entrepreneurship and he has co-founded Real Wellness Herbal as well as other businesses.

Earlier this year, Williams received the University of Texas’ highest honor and was named one of six recipients of the 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award. Congratulations to Ricky Williams on the 25th anniversary of his 1998 Heisman Trophy!

2023 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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HEISMAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY HONOREE

Jameis Winston

Jameis Winston grew up a small-town kid who exudes a small-town vibe. And years after he became the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner, he still takes pride in where he came from. He hails from Bessemer, Alabama, which has a population of about 26,000. While it’s not the smallest of “small towns” and is 16 miles southwest of Birmingham, it’s certainly no metropolis.

A former mining and steelmaking center, it boasts the oldest restaurant in the state, The Bright Star (we recommend the snapper). Raised by his parents, Antonor and Loretta, Winston was an athletic kid who quickly excelled in both baseball and football. That was not unlike another Bessemer native and Heisman winner, Bo Jackson.

Winston became a prep phenom at nearby Hueytown High, where he was rated by some as the best quarterback recruit in the country in 2012 while earning acclaim as a pitcher on the baseball team. But unlike Bo Jackson, Winston left the state when it came time for college. The pressure to stay in-state and sign with nearby Alabama or perhaps Auburn was real.

But despite growing up in the shadow of the Crimson Tide, some 40 miles away from Tuscaloosa, Winston eschewed the conventional choice and signed with FSU. Winston’s talents on the baseball field were enough to get him drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 15th round out of high school. While he turned down the Rangers, his opportunity to play on the diamond for a great Seminoles baseball program also tipped the scales in Florida State’s favor.

Winston redshirted as a 2012 true freshman behind senior quarterback EJ Manuel, who led the Seminoles to an ACC title en route to a 12-2 finish. A whopping 11 Seminoles were drafted off the 2012 team, including Manuel, who was taken 16th overall by the Buffalo Bills. Manuel mentored Winston, not only during their one season together in Tallahassee, but also after the older quarterback became a pro. It helped a young Winston, who was taking a big step up in class. Aside from the normal growing pains of winning the starting quarterback job—and the challenge of earning the trust of teammates as a redshirt freshman—Winston was also tasked with leading a team that was almost as inexperienced as he was.

Winston beat out a pair of underclassmen to earn the right to replace Manuel, which was a much-anticipated move. He had excelled in the spring and even threw a 58-yard touchdown pass on the first play of FSU’s Spring Game. Fall camp was

more of the same. But no one predicted such a stellar start to his collegiate career. Ranked 11th, Florida State opened the season at Pittsburgh in a Monday night ACC match-up at Heinz Field. All Winston did was complete his first 11 passes, and ultimately 25 of 27 passes for 356 yards and four touchdowns in front of a national audience. Heisman voters don’t make decisions in early September, but you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Everyone took notice.

Winston made his first home start against Nevada and while the Wolfpack trailed only by 10 at the half, the redshirt freshman keyed a third-quarter surge that put the game out of reach.

He completed 15 of 18 passes and two scores and also registered a rushing touchdown for the second game in a row. It was more of the same a week later as Florida State overwhelmed Bethune-Cookman, 54-6. Winston turned in a modest 148 passing yards and two scores in a game the Seminoles attacked mainly on the ground.

The Seminoles next traveled to Massachusetts to take on Boston College, where they beat the Eagles, 48-34, in what would be the closest game of the regular season. Winston completed 17 of 27 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns, helping Florida State overcome an early second-quarter two-touchdown deficit. By the fifth game of his career, Winston’s freshman season was already being couched in terms of a “Heisman candidacy.” It was hard to describe it any other way after another huge performance against No. 25 Maryland, as Florida State ransacked the previously unbeaten Terrapins 63-0. Winston set career bests with 393 yards passing and five touchdowns. That included a highlight reel play late in the third quarter when the 6-foot-4 freshman shed a Maryland lineman on his back to throw a 12-yard score.

Dominating Maryland at home was one thing, taking No. 5 Florida State into Death Valley against No. 3 Clemson was another. But was it? The results looked awfully similar. The Seminoles dusted the Tigers, 51-14, with Winston re-setting his own personal best with 444 yards passing (the most ever by an opponent at Clemson) while throwing for three scores and running in another. Winston’s Heisman bonafides were skyrocketing, as were Florida State’s BCS title-game hopes.

Some 400 former Seminole players were on hand for Florida State’s blowout home win against North Carolina State as the school honored longtime coach Bobby Bowden before the

by Paul Goldberg 2023 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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WINSTON | HEISMAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY HONOREE game. Bowden, who had retired four years prior, won two titles with the Seminoles and helped Charlie Ward (1993) and Chris Weinke (2000) win Heisman Trophies. The game was a measure of revenge for FSU, which was upset by the Wolfpack in 2012 on a last-second TD pass. It also provided quite the platform for Winston, who staged an in-person performance for Bowden and the hundreds of former Seminoles with 292 yards and three touchdowns—in barely more than one half of action.

Winston broke 300 yards for the fourth time in five games as Florida State knocked off another unbeaten team in No. 7 Miami. The freshman threw two interceptions en route to the win, giving defenses across the country a measure of hope, albeit short-lived. Second-ranked Florida State overwhelmed its next two opponents—Wake Forest and Syracuse—by the same score of 59-3 to move to 10-0. First, it was a road win as the Seminole defense intercepted six Demon Deacon passes and controlled the game, leaving Winston on cruise control. He passed for 159 yards and two scores in just over two quarters of play. A week later, he totaled 277 yards and two more scores.

With three games left to play, a berth in the BCS title game was squarely in sight and Winston was a clear frontrunner for the Heisman. A November 23 date against overmatched Idaho ended with an 80-14 score, including Winston’s 225 yards passing and four touchdowns in another two quarters of play.

Winston followed up his Heisman-winning season with 3,907 passing yards and 25 touchdowns while leading FSU to a school-record 26 straight wins and a berth in the inaugural CFP. He finished his two-year career with a record of 26-1 as a starter, throwing for 7,964 yards and 65 touchdowns. Despite the stellar season, Winston finished sixth in the 2014 Heisman balloting.

Winston declared for the 2015 NFL Draft and was drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he made a record-setting start to his career. He became the first NFL player to throw for over 4,000 yards in his first two seasons in the league (2015 and 2016) and also became the youngest player to pass for both 3,000 and 4,000 yards in a season. By his third year, he became the second-youngest player to pass for over 10,000 yards.

He joined the New Orleans Saints in 2020, though injuries have hampered his tenure there. He entered the 2023 season with 21,840 career yards passing with 139 touchdown passes and 11 scores on the ground.

In 2022, Winston completed what he started as a true freshman in 2012, earning his bachelor’s degree from Florida State with a degree in sociology. Off the field, Winston has been heavily involved in his Dream Forever Foundation, which seeks to help financially disadvantaged youth through a variety of ways.

Congratulations, Jameis, on your Heisman anniversary!

The rivalry game against Florida was also one-sided as the Seminoles went into Gainesville and dispatched the 4-8 Gators, 37-7. Winston, who was on the sidelines in 2012 when the Gators beat the Seminoles, threw for 327 yards and three touchdowns as Florida State completed the regular season at 12-0. Before the ACC title game against Duke, Winston was named the ACC Player and Freshman of the Year. Against the No. 23 Blue Devils, he definitely looked the part, passing for 330 yards and three touchdowns while running for his fourth score as the Seminoles beat Duke, 45-7.

FSU had punched its ticket to the BCS title game, the last before the College Football Playoff debuted in 2014. And just as decisively, Winston completed his case for the Heisman, setting FBS freshman records for passing yards (3,820) and touchdowns (38).

The voting was as drama-free as every game of the season.

Winston became the 2013 Heisman winner—and its youngest at the time at 19 years and 342 days—with 668 first-place votes and 2,205 points overall. It was more than three times the total of second-place Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron. Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch was third.

Florida State faced its stiffest competition of the season in the BCS title game against No. 2 Auburn at the Rose Bowl. But after a season of breezy wins, Winston showed he could lead the Seminoles under pressure, too. “Famous Jameis” capped one of the greatest freshman seasons ever by leading Florida State on an 80-yard scoring drive in the game’s final minute, completing 6 of 7 passes for 77 yards, the final two the title-winning scoring strike to Kelvin Benjamin. With the win, Winston became the eighth Heisman-winning quarterback to lead their team to a national title.

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Grassi Congratulates the

Heisman Trophy Trust on their

89th Anniversary Lisa Rispoli, CPA, AEP, TEP Partner, Trust & Estates and Private Client Services Leader lrispoli@grassicpas.com

David M. Rottkamp, CPA Partner, Nonprofit Practice Leader drottkamp@grassicpas.com

The Heisman…

More than a Trophy

For 89 years, the Heisman Memorial Trophy has been awarded to the outstanding college football player in the United States. Today, through the charitable mission of the Heisman Trophy Trust, the Heisman Trophy stands for so much more.

Harnessing the power of the Trophy’s legacy of excellence, the Trust positively impacts our nation’s youth and provides equitable opportunities to underserved communities, made possible through the financial support of our sponsors, Nissan and ESPN.

Inaugurated in 2001, the Heisman Charitable Giving Program has impacted more than 480 charities around the country, donating over $25 million dollars to date.

Since 1994, the Heisman has affected more than 650,000 of America’s most accomplished high school scholarathletes through the Heisman High School Scholarship Program.

The Heisman Humanitarian Award honors individuals from the world of sports who provide opportunities to those less fortunate in their communities.

The Trophy inspires. The Trust makes an impact.

Together, they change lives.

George Cheng

Ashton Elpers

Callan Hall

Nathaniel Hayes

Kaylynn Ivy Layne

Ezra Linnan

Luke Pelletier

Luke Ratcliff

Colleen Stankiewicz

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics West Hills, NC

Effingham County High School Springfield, GA

Jamestown High School Williamsburg, VA

North Posey High School Poseyville, IN

East Ridge High School Lick Creek, KY

Harleton High School Harleton, TX

Salina High Central Salina, KS

Sevastopol High School Sturgeon Bay, WI

Manchester Central High School Manchester, NH

The outstanding 2023 national finalists

Chase Hartman Walter L. Sickles High School Citrus Park, FL

Katelyn Matarese La Canada High School La Canada, CA

Jenica Stoner Eastland High School Lanark, IL

The Heisman High School Scholarship was created in 1994 through a partnership between Wendy’s and The Heisman Trophy Trust, and has leveraged the reputation of the Heisman Memorial Trophy as a symbol of great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work.

The Heisman High School Scholarship program celebrates and rewards outstanding male and female scholar-athletes who understand that the most important victories happen not only on the field, but also in their schools and communities.

Since its inception, the program has honored more than 600,000 of the nation’s most esteemed high school seniors and provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in college scholarships to students, and more than a million dollars to high school academic and athletic programs across the country. The Heisman High School Scholarship program honors the nation’s most accomplished, community-minded high school senior athletes. By inviting male and female students from schools across the country to share their stories of leadership and impact, the program aims to inspire all students to harness their potential, push their limits, and use their talents not only to advance their own futures, but to improve the communities and world around them.

The 2023 Heisman High School Scholarship National Winners are Katelyn Matarese from La Canada High School in La Canada, CA and George Cheng from North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in West Hills, NC. The Heisman Trust is proud to celebrate Katelyn and George. 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 game-changing differences in our world.

Remembering

The Heisman Trophy Trust fondly remembers 1998 Heisman High School Scholarship winner Anthony White, who passed away on November 25th following a courageous battle with cancer. Our thoughts are with his family and all those who loved him. Rest in Peace.

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Rewriting the rules Making a difference starts with changing how the game is played.

Diabetes has taken a physical, emotional, and financial toll on George Cheng’s family. Instead of feeling resentment, George made the conscious decision to channel his energies into understanding and empathy. “Recognizing that a change was needed, I committed myself to academic and athletic endeavors. Not just to escape my situation, but to uplift my family’s conditions,” George says. As one of the most promising STEM students in the country, George dedicated himself to researching Type 2 Diabetes and finding new and better ways to treat the disease. He ultimately created a proofof-concept for a wearable microneedle patch that only costs $3 per day. George’s research is published in journals including the Journal of Emerging Investigator and Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology. His work earned first place at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Biomedical & Health Sciences. For George, the biggest reward is the difference the patch can potentially make in patients’ quality of life by providing a more affordable, easierto-use treatment option. “I aim to be a scientist dedicated to researching low-cost Type-2 Diabetes therapeutics, putting patients over profit.”

George hopes to bring other students along this path, particularly those who have been traditionally excluded from STEM education. He founded STEMable, a nonprofit dedicated to bridging the educational gap in rural areas by

GEORGE CHENG

providing free STEM experimentation kits and workshops to underprivileged communities in rural counties. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) recognized George’s efforts and has promised to increase the STEM budget for underrepresented counties as well as to introduce biomedical engineering to elementary and middle schoolers using curriculum George helped create. “We seek to diversify the STEM landscape and, in doing so, nurture future professionals who understand the need for affordable healthcare,” George says.

“My long-range goal is to become a bioengineer and an entrepreneur who can make products that positively impact millions of patients suffering from uncurable diseases,” George says. In the meantime, he will continue to proactively introduce new and innovative solutions to how community problems are addressed. His efforts include empowering the homeless through art and job training, fundraising for pediatric cancer, advocating for high-quality early learning opportunities around the world, and advancing climate justice. As socially conscious as George is, he knows the importance of living a balanced life, and excelling athletically is part of the equation. “Sports and physical activities have always been vital for mental rejuvenation, team building, discipline, and resilience, all of which are indispensable traits for an aspiring entrepreneur.”

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics | West Hills, NC

2023 NATIONAL WINNER 22

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“Life does not always present situations of our choosing, but we can choose how to respond.”

“To whom much is given, much is expected.”

Running out loud A leader’s voice can be just as powerful as her actions.

Katelyn Matarese started her academic career on a quiet note.

While she has always naturally excelled academically and has no trouble acing tests, speaking up was another matter. In fact, she said so little during her first two years of elementary school that it was challenging to make friends. As the sibling of two nationally recognized runners, she became known as the “slow Matarese that didn’t talk.” To help her break out of her shell, Katelyn’s parents signed her up for the local running club. Hesitant at first, Katelyn quickly realized that her innate drive to succeed was stronger than her shyness. “I worked harder than anyone on the team, including my siblings,” Katelyn says. “I soon earned two National Championships, a High School State Championship, and 11 All-American selections.”

But Katelyn says the real prize was gaining her voice. “As a top runner other athletes looked up to, I gained the confidence I lacked, and I soon became a very talkative leader of the team . . . giving pre-race speeches to a team of over one hundred kids.” Katelyn began using her newfound voice in many other ways including speaking up for those who struggle to speak for themselves, as she once did. She became a Special Olympics coach, a Spanish and math tutor, and a volunteer who decorates rooms for patients facing long stays at local children’s hospitals. Perhaps her most impressive endeavor is founding and running Pita Against Poverty, a company that

bakes and sells pita bread using Katelyn’s great-grandmother’s family recipe. Proceeds are donated to a different cause every quarter. As the company has grown, Katelyn has trained local scouts, church groups, and teachers to pitch in on production, and she even received grant funding for a pita sheeting machine. To date, Pita Against Poverty has baked more than 5,000 pitas and raised more than $20,000 for organizations including Dream Center, International Orthodox Christian Charities’ Aid for Ukraine, and FOCUS North America’s Orange County homeless shelter and food bank.

“Now that I have a voice that I know can do good, I never plan on being silenced,” Katelyn says. She is dreaming of continuing her education at an Ivy League school and she has plans to keep using her voice during college and after in ways that that will help people, especially children who cannot easily help themselves. While Katelyn credits her parents for nudging her toward the sport that helped her find her confidence, she says it’s her grandmother’s words of wisdom, crocheted on a pillow given as a Christmas gift, that keep her focused. Every time she sees the pillow on her bed, she’s reminded that “To whom much is given, much is expected.”

She says it’s a personal challenge to always give 100 percent in the classroom, on the field, and in the community so she can keep using her gifts and talents to make the world a better place.

KATELYN MATARESE

La Canada High School | La Canada, CA

2023 NATIONAL WINNER

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2023 Heisman Humanitarian

Solomon Thomas

In the world of football, Solomon Thomas is a name synonymous with strength, resilience, and dedication. As a defensive lineman for the New York Jets, Thomas has established himself as a formidable force on the gridiron, disrupting opposing offenses and anchoring defensive lines with unwavering commitment. However, it’s not just his prowess on the field that sets him apart; it’s his profound impact beyond the game that earns him the prestigious 2023 Heisman Humanitarian Award.

In January 2018, Thomas’ older sister Ella passed by suicide.

She was 24 and had battled anxiety and depression. After Ella’s

death, Solomon and his parents, Chris and Martha, saw firsthand how many people were struggling with mental health, and they wanted to do something to help.

In 2021, the Thomas family founded The Defensive Line Foundation as a beacon of hope in the realm of mental health advocacy. In a world often dominated by statistics and scoreboards, Thomas is tackling a different kind of crisis—the epidemic of youth suicide, especially among young people of color.

The Defensive Line Foundation (TDL) aims to transform the conversation around mental health, fostering connection and communication to prevent the tragic loss of young lives.

A standout defensive lineman during his collegiate career at Stanford University, Thomas’ success on the field was a prelude to his impactful journey off it. With accolades such as All-Pac 12 honors, the Morris Trophy Winner title, and being the third overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Thomas’ football journey has been illustrious. His seven seasons in the NFL, including stints with the San Francisco 49ers and the Las Vegas Raiders, have solidified his reputation as a hardworking and dedicated professional. In 2022, the New York Jets nominated Thomas for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, recognizing his

by Brendan Bumgardner and Hunter Carroll 26

2023 HEISMAN JOURNAL

Ella Thomas

exceptional community service and commitment to philanthropy. However, it is his work with The Defensive Line that truly sets him apart.

Today, TDL empowers adults to connect with young people over their shared humanity and hope for a better future, offering training and support to schools and other organizations in their efforts to prevent suicide and support mental health. Through its training programs, TDL teaches adults about the urgency of the national suicide crisis, warning signs and risk factors, and how to apply that knowledge in their everyday interactions with young people.

The impact of TDL’s work is evident in the data from its suicide prevention workshops, which show significant increases in teachers’ comfort levels, participants’ willingness to have mental health conversations and preparedness for suicide intervention.

By focusing on adults in schools and other settings, TDL aims to shift the dialogue around mental health and suicide prevention, helping to build connections between young people and the adults who serve them. Ultimately, TDL seeks to create a safer, more supportive environment for young people of color and to end the epidemic of youth suicide.

In addition to his work with The Defensive Line Foundation, Solomon Thomas has been an influential keynote speaker and panel member at various events, including the American Foundation Suicide Prevention Gala, Mental Health America, San Francisco Suicide Prevention, NFLPA Super Bowl Players Summit, Kick the Stigma, Bring Change 2 Mind, and USC Annenberg Summit.

The Heisman Trophy Trust is honored to present Solomon Thomas with the 2023 Heisman Humanitarian Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to youth suicide prevention and mental health advocacy. Thomas is not only a defensive force on the field but a lifesaver off it, embodying the true spirit of the Heisman Humanitarian Award.

THE

LINE

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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.

2022 MIKE KRZYZEWSKI

Mike Krzyzewski, better known as Coach K, has been an icon of college basketball for over forty years.

As head coach of Duke, he was the winningest coach in NCAA Division I history, maintaining a 1,129–309 record. He also coached the US men’s national basketball team in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics, winning gold in each appearance. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball, College Basketball, United States Olympic, and FIBA Halls of Fame.

In 2006, Coach K founded the Emily K Center in Durham, NC, naming it after his mother who encouraged him to attend West Point where he also played basketball. At its outset, the Center had only one program, Pioneer Scholars, serving 38 students. The Center grew its enrollment-based programs, adding the high school-focused Scholars to College program in 2008 and a college-focused Scholars on Campus program in 2012. By 2015, the Center was serving more than 200 students annually. Today, the Center is proud to serve more than 2,000 Durham students annually. In addition to academic programs, the Center also works with approximately 50 facility partners each year who utilize the Center as a space for their own important programming and events. Founder Coach K has also been involved with many other charitable groups including the Duke Children’s Hospital, the V Foundation for Cancer Research, the Children’s Miracle Network, and the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer initiative. www.emilyk.org

2021 CURTIS GRANDERSON

MLB star Curtis Granderson continues to be an ambassador for the sport in his retirement. He serves as President of the Players Alliance, a player-led organization that aims to create an inclusive culture within baseball. He received the 2016 Roberto Clemente Award, presented to a player who best represents baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field. Curtis is also a supporter of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, one of the nation’s premier scholarship and leadership development programs for minority college students.

And he made a $5 million donation to the MLB academy in Chicago—the single biggest donation ever made by a Major League player.

Curtis created the Grand Kids Foundation in 2007 to foster positive youth development through education, physical fitness and nutrition. Grand Kids has helped over two million kids live more active lives. In 2013, Granderson expanded the reach of his foundation to address food insecurity in the communities they were serving. Grand Giving, a month-long program, hosted each November, raises funds and awareness surrounding the food insecurity that prevents many children from reaching their true potential. Grand Giving has provided over 40 million meals to children and families in need. www.grandgiving.org

2019 KRISTI YAMAGUCHI

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.

In 1996, Kristi founded Always Dream to support underprivileged and disabled children through summer camps, after-school programs and financial support for back-to-school supplies. As a mother 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 Always Dream to improving early childhood literacy.

Always Dream provides high-quality books, digital tablets and a book coach to support parent engagement and foster children’s love for reading. During the 2022–23 school year, Always Dream reached a milestone of partnering with 1,000 families across the San Francisco Bay Area and Hawaii. www.alwaysdream.org 2023 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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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 MLB contract, he endowed a scholarship at his high school in honor of a friend who had been killed in a car accident, and set up a charitable fund supporting six scholarships at Dallas-Fort Worth area high schools. He serves on the board of The Emerald Corridor Foundation, which works to restore safe green spaces and waterways in Northwest Atlanta and strengthen the community via education, job training, and employment opportunities. Since his days with the Yankees, Teixeira has been a supporter of DREAM, an organization that uses the power of teams to inspire inner-city youth to recognize their potential and realize their dreams through its school, afterschool, and summer programs. DREAM has also been supported by the Heisman Trophy Trust. In 2020, Teixeira partnered with Depend and the Prostate Cancer Foundation for the Stand Strong for Men’s Health campaign, helping to destigmatize male incontinence and raise awareness and money for prostate cancer research.

2017 ERNIE ELS

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.

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.

“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 ALAN PAGE

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. Drafted by the Minnesota Vikings, he led them to four Super Bowls, and in 1971 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, 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. Justice Page and his daughter, Kamie Page, have written four children’s picture books, Alan and His Perfectly Pointy Impossibly Perpendicular Pinky (2013), The Invisible You (2014), Grandpa Alan’s Sugar Shack (2017), and Bee Love (Can Be Hard) (2020). In November 2018, Justice Page received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2019 he was chosen as a member of the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

The Page Education Foundation was founded in 1988 by Alan and his wife Diane to financially support college students’ academic goals while fostering positive mentor relationships and encouraging role models for children. In return for their scholarship, recipients provide fifty hours of volunteer mentoring and tutoring to children in grades K–8. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded over $16 million in grants to more than 8,000 Page Scholars who have volunteered nearly 500,000 hours, working with 50,000 children across Minnesota. Diane Page passed away in 2018; to recognize her critical role in starting and growing the Foundation, it has been formally renamed The Page Education Foundation Founded by Diane and Alan Page. www.page-ed.org

2015 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. The Boomer Esiason Foundation has raised millions 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

2014 JOE TORRE

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 AllStar 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 1990s, and the team reached the playoffs in each of his twelve seasons in the Bronx.

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 now has 20 Margaret’s Place program sites across the country in schools and community-based settings. Each year, they provide services to more than 19,000 young people ages 11 through 18, many of whom are impacted by trauma and violence in their homes, schools, and communities. www.joetorre.org

2013 DAVID ROBINSON

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

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2012 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

2011 MARTY LYONS

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.

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 11 chapters granting wishes in 14 states. To date they have granted more than 8,300 wishes. www.martylyonsfoundation.org

2010 WARRICK DUNN

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 2002–2007 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.

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 down payment assistance checks, and stocking the pantry with food. Today, Warrick Dunn Charities has expanded from HFTH into four additional programs: Betty’s Hope, 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 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. Mia is a part owner of both LAFC and Angel City FC, a National Women’s Soccer League expansion team.

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

2008 PAT LAFONTAINE

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.

During the pandemic, CiC pivoted to provide desperately needed Google Chromebooks to hospitals across North America. Due to isolation protocols, pediatric patients could not receive visits from family members and were restricted from accessing school work. The tablets ensured a connection to classrooms, family and friends. CiC also created “The Mane Event,” a podcast filled with inspirational stories to help motivate the children (and their families) during these difficult times.

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

2007 GEORGE MARTIN

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.

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.

2006 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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Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dallas

Rocking the Boat

YMCA of Long Island

Special Olympics New York

Disabled Sports USA

East Atlanta Kids Club

Epworth Children’s Home

Play Rugby USA

Vail Veterans Program

Dancing Classrooms

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 Passaic 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 Caleb Cares Foundation Camden Schools Foundation

Camp Rainbow Gold Cardinal Shehan Center Catholic Charities, Archdiocese 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 Charlie and Tonja Ward Family 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 Coastal Community Foundation Columbia University Medical Center Committee for SHARC Common Ground Montgomery Community Foundation of Atlanta Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Inc. Community Foundation of Texas 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 / CSC College Sports Communicators Creative Arts Alliance Cristo Rey New York High School Curtis Granderson Foundation 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 Emily K Center 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. Green Beret Foundation Guiding Eyes for the Blind Habitat for Humanity International HALOS Hand in Hand Harlem Lacrosse and Leadership HBC Foundation Inc Heroes’ Movement Herschel’s 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 2023 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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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 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 Adventists – Happy 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 Motiv8 Foundation Inc. Mount Sinai Medical Center Mr Robbins Neighbourhood

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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 Promote Altruism PS 130 The Parkside School Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida Inc. Recreation Unlimited Red Hook Initiative Richard Sowinski Inner City Youth & Kids Foundation Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Right To Play Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins Robert Griffin III Foundation Rogosin Institute Ronald McDonald House of Tulsa, Inc. 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 Stanford Buck Cardinal Club 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 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 Texas Christian University The Braxton Miller Foundation

The Louisville Urban League Inc Thunderbird Clubhouse – Oklahoma Tim Brown Foundation Tim Tebow Foundation Torretta Foundation Travis Mannion Foundation Trenton Kappa Foundation TriArts Sharon Playhouse Tri-Town Youth Services 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 Visitation Parish – St. Vincent de Paul Society 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 Foundation 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

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 & Girls Club of Mount Vernon Boys & Girls Club of Newark Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester Boys and Girls Club of the Bellport Area Bridge Golf Foundation Bronx Lacrosse Brooklyn Boatworks Brooklyn Youth Sports Club Chess in the Schools CityLax CitySquash City of White Plains Youth Bureau DREAM (formerly Harlem RBI) East Harlem Tutorial Program Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk County Figure Skating in Harlem First Tee New York

Communities Foundation of Texas has supported the following organizations via the Heisman Trophy Fund for Youth Development

Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has supported the following organizations via the Heisman Trophy Fund for Youth Development

Girls on the Run Long Island Girls on the Run NYC Grenville Baker Boys and Girls Club Harlem Lacrosse and Leadership Hit the Books 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 Mission Society of New York City New Heights Youth New Rochelle Basketball Association Peace Players International Peter Westbrook Foundation Play Rugby USA Playworks Education Energized Riverside Hawks, Hope, Healthy, and Hoops Rocking the Boat Row New York South Bronx United Special Olympics New York Sports Empowerment Leadership Academy St. Christopher’s Street Squash STEER Student Athletes Team First, Inc. Trident Swim Foundation Urban Dove Vita Sports Partners Write on Sports YMCA of Long Island

Bridge Lacrosse Mercy Street Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dallas Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Texas Commerce Sports League Distinctly His Ministries Elevate Your Game Summer Camp Kernow Storm Futobol Club MetroSoccer Program launch Beyond the Ball Dallas Leadership Foundation Diamond Hill Northside Youth Athletic Association Girls on the Run DFW Metroplex Puede Network Rae’s Hope

Carrie Steele Pits Home East Atlanta Kids Club Fugees Family Inc. Girls on the Run Atlanta L.E.A.D. Inc. YMCA of Metro Atlanta Favor House Field of Dreams Los Ninos Primero

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JOHN W. HEISMAN Innovator of the Game 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.

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.

A COACHING CAREER 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.

“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.

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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 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.

HEISMAN BALLOTING—HOW IT WORKS 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 State and Sectional Representatives are listed on page 40 and 41. 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 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, 2023 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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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 2023 Heisman ballots were distributed on November 27 and were due back to Deloitte by December 4 at 5:00pm EST. There were 928 votes for 2023.

WHAT MAKES A FINALIST? 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 in 2021, the Heisman Trophy Trust officially invites 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

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Robert S. Hammond Laramie Boomerang/WyoSports.net | Laramie, WY Dave Campbell (1925–2021) Waco Tribune-Herald | Waco, TX Bob Hammel Bloomington News | Bloomington, Indiana Lee Corso ESPN | Orlando, Florida Don Criqui CBS Sports | New York, NY Dick Weiss Blue Star Media/NY Daily News | Philadelphia, PA

2023 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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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.

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’ third-place 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.

THE CEREMONY—PAST AND PRESENT 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

HEISMAN

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 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

H ISTORY

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 in 2020. 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. Beginning in 2021, the Heisman Trophy announcement returned in-person at an exciting new NYC venue, Jazz at Lincoln Center.

2023 STAT E R EP R E SE N TATIVE S ALABAMA Jon Johnson - Dothan Eagle ARIZONA Greg Hansen - Arizona Daily Star ARKANSAS Bob Holt - Arkansas Democrat Gazette CALIFORNIA Jon Wilner - San Jose Mercury News COLORADO Randy Holtz - Freelance Writer CONNECTICUT Sean Barker - Hearst Connecticut Media DELAWARE Kevin Tresolini - News Journal / delawareonline.com 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 INDIANA Bob Hammel - Bloomington News IOWA Randy Peterson - Des Moines Register KANSAS Kellis Robinett - Wichita Eagle KENTUCKY John Clay - Lexington Herald Leader

LOUISIANA Scott Rabalais - The Advocate MAINE Dave Eid - WGME TV MARYLAND Heather Dinich - ESPN.com MASSACHUSETTS / RHODE ISLAND Richard Thompson - Boston Herald MICHIGAN Jack Ebling - Ebling Media MINNESOTA Chip Scoggins - Minneapolis Star Tribune MISSISSIPPI Parrish Alford - Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal MISSOURI Ben Frederickson - St. Louis Post MONTANA Greg Rachac - Montana Television Network NEBRASKA Mike Babcock - Freelance Writer NEVADA Ed Graney - Las Vegas Review-Journal NEW HAMPSHIRE Roger Brown - Union Leader NEW JERSEY Brian Fronseca - NJ Advance Media Star Ledger NEW MEXICO Van Tate - KRQE TV-13 NEW YORK CITY Kelly Whiteside - USA Today NEW YORK STATE Nate Mink - Syracuse.com NORTH CAROLINA Sammy Batten - Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer

NORTH DAKOTA Abe Winter - The Bismarck Tribune OHIO Bruce Hooley - PressProsMagazine.com OKLAHOMA John Hoover - Sports Illustrated Sooners OREGON Gary Horowitz - KBZY Radio PENNSYLVANIA Dave Jones - Harrisburg Patriot-News SOUTH CAROLINA Gene Sapakoff - The Post & Courier SOUTH DAKOTA James Cimburek - Press & Dakotan TENNESSEE Jimmy Hyams - WNML Radio Knoxville TEXAS Robert Cessna - The Eagle UTAH Wesley Ruff - KTVX - Channel 4 VERMONT Alex Abrami - Burlington Free Press VIRGINIA David Teel - Richmond Times-Dispatch WASHINGTON Dave Mahler - KJR Radio WEST VIRGINIA Michael Casazza - CBS Interactive/247Sports WISCONSIN Jim Polzin - Wisconsin State Journal WYOMING Reece Monaco - KFBC Radio 2023 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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5 1. 2022 Heisman Finalists (L to R) Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett, TCU quarterback Max Duggan, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud and USC quarterback Caleb Williams.

2. The finalists receive their Heisman plaques from Mike Comerford, president of the Heisman Trophy Trust and Allyson Witherspoon, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Nissan USA. 3. Managing nerves prior to the big announcement.

4. The Heisman finalists visit the Edge with ESPN’s Holly Rowe.

5. The Heisman finalists are joined by their head coaches.

6. The 2022 announcement at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

7. The Heisman Trophy Trustees: (L to R) Sanford Wurmfeld, Bill Dockery, Anne Donahue, Dan Reed, Carol Pisano, Jim Corcoran, Marva Smalls, Mike Comerford, Richard Kalikow, and Brian Obergfell.

8. Announcement host Chris Fowler and Caleb Williams share a laugh.

9. Caleb and his family take his trophy out to Times Square.

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7 1. 2022 Heisman winner Caleb Williams.

2. Caleb poses with fellow USC Heisman winners, Mike Garrett (1965) and Matt Leinart (2004).

3. Many former winners attended the dinner gala and welcomed Caleb to the Heisman fraternity.

4. Caleb Williams with Heisman Trophy Trust president Mike Comerford.

5. George Rogers (1980), Eric Crouch (2001) and his wife Nikki, Mike Rozier (1983) and his wife Rochelle, enjoying each other’s company.

6. Heisman Trustee Brian Obergfell congratulates 2022 Heisman Humanitarian Mike Krzyzewski.

7. Caleb visits Good Morning America with hosts Whit Johnson, Eva Pilgrim and Janai Norman.

8. Cameron Srivastava and Viva Kreis, 2022 National Winners, Heisman High School Scholarship.

9. Caleb Williams poses with USC head coach Lincoln Riley.

10. 1972 Heisman winner Johnny Rodgers celebrates his 50th anniversary.

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TH AN DY DY OOF F TTHHE E MM A LA L L® L THE G REAGNRD DDADDAD

AMERICA’ S

PA S S I O N •• S T R E N G T H ••TTRADITION R A D I T I O N • •HHONOR ONOR PASSION STRENGTH

NEW

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C E L E B R A T I O N®

AMERICA’S NEW YEAR CELEBRATION IN PASADENA

T H E T R AIN D PASADENA I T I O N C O N T I N U E S…

THE TRADITION CONTINUES...

THE PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES

THE PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES

WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE SEASON S A L U T E S T THE H I S FINALISTS Y E A R ’ S I N ON D U AN C T EOUTSTANDING ES, INCLUDING PAST ROSE BOWL GAME® PARTICIPANT

AND WISH THEM THE BEST IN THEIR BOWL GAMES. MARK MESSNER

January 1, 2024 • Pasadena, Calif. • 2:10 p.m. PT/5:10 p.m. ET • ESPN

109TH ROSE BOWL GAME

• JA N UA R Y 2 , 2 0 2 3 • PA S A D E N A , CA • 2 : 1 0 p. m . PT / 5 : 1 0 p. m . E T • E S P N

T H E F I E S TA B O W L C E L E B R AT E S T H E

13 HEISMAN TROPHY RECIPIENTS W H O H AV E P L AY E D I N O U R G A M E

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

2019 JOE BURROW LSU

Heisman Hopefuls

CARSON BECK

BROCK BOWERS

BLAKE CORUM

JAYDEN DANIELS

QB | Georgia

TE | Georgia

RB | Michigan

QB | LSU

DRAKE MAYE

JJ McCARTHY

KYLE McCORD

JALEN MILROE

QB | North Carolina

QB | Michigan

QB | Ohio State

QB | ALABAMA

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QUINN EWERS

DILLON GABRIEL

OLLIE GORDON II

MARVIN HARRISON JR.

QB | Texas

QB | Oklahoma

RB | Oklahoma State

WR | Ohio State

BO NIX

MICHAEL PENIX JR.

JORDAN TRAVIS

CALEB WILLIAMS

QB | Oregon

QB | Washington

QB | Florida State

QB | USC 2023 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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Heisman Memorial Trophy GALA DINNER WELCOME Neil Everett Master of Ceremonies and Emmy-Winning Broadcaster NATIONAL ANTHEM Performed by Lessie Vonner REFLECTION ANNOUNCEMENTS James E. Corcoran Heisman Trophy Trustee HEISMAN HUMANITARIAN AWARD Introduction by Sanford Wurmfeld Heisman Trophy Trustee Heisman Humanitarian Video Solomon Thomas 2023 Heisman Humanitarian Award Recipient 2023 Heisman Trophy Trust Video DINNER Jameis Winston: 10th Anniversary 2013 Heisman Trophy Winner Mack Brown Head Coach, 1998 University of Texas Ricky Williams: 25th Anniversary 1998 Heisman Trophy Winner John Cappelletti: 50th Anniversary 1973 Heisman Trophy Winner Dignitaries on behalf of LSU Presentation of the 89th Annual Heisman Memorial Trophy Michael J. Comerford Heisman Trophy Trust President Jayden Daniels Acceptance of Trophy 2023 Heisman Memorial Trophy Winner

Will Wells and the Whole Team Winnin’ will provide tonight’s musical accompaniment.

Jayden Daniels

L S U Q UA RT E R B AC K 2023 HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER

L S U

QUARTER BAC K

Jayden Daniels “Growing up, I always wanted to win a Heisman.”

That kid Jayden dreamt of this moment and on December 9, 2023, Jayden Daniels was awarded the 89th Heisman Memorial Trophy. It took more than manifestation though.

Daniels had to put the work in and then execute while on the field. The result of that work and execution was one of the most dynamic and prolific seasons any college football player has ever had.

On the season, Daniels accounted for nearly 5000 yards of offense and 50 touchdowns, as he threw for 3812 yards and 40 touchdowns and rushed for 1134 and 10. Within those yards is the historical feat of becoming the first quarterback in history to throw for over 350 yards and rush for 200 in a single game, with 606 total yards in that November game against Florida. Add to that another historic accomplishment—Daniels has become the first quarterback in college football history to throw for 12,000 yards and rush for 3000 yards.

To put those achievements into context, we often compare them to the other Heisman winners as a way to celebrate and reminisce, but with Jayden Daniels we simply need to celebrate the season of college football’s most outstanding player, as he balanced and blended in with the best of them. Louisiana State University now has three winners.

In 1959, Billy Cannon had his famous 89 yard rumble

by Brian Dombrowski 2023 HEISMAN JOURNAL

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Jayden Daniels through Ole Miss’s coverage team on Halloween night.

This season, Daniels weaved his way through the Florida Gators defense for an incredible 85 yard touchdown run. In 2019, Joe Burrow threw for 6 touchdowns against Vanderbilt. This season, Daniels matched that mark against Georgia State.

Outside of the LSU pantheon, fans would be on the edge of their seats to see what the likes of Tony Dorsett, Bo Jackson, Tim Tebow, or last year’s winner Caleb Williams, among other Heisman winners, would do next. Jayden Daniels has been a blend and balance of each member of this prestigious fraternity with his ability to pass, rush, and at times even block down field for his teammates.

LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly is continually impressed with Daniels, sharing after his performance against Florida, “He’s the best quarterback in the country. He’s the best playmaker in the country.” But from the games to the stats to the accolades to the record books and now Heisman winner, when asked how he wants to be remembered, Daniels simply answered, “Humble.

Legendary. Joyful.”

From his hometown of San Bernardino, California to his time at Arizona State, to his career at LSU, Daniels’s family, friends, coaches and teammates will certainly reflect on his humility and joy in playing football. The late LSU legend and Heisman winner Billy Cannon once shared “it’s all about the team, and if the team is successful, then you’ll have your day in the sun.” Jayden Daniels shares this philosophy and gives credit to his teammates, especially his offensive line, and coaches whenever he can. Following another successful season leading his team to nine wins, it is Jayden Daniels’s day in the sun. As Daniels concluded in his thank you speech upon being awarded the trophy “keep smiling and never give up on your dreams.”

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

December 9, 2023 Heisman Trophy Trust 111 Broadway – Suite 100 New York, NY 10006 Attention: Mr. Michael J. Comerford Dear Trustees: We are pleased to submit the following tabulation of the 2023 Heisman Memorial Trophy Award balloting, which was performed in accordance with the agreed-upon procedures stated in our letter dated November 10, 2023.

Total Votes 2nd 3rd

Name

School

1st

1.

Jayden Daniels

Louisiana State

503

217

86

2,029

2.

Michael Penix Jr.

Washington

292

341

143

Total Points 1,701

3.

Bo Nix

Oregon

51

205

322

885

4.

Marvin Harrison Jr.

Ohio State

20

78

136

352

5.

Jordan Travis

Florida State

8

19

23

85

6.

Jalen Milroe

Alabama

4

8

45

73

7.

Ollie Gordon II

Oklahoma State

1

2

24

31

8.

Cody Schrader

Missouri

1

2

22

29

9.

Blake Corum

Michigan

3

2

15

28

10.

J.J. McCarthy

Michigan

1

7

4

21

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

Mid-Atlantic

Name

Pts.

Pos.

Pts.

Pos.

Pts.

Pos.

Pts.

Pos.

Pts.

Pos.

Pts.

Pos.

1.

Jayden Daniels

334

1

318

1

433

South 1

379

Southwest 1

286

2

279

2

2.

Michael Penix Jr.

272

2

272

2

251

2

292

2

287

1

327

1

3.

Bo Nix

142

3

121

3

148

3

145

3

129

3

200

3

4.

Marvin Harrison Jr.

54

4

88

4

25

6

40

4

106

4

39

4

Very truly yours,

Member of

Midwest

Far West

That kid Jayden, who dreamed big, is the 89th Heisman Memorial Trophy Winner, and will be remembered as one of the game’s great legends forever.

Celebrating 89 years

1935

Jay Berwanger

CHICAGO RUNNING BACK

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.

1 2 3 4

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

1936 Larry Kelley YALE END 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

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did well. The 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.

1 2 3 4 5

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

1937 Clinton Frank

YALE RUNNING BACK

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 5

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

1935 Berwanger

1938

Davey O’Brien TCU QUARTERBACK

1937 Frank

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 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.

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

1936 Kelley

1939 Kinnick

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 crash-landed 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.

1938 O’Brien

IOWA RUNNING BACK

1 2 3 4 5

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

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1940

Tom Harmon

MICHIGAN RUNNING BACK

In twenty-three games for the Maroons, Chicago’s “one-man 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.

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 marquee 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,

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C ELE B R AT ING

89

YEARS

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.

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.

1 2 3 4 5

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

1943

Angelo Bertelli

1940 Harmon

1941 Smith

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.

1 2 3 4 5

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

1944 Leslie Horvath 1942 Sinkwich

1943 Bertelli

1944 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.

1 2 3 4 5

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

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Remembering

John Lujack 1947

HEIS MA N

WINNE R

Johnny Lujack, the 1947 Heisman Trophy winner from Notre Dame who was the oldest living recipient of the award, died earlier this year on July 25th at his home in Florida. He was 98.

Lujack won Notre Dame’s second Heisman Trophy in 1947 after leading the Fighting Irish to a 9-0 season as a senior. He completed 61 passes on 109 attempts for 777 yards and also ran for 139 yards on 12 carries, directing Notre Dame to a national championship for the third time, after also doing so in 1943 and 1946.

Born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, Lujack was the youngest of four sons and the fifth child in a family of six children. He starred for the Connellsville High football team from 1939 to 1941 while also competing in basketball, baseball and track and field, not to mention earning Valedictorian honors and being voted class president.

He enrolled at Notre Dame in 1942 and took over the quarterback duties midway through the 1943 season when fellow Heisman winner Angelo Bertelli was activated by the Marines.

After that season, Lujack began his own stint in the military and served for nearly three years in the Navy during World War II, including time on a naval ship that hunted for German subs in the English Channel.

Returning to the Irish in 1946, he became a back-to-back consensus All-American his junior and senior years in South Bend, leading Notre Dame to another pair of national crowns.

|

NOT R E

DAME

Among the highlights of his career was a famous tackle he made late in the 1946 season when No. 2 Notre Dame took on No. 1 Army and 1945 Heisman winner Doc Blanchard and eventual 1946 Cadet winner Glenn Davis.

In a battle dubbed the “The Game of the Century,” Blanchard was sprinting down the field with an eye on scoring the game’s first points when Lujack brought him down with a solo tackle, ultimately preserving a 0-0 tie.

As he did in high school, Lujack lettered in four sports for the Irish, receiving varsity status in baseball, football, basketball, and track. In addition to winning the Heisman, he was named Associated Press Athlete of the Year in 1947. Ahead of the 1947 season, Lujack was featured on Life magazine’s cover.

Drafted with the fourth pick of the 1948 NFL draft, Lujack played four years with the Chicago Bears, leading the team in scoring each year, tying a record with eight interceptions as a rookie, throwing for a record 468 yards in one game in 1949 and playing in the NFL Pro Bowl his last two seasons.

An Irish backfield coach for two years following his retirement in 1952, Lujack then ran an automobile dealership in Davenport, Iowa, until he retired in 1988.

Lujack is survived by his children, Mary and Jeff. His wife, Patricia Ann “Pat” passed away in 2022. The couple was married for 74 years. Johnny and Pat’s daughter, Carol, passed away in 2002.

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1945

Felix ‘Doc’ Blanchard ARMY FULLBACK 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.

1 2 3 4 5

1945 Blanchard

1946 Davis

1947 Lujack

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

1946 Glenn Davis

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.

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1 2 3 4 5

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

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1948 Walker

1949 Hart

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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. He passed away in July 2023. John Lujack was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1960.

1 2 3 4 5

John Lujack, Notre Dame Bob Chappius, Michigan Doak Walker, SMU 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,

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YEARS

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.

1 2 3 4 5

Doak Walker, SMU 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.

1 2 3 4 5

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

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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.

1 2 3 4 5

Victor Janowicz, Ohio State Kyle Rote, SMU 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

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Kazmaier Associates, Inc., a family investment company. He served as a Trustee of Princeton University, and as Chairman of 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.

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

1952 Billy Vessels

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. Billy Vessels was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1974.

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

1951 Kazmaier

1953 John Lattner

NOTRE DAME RUNNING BACK

1950 Janowicz 1952 Vessels

John scored 20 TDs and 120 points for the Fighting Irish, 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. The 195-pound, smack-over halfback turned in fine performances in showcase games against top caliber teams: Oklahoma, Purdue, Southern Cal, and Iowa. During his time at Notre Dame, the team lost only three times in three years. John played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, served for two years in the Air Force (1955–57), then took up coaching at St. Joseph High School and later Denver University. In 1962, he opened Lattner’s Steak House in Chicago—where his Heisman Trophy was always proudly on display­—as well as a second restaurant called Marina City.

John was VP of sales for PAL Graphics, was active in fundraising for many charities, and 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.

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

1954 Alan Ameche WISCONSIN FULLBACK 1953 Lattner

1954 Ameche

This stampeding fullback played in 37 games over four years, scored 25 touchdowns, gained 3,345 scrimmage yards, and was mainly responsible for 26 Badger victories between 1951–54. Able to play 55 or more minutes per game, he earned 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.

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

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65 TH NFF ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER PRESENTED BY LAS VEGAS - Held on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at the ARIA Resort & Casino, it is “THE” place to connect for the college community. Hosts the induction of the College Football Hall of Fame Class, the recognition of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class presented

by Fidelity Investments, and the announcement of the William V. Campbell Trophy® recipient.

NFF COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME - Inducting the greatest players and coaches in the history of college football.

NFF WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL TROPHY® AND NATIONAL SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARDS - Awarding the William V. Campbell Trophy® to college football’s top scholarathlete. Honoring the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class presented by Fidelity Investments. Bestowing postgraduate scholarships and recognizing faculty athletics representatives.

@ N F F N et wo r k

NFF FUTURE FOR FOOTBALL® - Celebrating the positive impact the game has made on millions of players, coaches, administrators, volunteers and fans nationwide.

NFF CHAPTER NETWORK - Distributing $1 million in scholarships annually and holding local events to promote amateur football through 120 chapters in 47 states.

NFF NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS AND HATCHELL CUP - Recognizing the nation’s top high school football programs for their efforts in the classroom, on the field and in the community via the National High School Academic Excellence Awards, presented by Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, and the Hatchell Cup, presented by “The Original” Bob’s Steak & Chop House, which is awarded to the best team in the nation.

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1955 Howard Cassady

OHIO STATE RUNNING BACK

“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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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

1958 Pete Dawkins

1955 Cassady

1956 Hornung

1957 Crow

ARMY RUNNING BACK

Pete, the 69th 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 TDs, caught 27 passes for 716 yards and scored 158 points, leading the Cadets to an undefeated season. Class President and Cadet First Captain, Pete then attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, playing on the rugby team for three years. He also attended Princeton, receiving 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 24 years, Pete retired from the Army. After several years on Wall Street, he ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate, and then served for over 20 years in executive positions in Primerica Corporation, Travelers, and Citigroup. Pete is 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.

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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, Oakland Raiders, and the Kansas City Chiefs.

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, had 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.

1958 Dawkins

1959 Cannon

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

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1960 Bellino

1961 Davis

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. While semi-retired, Joe worked in the automobile industry, specializing in the wholesale auto auction and consumer leasing business. He was Director of National Accounts for ADESA Boston, Director of the Northern Bank and Trust Company, and was active in many charities in the New England area. He served over 28 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.

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

1961 Ernest Davis

1962 Baker

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.

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

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1964 Huarte

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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.

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

1963 Roger Staubach NAVY QUARTERBACK

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

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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.

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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.

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

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UCLA salutes 1967 Heisman Trophy winner Gary Beban on his honor and offers congratulations to this year’s winner of the Heisman Memorial Trophy.

1965 Mike Garrett

USC RUNNING BACK

In three years with the Trojans, Mike gained 4,876 yards in rushing, passing, receiving, punt returns, and kickoff returns. His 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 founded a community-based educational program for underprivileged children. He returned to his alma mater 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.

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

1966 Steve Spurrier

1967 Beban

FLORIDA QUARTERBACK “Super Steve” broke many Florida and Southeastern Conference records in a 31-game career. He completed 392 passes out of 692 attempts for 4,848 yards, including 37 TDs and 442 yards rushing. The first 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 and throwing 5 TD 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. He was the winningest coach in Florida history with a record of 122-27-1 for 12 years; his team won the SEC title in ‘90–91, ‘93–96, 2000 and the National Championship in 1996. As the winningest football coach at the University of South Carolina, his teams qualified for a Bowl game all nine years, with a 2010 Eastern Division title. In 2011 he led them to their best record, 11-2. He won nine Conference Coach of the Year awards and the Davey O’Brien Legends Award. 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).

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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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

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and in 1977, to the 49ers. Following his pro career, Pat was successful as an insurance and tire company executive in 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.

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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. The Johnny Rodgers Career and Technical Education Scholarships at Metropolitan Community College Foundation assist low-income and first generation students entering the career and technical trades programs at Metropolitan Community College, a comprehensive, public community college that offers two-year associate degrees and apprenticeship training programs.

Johnny Rodgers was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2000.

1970 Plunkett 1971 Sullivan

1972 Rodgers

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

1973 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.

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

1973 Cappelletti

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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 thirty-three 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.

1974

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

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

1975

1976 Tony Dorsett

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

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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 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.

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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.

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

1978 Billy Sims

1974–75 Griffin

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.

1977 Campbell

1976 Dorsett 1978 Sims

OKLAHOMA RUNNING BACK

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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. He passed away in January 2023. Charles White was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1996.

1979 White

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

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Remembering

Charles White 1979

HEI S MAN

Charles White, the 1979 Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Southern California who remains the Trojans’ alltime leading rusher, died earlier this year on January 11th in Newport Beach, Calif., of cancer. He was 64.

A College Football Hall of Famer and a member of the Trojans’ 1978 national championship team who played nine seasons in the NFL, White was USC’s third Heisman Trophy winner. He suffered late in life, battling dementia in addition to cancer. He was quoted in 2022 by the L.A. Times as poignantly saying, “I know I once did something good, something great, something fantastic for USC.” White grew up in Los Angeles, California, raised by his grandmother Bertha Leggett, and attended San Fernando High, about 25 miles northwest of USC, where he would become a star tailback. He rushed for 6,245 career yards, then the No. 2 mark in NCAA history and still USC’s record, while scoring 49 touchdowns. A 4-year USC letterman (1976-77-78-79) and 2-time unanimous All-American (1978–79), he set 22 NCAA, Pac-10, USC and Rose Bowl records. He captained the 1979 Trojans while leading the nation in rushing. As a senior in 1979, he also won the Walter Camp, Maxwell and Pop Warner Awards.

He was a 3-time All-Conference first teamer (1977-78-79), was USC’s team MVP in 1978 and 1979 and won the 1978 Voit Trophy while finishing fourth in the Heisman voting as a junior. He was USC’s rushing leader in 1977 (1,478 yards), 1978 (1,859 yards) and 1979 (2,050 yards), as well as the school’s scoring leader in 1978 (86 points) and 1979 (114 points) and kickoff return leader in 1976 (295 yards). He had 31 career 100-yard rushing games, including 10 in 1979.

WINNE R

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White’s Heisman season featured four games in which he rushed for over 200 yards, and another three of 185 yards or more. He averaged over eight yards a carry. The 1978 and 1979 Rose Bowl Player of the Game, he is a member of the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.

In the 1979 Rose Bowl win over Ohio State, White rushed for 247 yards (still the Rose Bowl record) on a whopping 39 carries and scored the winning touchdown with 1:32 left in a 17-16 win.

USC went 42-6-1 during his 4-year career, won the 1978 national title and was victorious in 4 bowls (including 3 Rose Bowls).

White was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996. He made the Pac12 All-Century Team in 2015. He also was a hurdler on USC’s 1979 track team.

A first round pick in the 1980 NFL Draft, White played with the Browns (1980–84) and Rams (1985–88). He led the league in rushing in 1987 with 1,374 yards and 11 touchdowns on 324 carries. He returned to USC in 1990 as a special assistant to the athletic director and in 1993, he became an assistant football coach in charge of the Trojan running backs (a position he held through 1997). He then held an administrative job at USC. “He was the toughest player I’ve ever coached,” said John Robinson, White’s former USC and Rams head coach. “He was really unusual in that regard. He was a great player and just loved playing the game. Those are the things I remember the most. He was a really tough guy, and he was an extremely gifted athlete.

But the toughness…wow!”

White was survived by his ex-wife Judianne White-Basch, their children Nicole White, Julian White, Tara White, Ashton White, Sophia White, and granddaughter Giovanna Hemmen.

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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 groundgainers. 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.

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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 Washington

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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.

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Marcus Allen, USC

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

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.

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Herschel Walker, Georgia John Elway, Stanford Eric Dickerson, SMU 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

1981 Allen

1980 Rogers 1983 Rozier

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.

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

1984 Doug Flutie

1982 Walker

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, three-time 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 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.

1984 Flutie

BOSTON COLLEGE QUARTERBACK

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

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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.

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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

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24 touchdowns. His completion percentage was 63.6, but even 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.

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

1987 Tim Brown

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.

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

1988

Barry Sanders

1985 Jackson

1986 Testaverde 1987 Brown

OKLAHOMA STATE RUNNING BACK

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. He also broke 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 TDs scored record with 39 in just 11 games. He added 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 the Cowboys were awaiting the final game of the season. He was the Detroit Lions’ 1st round pick in the 1989 draft and continued to mesmerize defenses with his awesome speed, versatility, and evasive maneuvers. Named 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). A ten-time Pro Bowl selection and an eight-time all-NFL and Pro Bowl player, he retired 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.

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

1989 Andre Ware UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON QUARTERBACK

1988 Sanders

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. He 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.

1989 Ware

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

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The New York Giants Congratulate This Year’s Heisman Award Winner

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

Legendary logo design.

joebosack.com

1990 Ty Detmer BYU QUARTERBACK Ty was the brilliant junior quarterback of the BYU Cougars. To football fans who love the aerial game, Gifford Nielson, Marc Wilson, Jim McMahon, Steve Young, and Robbie Bosco are in the pantheon of great passing quarterbacks.

Add Ty Detmer to this list. “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 No. 1 ranked Miami, Ty passed for more than 400 yards in a stunning 28–21 upset. He rallied his team to a 50–36 victory over Washington State in a game where BYU was 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 Heisman-record 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.

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1991 Howard

1990 Detmer

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

1991 Desmond Howard

1992 Torretta

MICHIGAN RECEIVER

1994 Salaam

The 5-foot-10 junior sensation 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 to Notre Dame, an early Wolverine surge had run out of steam; the Fighting Irish were poised to take the lead. On a crucial fourth-down-and-inches play, Wolverine QB Elvis Grbac launched a high floating spiral, Desmond raced under it, leaped and cradled the ball in his out-stretched hands for the touchdown and the win. The play is enshrined in Michigan lore as “The Catch.” In every game Desmond made dazzling receptions, ran kickoffs back with reckless abandon and facility for using his blockers to full open-field advantage, and carried the ball brilliantly on widesweeping reverses. He 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.

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

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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.

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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 grad-

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uating 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.

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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. He was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2022.

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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 Eddie George

OHIO STATE RUNNING BACK

Eddie was Ohio State’s sixth Heisman winner. 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 12 points per game. He rushed for over 100 yards in eleven-straight games after gaining 99 in the Kickoff Classic against Boston College, doing all of this while rarely playing more than three quarters. Eddie’s finest game was at home 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: “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. Eddie George was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2011.

1 2 3 4 5

1995 George

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

1996 Danny Wuerffel

1997 Woodson

FLORIDA QUARTERBACK

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

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At 6-feet 2-inches and 212 pounds, Danny is the second Gator, and the first Heisman winner whose head coach, Steve Spurrier, was also a recipient of the Trophy. Danny led the Gators to the National Championship title in 1996 with a 12-1 record, beating FSU 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, with only 13 interceptions.

Danny graduated from the University of Florida 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 is now Executive Director of Desire Street Ministries, based in Atlanta, Georgia, working with leaders to revitalize underresourced neighborhoods through spiritual and community development.

Danny Wuerffel was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2013.

1996 Wuerffel

1999 Dayne

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1997 Charles Woodson

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1999

Ron Dayne

MICHIGAN CORNERBACK

At 6-feet 2-inches and 200 pounds, Charles garnered numerous post-season honors including First Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association. The exciting junior cornerback finished the season with 8 interceptions. He was 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 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.

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.

1 2 3 4 5

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

1998 Ricky Williams

TEXAS RUNNING BACK

The 6-foot, 225-pound running back is the second Texas Longhorn to win the Heisman Trophy. Ricky also garnered numerous postseason 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.

1 2 3 4 5

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

WISCONSIN RUNNING BACK

1 2 3 4 5

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

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. 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.

1 2 3 4 5

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

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2001 Eric Crouch

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2003

Jason White

NEBRASKA QUARTERBACK

At 6-feet 1-inch and 200 pounds, Eric 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, 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 him 29 for his career. He ran for more than 100 yards six times, and guided his team into the top 10 each year he was QB. 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 where he resides 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.

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.

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

At 6-feet 5-inches, the experienced, strong-armed Palmer was a four-year 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). He finished his USC season with a win at the 2003 Orange Bowl where he was selected as the MVP. He was 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 2018. Carson Palmer was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2021.

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

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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 firstever 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.

1 2 3 4 5

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

2001 Crouch

2006 Troy Smith

2002 Palmer

2003 White

2004 Leinart

OHIO STATE QUARTERBACK

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

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

2006 Smith

2007 Tebow

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. He is the third quarterback from Florida to win the Heisman 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 25th overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft. Tim’s primary focus off the field is the Tim Tebow Foundation, established in 2010 to bring faith, hope, and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour.

The foundation fulfills this mission 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 pursued a career in professional baseball with the New York Mets organization. Tim Tebow was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2023.

2005

1 2 3

2005 Winner Declared Ineligible Vince Young, Texas Matt Leinart, USC

4 5

Brady Quinn, Notre Dame Michael Robinson, Penn State

1 2 3 4 5

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

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2008 Sam Bradford OKLAHOMA QUARTERBACK Sam became the fifth Oklahoma player—and second-consecutive sophomore­—to win the Heisman. Sam’s combined 53 TDs 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 was selected as the first overall pick in the 2010 draft by the St. Louis Rams and was named the 2010 NFL Rookie of the Year.

1 2 3 4 5

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

2009 Mark Ingram

ALABAMA RUNNING BACK

In his sophomore season, Mark became Alabama’s first Heisman winner as he helped lead the Crimson Tide to their 13th national title. Mark was the sixth player to win both the Heisman and a National Championship in the same season since 1950. He 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, and 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.

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

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2010

Cam Newton

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.

1 2 3 4 5

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

2011 Robert Griffin III BAYLOR QUARTERBACK

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.

1 2 3 4 5

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

2009 Ingram

2012 Johnny Manziel

2008 Bradford

2011 Griffin III

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.

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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

2013 Jameis Winston

2010 Newton

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.

2012 Manziel

2013 Winston

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

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2014 Marcus Mariota UNIVERSITY OF OREGON QUARTERBACK

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2016

Lamar Jackson

LOUISVILLE 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.

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. 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. He was selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens.

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

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

2015 Derrick Henry

2017 Baker Mayfield

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.

Baker won Oklahoma’s sixth Heisman with 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 and took his first trip to New York as a Heisman finalist. Mayfield saved his best season for last, throwing for 4,340 yards with 41 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions, 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.

ALABAMA RUNNING BACK

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

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

2015 Henry

2018 Kyler Murray OKLAHOMA QUARTERBACK

2014 Mariota

2016 Jackson

2017 Mayfield

Kyler won Oklahoma’s seventh (and second consecutive) Heisman with a remarkable season, accumulating 4,946 yards of total offense and 51 touchdowns, 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. 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. Passing for 4,054 yards and 40 touchdowns, with another 892 yards and 11 scores on the ground, he lead 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. 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.

2019 Burrow

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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.

2018 Murray

1 2 3 4 5

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

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2020 Smith

2021 Young

CONGRATULATIONS to the 2023 Heisman Trophy Winner as well as all of tonight’s honorees!

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2022 Williams

HEISMAN

2023

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C ELE B R AT ING

2020 DeVonta Smith

ALABAMA WIDE RECEIVER

Smith is the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard in 1991 and the first non-quarterback-orrunning back to win the Heisman since cornerback Charles Woodson won in 1997. The 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 second-best. 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. DeVonta Smith was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1st round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

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

2021 Bryce Young

ALABAMA QUARTERBACK Bryce Young won the 2021 trophy following a prolific sophomore season, throwing for 4,322 yards on 314-of-462 passing (68.0%) as a first-year starter. He tossed 43 TDs and just four interceptions, leading Alabama to a 12-1 record, the 2021 SEC championship and to the top seed in the College Football Playoff.

As a 2020 freshman he served as the back-up to 2020 Trophy finalist Mac Jones as the Crimson Tide won the national title.

He played in nine games as a freshman reserve, throwing for 156 yards and one score. He took over the Alabama offense as a sophomore, starting all 13 games. His 43 TD passes were

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the second-most nationally in the regular-season (including the SEC title game) while his passing yards were fourth-most and his quarterback rating of 175.53 was fifth-best. He ran for three TDs, threw for five TDs in a game three times, including against Arkansas, when he also set the Alabama school record with 559 passing yards. He also set SEC Championship records with 421 passing yards and 461 yards of total offense, earning game MVP honors. Young threw for over 300 yards in nine games on the season and threw at least two TD passes in all 13 games, including nine games with three or more and five with four or more. He led the Crimson Tide to a CFP semifinal win over Cincinnati, throwing for 369 yards and three scores, before Alabama fell in the national title game to Georgia. Bryce Young was selected by the Carolina Panthers as the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

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Bryce Young, Alabama Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh C.J. Stroud, Ohio State Will Anderson, Alabama

2022 Caleb Williams USC QUARTERBACK

Caleb Williams, USC’s seventh Heisman winner, also won the Maxwell and Walter Camp Awards and 2022 AP Player of the Year. He threw for 4,075 yards on 296-of-448 passing (66.1%) with a national co-leading 37 touchdown passes against just four interceptions. His passing yards was fourth-most nationally, his quarterback rating (167.94) was fifth-best and his passing yards per game (313.5) were sixth-best. Williams enrolled at Oklahoma in the spring of 2021 and became the Sooners’ starting quarterback by mid-season. He transferred to USC as a sophomore, following Head Coach Lincoln Riley who took over the Trojans in 2022 after his time at Oklahoma. Williams led USC to an 11–2 season after the Trojans went 4–8 in 2021. He finished the regular season third nationally in total offense with 4,447 yards with a total that broke USC’s school record (4,225, 2017).

He also rushed for 372 yards (the most at USC in at least 70 years) on 109 carries with a team-best 10 TDs. Williams’ 47 total touchdowns led the country, as did his 282 points, while his total touchdowns were a school record. He threw for over 300 yards seven times, including twice over 400 yards. Williams completed his season in record-setting fashion at the Cotton Bowl Classic, throwing for 462 yards and five TDs—both bowl game records— in a tough 46-45 loss to Tulane.

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Caleb Williams, USC Max Duggan, TCU C.J. Stroud, Ohio State Stetson Bennett, Georgia Hendon Hooker, Tennessee

2023 HEISMAN JOURNAL

103

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2023 HEISMAN FINALISTS

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Bryce Young

DeVonta Smith

Joe Burrow

2021 Heisman Winner

2020 Heisman Winner

2019 Heisman Winner

Kyler Murray

Baker Mayfield

Lamar Jackson

2018 Heisman Winner

2017 Heisman Winner

2016 Heisman Winner

Derrick Henry

Marcus Mariota

Jameis Winston

2015 Heisman Winner

2014 Heisman Winner

2013 Heisman Winner

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