2024 Heisman Trophy Trust Journal

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THE NEW 12-TEAM CFP BEGINS DECEMBER 20

HEISMAN JOURNAL

TRUSTEES

Michael J. Comerford, President

James E. Corcoran

William J. Dockery

Anne F. Donahue

N. Richard Kalikow

Brian D. Obergfell

Carol A. Pisano

Daniel W. Reed

Marva A. Smalls

Sanford Wurmfeld

Vasili Krishnamurti Trustee Emeritus

Honorable John E. Sprizzo 1934–2008

HEISMAN STAFF

Robert B. Whalen

Heisman Executive Director

Timothy Henning

Heisman Associate Director

Rudy J. Riska (1936–2021)

Executive Director Emeritus

HEISMAN CONSULTANTS

Angela Vallott

Trust Consultant

Paul Goldberg

Heisman.com Editor-In-Chief

Donna Koppinger, Mary Jane Moran, Mike Wieneke

Event Consultants

Bob Garguilo

VIP Guest Liaison

Brianna Klinger

Journal Coordinator

Rich O’Sullivan, Neal Surrena

Travel Consultants

2024 STUDENT INTERNS

Brendan Bumgardner, Hunter Carroll, Matt Powers, Eamon Shaffer

HEISMAN WEEKEND SUPPORT STAFF

Megan Austin, Ryan Boyle, Olivia Danosky, Brian Dombrowski, Lori Evon, Anna Fiordilino, Jason Fridge, Jeff Gandolfo, Mark Gandolfo,

Mike Garcia, Dante Giraldi, Dillon Henning, Kelly Henning, Brittany Judson, Yestro Luciano Jr., Brendan McGuinness, Matthew McGuinness, Max Nager, Angelo Pegno, Stephanie Pryor, Rachel Robins, Anna Ruth Riggins, Robbin Seipold, Dolan Shaffer, Jimmy Slattery, Kimberly Terranella, Liam Whalen, Robbie Whalen, Thomas Wood

HEISMAN WEEKEND PHOTOGRAPHERS

Aaron Cruz, Catherine Kiernan, Todd Van Emst

HEISMAN OFFICE

111 Broadway, Suite 100 New York, NY 10006

P (212) 425-7000 | F (212) 269-4547

www.Heisman.com

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CONGRATS TO ALL THE FINALISTS AND HONOREES YOUR TIME HAS COME

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

Tim Henning Associate Director

Rob Whalen Executive Director

Marva A. Smalls

Brian D. Obergfell

Vasili Krishnamurti Trustee Emeritus

James E. Corcoran

Michael J. Comerford President

William J. Dockery

N. Richard Kalikow

Honorable John E. Sprizzo 1934–2008

Anne F. Donahue

Daniel W. Reed

Carol A. Pisano

Sanford Wurmfeld

HEISMAN TRUST STAFF

TROPHY TRUST - BOARD OF TRUSTEES

MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM • ATLANTA

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the 90th Annual Heisman Memorial Trophy Legends Luncheon. Today, we gather to celebrate a truly extraordinary milestone—90 Years of Heisman Legends. For nine decades, the Heisman Trophy has stood as a beacon of athletic excellence, marking the careers of some of the most legendary figures in the history of college football. It’s a tradition steeped in greatness, defined by athletes who didn’t just play the game—they transformed it. As we honor this year’s Heisman Trophy winner, we equally celebrate the incredible fraternity of Heisman Winners in this room—each one a symbol of what it means to rise to the highest levels of sport, to inspire, and to leave a lasting legacy.

We are especially proud to recognize our 2024 Heisman Humanitarian, Misty Copeland. As the first African American female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theater, she shattered longstanding barriers in the world of classical ballet and has become a powerful advocate for empowering underserved youth. She embodies the spirit of perseverance, leadership, and community that defines the Heisman mission.

2024 has been another banner year for the Heisman Trust. In addition to awarding the iconic trophy, we’ve expanded our impact off the field. Our marketing campaigns have connected fans in fresh and exciting ways, further elevating the Heisman brand while underscoring our dedication to youth development and charitable giving. We launched new digital initiatives to engage the next generation of sports enthusiasts and continue to build on our legacy of giving back to the community.

At its core, the Heisman Trust remains deeply committed to its charitable mission: supporting youth development programs that instill values of teamwork, sportsmanship, and academic excellence in underserved communities throughout our country. This year, our contributions to those programs surpassed $2.5 million, bringing our total donations to more than $28 million to date. Following a recent partnership with the California Community Foundation, our reach now extends to the West Coast, in addition to our longstanding support of programs in New York City’s five boroughs, Westchester County, Long Island, Newark, Atlanta, and Dallas.

Our work would not be possible without the support of our invaluable partners—Nissan, ESPN, Jostens, and Deloitte—whose continued commitment allows us to make a difference in the lives of young people across the country. We are also thrilled to welcome our newest sponsor, AXIA Time, as the official timepiece of the Heisman Trophy. We thank them for standing with us as we advance our mission.

I extend my sincere gratitude to Rob Whalen and Tim Henning of the Heisman staff for their unwavering dedication to managing the Trust’s daily operations and to my fellow Trustees for their guidance and support of the Trust. I also wish to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of the Heisman Weekend team members and volunteers who make this annual celebration successful.

On behalf of the Heisman Trophy Trust, I wish you all a joyful holiday season and good health in the New Year. We look forward to many more years of celebrating Heisman Legends and giving back to our communities.

Enjoy the brunch and the program ahead.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Comerford President, Heisman Trophy Trust

GRIFFIN 50 Years

Archie Griffin

HEISMAN 50TH ANNIVERSARY HONOREE

Before Archie Griffin made history, he made history. Many, many times. Records fell quicker in Columbus than the yellow Mulberry leaves in autumn when Griffin blew through in Scarlet and Gray. That’s just the way it went with The Arch, a Columbus native and favorite son celebrating this year the 50th anniversary of his 1974 Heisman Trophy. Griffin is, of course, the only man who won two Heismans. A year from now, he’ll become the only Heisman winner to twice celebrate the 50th anniversary of winning the bronze statue. But we’re going to focus on Heisman 1.0. Heisman 2.0 was just as exciting, but it’s hard to beat the original, right?

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Griffin was born on August 21, 1954 at what is now The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, a mere one-mile walk from Ohio Stadium, where he was reborn as a Buckeye legend a couple decades later. One of eight children with six brothers and a sister, Griffin was raised by his parents James Sr. and Margaret Griffin, who moved the family to Ohio from West Virginia not long before Archie was born. His father, a standout athlete and boxer as a young man, juggled three jobs—sunrise to midnight—to support the 10-person household. His mother ran a small market attached to their first Columbus home while working equally hard at home juggling their eight children.

The family had moved to Linden, a short commute from campus, when Griffin started at Eastmoor High and helped the Warriors to a pair of Columbus City League championships. As a prep senior, Griffin rushed for 1,787 yards and scored 29 touchdowns in 11 games, including 267 yards on 31 carries in the title game against LindenMcKinley High.

Archie Griffin was not an athletic outlier in the household. In fact, all seven Griffin boys earned football scholarships while his sister, Krystal, earned a track scholarship. All eight earned college degrees, too. Griffin was initially leaning toward attending Northwestern but chose Ohio State so his parents could more easily see him play. They had already been driving to Louisville, Muskingum and Akron to watch his older brothers play and if Griffin played at Columbus, well that eased the burden a bit. A dinner with Woody Hayes during the recruiting process helped sealed the deal as well.

1972 marked the first year freshmen were allowed to play, and Griffin burst onto the scene with a then-Ohio State single game rushing record with 239 yards against North Carolina in his second career game. That was a big chunk of

by Paul Goldberg

his 867 yards gained as a freshman, helping the Buckeyes to the first of four straight Big Ten titles and Rose Bowl appearances. In 1973, Griffin became the first Buckeye sophomore to rush for over 1,000 yards, gaining 1,577 yards while earning All-American first team honors. Ohio State, ranked first most of the season, pounded USC in the Rose Bowl and finished 10–0–1. But a 10–10 tie to Michigan in the earlier Big Ten finale cost them a national title. Griffin finished fifth in the 1973 Heisman voting while linebacker teammate Randy Gradishar was sixth. Of the top 10 finishers, only Griffin and third-place Texas junior Roosevelt Leaks returned in 1974. But Leaks was injured during spring ball and limited as a senior, leaving Griffin as a strong Heisman favorite.

Archie did not shrink from the pressure. Ohio State opened 1974 on the road, the first time it didn’t start a season at home since 1912. It didn’t slow the No. 4 Buckeyes, who defeated Minnesota 34–19 on September 14, in what would be the Buckeyes’ closest game for two months. Griffin kicked off the Heisman campaign with 133 yards and a score on the game’s first possession, breaking Jim Otis’s school record (2,542) for career yards in the win. It was his 12th straight 100-yard effort, a streak that would reach an NCAA record 31 the following season.

Ohio State hosted Oregon State a week later in its home opener and trounced the Beavers, 51–10. Griffin gained 134 yards on just 16 carries and scored once as 10 Buckeyes ran the ball for 386 yards. One was Archie’s younger brother Ray, who made his freshman debut with 37 yards and two fourth-quarter scores. SMU visited Columbus on September 28 and Ohio State, now ranked No. 1, downed the Mustangs, 28–9, with Griffin running for 156 yards on 24 carries, scoring twice.

OSU made a rare trip west for an October 5 date against Washington State, defeating the Cougars, 42–7, in a game played in Seattle. Griffin posted a season-high 196 yards on 21 carries, scoring once. That set up the Buckeyes’ first big test of the season as they returned to Columbus for an October 12 home date against No. 13 Wisconsin in front of a record crowd of 87,717. But after a Badgers’ score to open the game, it was all Ohio State, which won 52–7. The only drama in the game was whether Griffin would maintain his 100-yard streak, which he clinched in the fourth quarter, finishing with 112 yards on 18 carries. Indiana visited the following week and Ohio State remained a rude host,

GRIFFIN

dismantling the Lee Corso-coached Hoosiers 49–9. Griffin rolled again, rushing for 146 yards on 22 carries and scoring twice, breaking Purdue running back Otis Armstrong’s Big Ten career rushing mark in the process, moving to 3,321 career yards. Griffin and the Buckeyes closed October with a 55–7 road win at Northwestern where the junior rushed for 173 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown.

Ohio State moved to 8–0 with a 49–7 home win over Illinois on November 2. The uneventful blowout was noteworthy for two reasons: Hayes earned his 200th career coaching win and Griffin became the first player to rush for at least 100 yards in 18 straight games with 144 yards and two scores.

The following week, the Buckeyes traveled to East Lansing to take on a 4–3–1 Spartan team that was a four-touchdown underdog. In a controversial game dubbed the Bizarre Bowl by Sports Illustrated, Michigan State upset Ohio State, 16–13 that November 9th. Griffin had 140 yards on 23 carries but failed to score for the first time of the season. The Spartans scored two touchdowns in the game’s final six minutes to take a late lead. The Buckeyes tried to rally and marched to within a half yard of the end zone in the game’s final seconds as the clock ran. A controversial and frantic final play in which Ohio State appeared to score off a bobbled snap that may or may not have been snapped late was ultimately disallowed after a 46-minute delay—adjudicated by the Big Ten Commissioner who was in attendance. The Buckeyes dropped to No. 4 but took out their frustrations a week later with a 35–10 road win at Iowa to move to 9–1. Griffin powered to 175 yards on 23 carries with a score.

All attention soon turned to the regular-season finale against Ohio State’s big rival—That Team Up North—set for November 23 with No. 3 Michigan visiting Columbus with the Big Ten title on the line. Without scoring a touchdown, the No. 4 Buckeyes downed the Wolverines, 12–10. Griffin ran for a game-high 111 yards though it was Buckeye kicker Tom Klaban who accounted for all of OSU’s points thanks to four field goals.

Griffin’s Heisman credentials were unrivaled. He finished the regular season with 1,620 yards and 12 scores on 236 attempts, averaging 6.86 per carry while leading Ohio State to its third straight Rose Bowl. Archie Griffin became the Heisman’s 40th winner and Ohio State’s fourth recipient in a runaway, finishing with 1,920 points (including 483 first-place

votes), more than twice that of USC’s second-place Anthony Davis (819). Oklahoma running back Joe Washington was third (661). Griffin was the fifth junior to win the award and the first since Navy quarterback Roger Staubach 11 years earlier. He also won the first of two Walter Camp Awards and the second of two Big Ten MVP honors.

The ensuing Rose Bowl was a matchup of the Heisman winner and runner-up as Griffin’s Buckeyes met Davis’ Trojans in Pasadena. In a back-and-forth game for the ages, USC defeated Ohio State 18–17 on a late fourth-quarter Pat Haden TD pass and two-point conversion. Neither Heisman Top 2 finisher cracked 100 rushing yards or scored, Griffin finishing with 75 yards to Davis’s 67. A year later, Archie Griffin became the first, and still only, person to win consecutive Heisman Trophies after another brilliant season, but more on that next year. Excluding bowl games, Griffin finished his NCAA career with 5,177 yards on 845 carries with 26 touchdowns. He remains Ohio State’s career rushing leader and still owns two spots in the Buckeyes’ top 10 charts for most yards in a season and most yards in a game.

Archie graduated with a degree in industrial relations and became a first-round pick of Cincinnati in 1976, kicking off a seven-year career with the Bengals, which included reaching the 1981 Super Bowl. He joined the staff at Ohio State following his pro career and worked in the Athletic Department for two decades. He was also president of the Ohio State University alumni association for 11 years.

Archie Griffin was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986 and into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1990. He saw his Number 45 officially retired by Ohio State in 1999 on the quarter-century anniversary of his first Heisman win. Still active in the Ohio State community, he was honored this year with a statue unveiled outside Ohio Stadium on August 30. A day later at the Buckeyes’ season opener, he became the first Ohio State player to ever “Dot the i” in the Buckeyes’ band pregame performance.

Perhaps no one but Woody Hayes himself summed up better Griffin’s contributions to Ohio State, once saying: “He’s a better young man than he is a football player, and he’s the best football player I’ve ever seen. He’s also the most popular player we’ve ever had, by far.” Congratulations to Archie Griffin, the Heisman Trophy 50th Anniversary winner. See you again next year!

Ron Dayne

HEISMAN 25TH ANNIVERSARY HONOREE

There’s being the big man on campus, and then there’s being Ron Dayne. The Heisman Trophy’s 25th Anniversary Award winner from Wisconsin cast a Paul Bunyan-sized shadow on college football—if we can borrow an analogy from the Badgers’ rival state. No? Then let’s settle on the NCAA’s Big Cheese. However you slice it, Ron Dayne dominated the discourse during the late 1990s in Madison, where he became a living legend during four seasons at Camp Randall.

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At 5-10, Dayne hit the scales in the vicinity of 270 pounds but could run a 40-yard-dash like a sprinter, attributes that beg for nicknames. There was the Dayne Train and Great Dayne. But to defensive players who saw No. 33 barreling downhill at them, it was more like Ron “I dare you to tackle me” Dayne. And few could do it without help. Dayne’s rushing exploits at Wisconsin under head coach Barry Alvarez were so prolific he broke the NCAA rushing record as a senior, shattering 1998 Heisman winner Ricky Williams’s one-year-old mark. If, when Dayne played, the NCAA counted bowl game stats to tabulate career records, he would still be the official rushing king of Division 1 football. That said, anyone with a remote tie to Badger sports considers Dayne rushing royalty anyway, crown or not, no asterisk needed.

Born in Blacksburg, Virginia, Dayne came from humble beginnings, extended family and close friends helping to raise he and his sister in New Jersey. He attended Overbrook High in Pine Hill, NJ, where he dominated both on the gridiron and on the track. He rushed for 1,566 yards as a prep junior and 1,785 yards as a senior, scoring a combined 51 touchdowns as an upperclassmen. On the track, he won state titles in both the shot put and discuss with nationally ranked marks.

Dayne was recruited chiefly as a fullback, understandably. Some schools even pegged him as a potential lineman. But Alvarez saw in Dayne the potential to follow in the footsteps of the many big backs that had been making big waves in football like Notre Dame’s Jerome Bettis and Pitt’s Craig Heywood. And Alvarez nailed it. Dayne is softspoken by nature, but his play spoke volumes. He proved to be an instant smash at Wisconsin, setting NCAA freshman records for rushing yards (1,863) and carries (295) and tying Heisman winner Herschel Walker’s NCAA freshman mark of four 200-yard games. He ran for 246 yards in Wisconsin’s 1996 bowl win, giving him a Big Ten record 2,109 yards. He gained 1,457 yards as a sophomore (including 36 in a bowl

by Paul Goldberg

loss) in 10 games in the most modest season of his four-year Badger run. As a 1998 junior, he led Wisconsin to an 11–1 record and a Rose Bowl win over UCLA, where he ran for 246 yards and four scores. For the season, he rushed for 1,525 yards (including the bowl game). Dayne flirted with the idea of turning pro after the big game against the Bruins, but returned to college as a 1999 senior to complete a historically epic career.

Dayne did not crack the 1998 Heisman Top 10 voting. But as Heisman aspirations go, all returning players caught a break as the top 10 1998 Heisman vote-getters all moved on to the NFL. That left Dayne on the short list of Heisman favorites as a senior. The Badgers opened the 1999 season against a pair of overmatched foes, defeating Murray State, 49–10, and Ball State, 50–10. Dayne had a combined 293 yards and four touchdowns in the pair of blowouts. Game 3 saw him turn in a season-high 231 yards on 28 carries and one touchdown, but the No. 9 Badgers fell to host Cincinnati, 17–12, three turnovers costing Wisconsin dearly, including two fourth-quarter fumbles.

A week later, Dayne and Wisconsin hosted No. 5 Michigan in the Big Ten opener and lost another one-score affair, 21–16, losing to a Wolverine team led by quarterback Tom Brady for the second year in a row. Dayne had 88 yards and scored once, but didn’t gain a yard in the second half on eight carries. The second straight loss, and Dayne’s inability to come up big, were an early blow to his burgeoning Heisman campaign. But the schedule offered a perfect platform to generate momentum—an away date at Ohio State. Things looked bleak at the outset as the Buckeyes raced to a 17–0 lead. But Wisconsin scored the game’s final 42 points for a 42–17 win that kickstarted a winning streak that would culminate in Pasadena. Dayne ran for 161 yards on 32 carries against Ohio State and scored a career-high-tying four touchdowns, all in the second half, to lead the Badgers to the first of five wins over ranked teams in the final two months of the season.

Wisconsin stayed on the road the following week for a date with rival No. 18 Minnesota. Dayne posted a season-low 80 yards and one score but every bit helped as the Badgers outlasted the Gophers in their first-ever overtime game, 20–17. It also gave Wisconsin its first-ever back-toback wins over ranked opponents as the Badgers maintained possession of the border rivalry’s trophy, the Paul Bunyan Axe. Back in Madison the next week, Dayne ran for

DAYNE 25 Years

167 yards on just 17 carries while scoring twice—all in the first half—as the Badgers blanked Indiana, 59–0. Dayne became just the fifth running back in NCAA history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in four straight seasons. Tony Dorsett is the only other Heisman winner to do it.

Wisconsin welcomed Nick Saban-coached Michigan State the next week and took on the Spartans’ top-ranked rushing defense. The Badgers shredded it as Dayne ran for 214 yards on 34 carries and two scores, Wisconsin breezing to a 40–10 win. Saban praised Dayne after the game, saying: “There’s been some other guys that are a little more flashy. Sometimes because of their great speed or big-play ability or whatever, they flash to you and impress you. But down in and down out, he’s just a tough guy to deal with and a tough guy to tackle. He’s about as good as anybody I’ve ever seen.”

Dayne passed USC Heisman winner Charles White for third place on the career NCAA rushing chart against the Spartans and moved to within 483 yards of Williams’ record with three games to go. A road date at unranked Northwestern was not as pretty as the previous handful of wins as the Badgers were out-gained by the Wildcats. But they were not outscored, as Dayne rushed for 162 yards on a season-high 35 carries and two scores in the 35–19 victory. His late 5-yard run iced the game and tied the Big Ten career record for rushing scores at 68. A game behind Penn State in the race for another Rose Bowl berth, Wisconsin traveled to No. 17 Purdue for a November 6 date against the Drew Brees-led Boilermakers. Dayne ran for 222 yards on 32 carries in a 28–21 win and the Badgers outlasted Brees and his 350 passing yards. Coupled with Penn State’s first loss of the year, Wisconsin was now tied atop the Big Ten.

The Heisman race was tilting heavily in Dayne’s favor at this point, and it set him up for an epic Senior Day in Madison. Not only was a potential Big Ten title on the line, but an NCAA rushing record was also in sight. Wisconsin welcomed a one-win Iowa team into Camp Randall and the game was as one-sided as one might imagine, a 41–3 romp that clinched the Badgers’ second straight Rose Bowl. That helped the focus remain on Dayne, who was cheered by some 80,000 Wisconsin fans waving white “Dayne 33” towels. After a quiet first quarter, the crowd erupted in the second when Dayne broke Williams’ NCAA career rushing record on a 31-yard burst. He finished with 216 yards on 27 carries, ending the historic day with 6.397 yards, 118 more than

his soon-to-be Heisman fraternity brother. The game also marked Dayne’s 11th 200-yard rushing game, matching the NCAA mark shared by Williams and another Heisman winner, USC’s Marcus Allen. After the game, the school unveiled his No. 33 on the Camp Randall Stadium press box, a hint at a jersey retirement that came a few years later.

The Heisman voting was a formality as Dayne got 586 of the 921 first-place votes and finished with 2,042 points, well-ahead of second-place Georgia Tech quarterback Joe Hamilton (944). Virginia Tech freshman QB Michael Vick was third (319), Brees fourth (308). Dayne, who became a father during his time at Wisconsin, had 2-year-old daughter Jada with him in New York when he accepted the Badgers’ second Heisman Trophy. “If I’m having a bad day at practice or I’m having a bad day at school, I can look at her and forget all about it,’’ said Dayne. “I want to thank Jada for being the biggest inspiration in my life.’’

Dayne also won the Maxwell, Walter Camp and Doak Walker Awards that December ahead of Wisconsin’s second straight Rose Bowl. On the first day of the new century, Dayne and Wisconsin defeated Stanford, 17–9. Dayne was named Rose Bowl MVP for the second straight season, rushing for 200 yards and a third-quarter 4-yard TD. In the Badgers’ consecutive Rose Bowl wins, he rushed for a combined 446 yards, and is the only Big Ten player in history to win back-to-back Rose Bowl MVP awards. Ron finished his college career with—including bowl games—7,125 yards and 71 touchdowns. He was taken 11th overall by the New York Giants in the 2000 NFL Draft and played seven seasons in the league, including four in New York, one in Denver and two in Houston. He finished with 3,722 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Dayne’s No. 33 was officially retired by Wisconsin in 2007. He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 2011 and into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013. And in 2018, he officially graduated from Wisconsin after returning to school to complete a handful of outstanding credits that remained after he started his professional football career. Dayne’s daughter Jada earned her own slice of Heisman history by become a 2015 Heisman Scholarship finalist ahead of her four-year career as a women’s soccer player at Michigan. Dayne’s son Javian graduated from Boston College, where he also played running back. Congratulations to our Heisman Trophy 25th Anniversary winner, Ron Dayne!

DAYNE

MARIOTA 10

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Marcus Mariota

HEISMAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY HONOREE

On December 13, 2014, Marcus Mariota became the first Oregon Duck to win the Heisman Trophy and the first player born in Hawaii to hoist the statue. He also became the first player to give a Heisman-winning speech draped in leis. Mariota’s 2014 Heisman win felt similar to how one felt watching Oregon’s offense with him under center—overwhelming and inevitable. The Heisman voting mirrored that feeling as Mariota won the award with the third-highest vote total in Heisman history while he appeared on a record 95.2% of ballots. The Mariota-quarterbacked Ducks played with similar dominance during his tenure in Eugene, but his road to the Pacific Northwest, let alone to New York City a decade ago, comes from humble roots. Ha’aha’a is the Hawaiian word describing modesty and humility, being unpretentious and unassuming while being open to learning new things. By all accounts, it’s the spirit that embodies our 10-year anniversary Heisman winner.

Marcus Mariota grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, with his Samoan father, Toa, and Hawaiian-raised mother, Alana. He attended Saint Louis High School, two miles from tourist mecca Waikiki and its friendly beaches. The school was also a 10-mile drive to Sandy Beach, nicknamed “Breakneck Beach” thanks to its onslaught of surf. That’s where Mariota and his friends hung out, riding powerful waves as easily as a duck on a pond. A fast kid with a big arm and quick feet, Mariota—when not bodysurfing—grew up playing soccer and football. He had a gifted goal-scoring foot, but his love of football won out and he joined the Saint Louis football team as a quarterback.

Mariota spent three years as a backup before getting his shot as a 2010 senior. And from there, he simply took flight. Mariota threw for 2,597 yards on 165-of-255 passing, tossing 34 touchdowns and just five interceptions while leading the Crusaders to an 11–1 record and a state championship. Had Oregon’s staff not been out to Oahu a year earlier to recruit then-Saint Louis starter Jeremy Higgins, the lightly scouted Mariota likely would never have been a Duck. But then-assistant coach and future head coach Mark Helfrich did pay a visit to watch Higgins—and did take note of the younger quarterback who was dominating the team sprints. A seed was planted, which grew into an idea when Mariota impressed at the Ducks’ camp before his senior year. It then sprouted into a scholarship offer after Mariota blossomed as a senior.

Mariota arrived in Eugene in the midst of a football renaissance at Oregon. Under Head Coach Chip Kelly, the Ducks had become the top duck, er dog, in the Pac-12. As a

by Paul Goldberg

2011 true freshman, Mariota watched from the sidelines as junior Darron Thomas led the Ducks to a 12–2 season and a Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin. When Thomas declared for the NFL, it opened up a quarterback competition in Eugene. Backup Bryan Bennett was the favorite, but whispers of Mariota’s arm and athleticism were growing. An 82-yard touchdown run in Oregon’s Spring Game let Oregon’s fan base—and the college football world—in on a little secret only the Ducks’ staff had known. Oregon had a superstar in the making waiting to play QB.

As a first-year starter, Mariota was named the 2012 Pac12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and became the league’s first freshman QB to earn first-team honors in 23 years. He led the Ducks to a 12–1 record and a Fiesta Bowl win, passing for 2,677 yards and 32 touchdowns while rushing for 752 yards and five more scores. Numerous school and Pac-12 records fell. There was no sophomore slump for Mariota in 2013. With Helfrich now head coach, Mariota and the Ducks remained an offensive juggernaut. Marcus passed for 3,665 yards and 31 TDs with just four interceptions while rushing for 715 yards and nine scores, leading Oregon to an 11–2 mark and an Alamo Bowl win over Texas. He was a Manning Award finalist and finished ninth nationally in total offense, but curiously did not crack the top 10 in Heisman voting.

Most of the 2013 Heisman top 10 moved on to the NFL. But winner Jameis Winston, as a redshirt sophomore, returned and he and Mariota were among the handful of 2014 preseason favorites. Marcus kicked off his junior season by playing only a half of football as Oregon dismantled South Dakota, 62–13. In the first and second quarters, Mariota passed for 267 yards and three scores and also ran one in. His first big test as a Heisman favorite came in Week 2 as No. 7 Michigan State visited Eugene. The Spartans looked like they might spoil the early-season vibes, taking a 28–17 third-quarter lead. But Mariota didn’t flinch and led the Ducks to 28 consecutive second-half points as Oregon won 46–27. He finished with 317 passing yards and three scores, breaking the school’s career passing touchdown and total offense records in the process. After the win, Helfrich gushed: “I should have to pay to watch that guy play. It’s just unbelievable to watch him train, to watch him prepare, and then to see him come to fruition in this game. We think very highly of Marcus.”

Week 3 brought a visit from Wyoming. The Ducks used a 41–0 scoring burst to win 48–14 in a game that featured 15- and 19-yard Mariota touchdown runs and a couple of TD passes off his right arm. Pac-12 North rival Washington

MARIOTA

State tested the No. 2 Ducks in Week 4 but Oregon won 38–31 thanks to Mariota’s late 6-yard fourth-quarter TD pass. Sacked seven times, he still completed 21-of-25 passes for 329 yards and five TDs; it was the second time in his career he had more touchdown passes than incompletions. Week 5 saw Arizona upset second-ranked Oregon for the second year in a row, this time 31–24 on the Ducks’ home turf. Mariota completed 20-of-32 passes for 276 yards and also caught a 26-yard touchdown, but the Ducks defense couldn’t get a late stop, nor could Marcus engineer a last-minute scoring drive.

A trip to Pasadena helped Marcus and No. 12 Oregon get their mojo back. The Ducks raced to a 42–10 fourth quarter lead at the Rose Bowl and coasted to a 42–30 win over No. 18 UCLA. Mariota completed 17-of-27 passes for 210 yards and two TDs and rushed for 75 yards, also scoring twice on the ground. The Ducks’ 42 points kicked off a nine-game win streak in which they would score at least that many in each game. Mariota began to put a vice grip on the Heisman race. Oregon moved to 6–1 with a 45–20 victory over Washington, Marcus passing for 336 yards and two scores in a breezy win over its rival. A week later, he became Oregon’s all-time passing leader, guiding the Ducks to an explosive 59–41 win over California. He threw for 326 yards and tossed five touchdowns—as well as his first interception of the season, one of only two he’d have on the year.

Mariota threw two scores and ran for two scores the next week to lead No. 5 Oregon to a 45–16 win over Stanford, which had beaten the Ducks the previous two seasons. He rushed for 85 yards (and threw his second and final interception of the season). The Ducks clinched the Pac-12 North on November 8 with a 51–27 late-night win at Utah. Marcus passed for 239 yards and three TDs and ran for 114 yards on 18 carries (both season highs) with a late 1-yard score that sealed the win. He celebrated his final game at Autzen Stadium on November 15 with a 44–10 win over Colorado as the Ducks amassed a season-high 597 yards of offense. That included Mariota’s 323 passing yards and three TDs as well as 73 yards rushing and another score. The effort made him just the sixth FBS player in history to pass for at least 9,000 yards and rush for 2,000 or more yards in a career.

Oregon closed its regular-season with a 47–19 win over Oregon State in the Civil War. Mariota helped the Ducks run away from the Beavers as quickly as he was running away with the Heisman, throwing for 367 yards and four scores

and rushing for two more. He also surpassed 4,000 yards in total offense for the second time in his career. Marcus made a convincing closing argument for Heisman votes in the Pac-12 title game against Pac-12 South champ Arizona, helping the Ducks avenge two straight losses to the Wildcats with a 51–13 win. He passed for two touchdowns and ran for a career-high three to go with 346 yards of total offense. Oregon clinched a spot in the College Football Playoff with the win.

Eight days later, Marcus Mariota won the Heisman, garnering 2,534 points—more than twice as many as secondplace running back Melvin Gordon of Wisconsin. Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper finished third. Mariota was listed first on 788 of 928 ballots, then the third-most in Heisman history. Marcus gave thanks in his Heisman speech to his Oregon teammates and coaches as well as to his Hawaiian roots and family. Back in Honolulu, they packed his high school to watch the ceremony live. Said Marcus during his remarks: “To Hawaii nei [beloved Hawaii], thank you for teaching me humility and respect. Two aspects of my life that I will never change. To the Polynesian community, I hope and pray that this is only the beginning. Young Poly athletes everywhere, you should take this as motivation, and dream big and strive for greatness.”

On January 1, Mariota led Oregon to a 59–20 CFP semifinal win over Florida State, passing for 338 yards and two scores while rushing for another. That set up a title game tilt with Ohio State, but despite Mariota’s 372 yards of total offense, the Ducks fell to the Buckeyes, 42–20. Mariota finished his career as Oregon’s record holder for career total offense (13,033), passing yards (10,796), completions (779), TD passes (105), rushing yards by an Oregon quarterback (2,237), completion percentage (66.8%), total TDs (136) and total points accounted for (816). He was taken second by Tennessee in the 2015 NFL Draft after fellow Heisman winner Winston went first to Tampa Bay. Now in his 10th year in the NFL, Mariota has over 16,000 career passing yards and began 2024 with 110 combined passing and rushing TDs. He started four years for the Titans and another for Atlanta. Shortly after beginning his NFL career, Mariota and his parents established the Motiv8 Foundation, which provides a wide range of support for Oahu youth, an organization that has helped thousands. Congratulations to Marcus Mariota, our Heisman Trophy 10-Year Anniversary winner!

Misty Copeland 2024 Heisman Humanitarian

Rising to fame as the first African American female principal dancer at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre, Misty Copeland has dedicated her career to breaking countless barriers in the world of ballet. However, what truly sets her apart, in addition to her many accomplishments as a transformative figure in dance, is her unwavering commitment to giving back and creating opportunities for underserved communities. This commitment has earned her the distinct honor of being named the recipient of the 2024 Heisman Humanitarian Award.

Beyond her remarkable career in dance, Misty’s passion lies in giving back. She has mentored young people from underserved backgrounds and worked with various charitable organizations to promote social justice and inclusion in the arts. In 2014, she was appointed to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition by President Obama, where she advocated for healthy lifestyles and youth engagement. Through her work, Misty has become a strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, helping to ensure that future generations have the opportunities and resources to thrive.

Misty’s charitable work continued to grow, and in 2021, she created a foundation of her own, the Misty Copeland Foundation. The Foundation was created to pursue social justice initiatives through the arts, advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in ballet, and provide opportunities for children in under-resourced communities to learn through dance.

In the fall of 2022, the Foundation launched the BE BOLD (Ballet Explorations, Ballet Offers Leadership Development) program to further its mission. This comprehensive after school program, designed for children ages 6–12, empowers disadvantaged youth to experience the joy

by Hunter Carroll

of dance and the fundamentals of ballet, focusing on movement, technique, vocabulary, and etiquette while emphasizing social and emotional skill development.

The impact of the BE BOLD program is evident, with students demonstrating growth in leadership, curiosity, kindness, persistence, and an appreciation for dance and music. The majority of instructors reported increased self-awareness, emotional understanding, engagement with ballet terminology, body expressiveness, and enhanced social and emotional skills such as decision-making and teamwork.

With accolades such as being named one of TIME’s 100 most influential people, receiving the Dance Magazine Award, the 2018 Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY Awards, the Princess Grace Award, an NAACP Image Award, and being named one of Glamour’s Women of the Year in 2015, Copeland’s career has been nothing short of illustrious.

The Heisman Trophy Trust is honored to present Misty Copeland with the 2024 Heisman Humanitarian Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions as an advocate for children in underserved communities. As a groundbreaking figure in the world of dance and in our community, Misty Copeland embodies the true spirit of the Heisman Humanitarian Award.

LEGENDS LEGENDS A HISTORIC CELEBRATION

As the exclusive manufacturer and supplier of the Heisman Trophy and Heisman Ring, Jostens is honored to partner with the Heisman Trophy Trust for the 90th celebration of this iconic award.

CONGRATS TO THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE HEISMAN FRATERNITY, AND TO THE HEISMAN TRUST ON 90 YEARS OF LEGENDS!

OF

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.

2023 SOLOMON THOMAS

New York Jets Defensive Lineman Solomon Thomas founded The Defensive Line (TDL) with his parents, Chris and Martha, in honor of his older sister Ella who passed by suicide. TDL focuses on promoting communication and connection around suicide prevention through a variety of means: educating adults about youth suicide, increasing language and conversation skills, creating safe spaces for honest and vulnerable conversations, and improving systemic approaches within schools. TDL offers training and support to schools and other organizations in their efforts to prevent suicide and support mental health, teaching 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. TDL also bridges the gap between existing mental health resources and individuals in crisis, helping adults become better equipped to have difficult conversations and connect to resources. Data from TDL’s suicide prevention workshops 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 build connections between young people and the adults who serve them, ultimately seeking to end the epidemic of youth suicide and create a safer, more supportive environment for young people of color. www.thedefensiveline.org

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 monthlong 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

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. www.wearedream.org

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 five children’s picture books: Alan and His Perfectly Pointy Impossibly Perpendicular Pinky (2013), The Invisible You (2014), Grandpa Alan’s Sugar Shack (2017), Bee Love (Can Be Hard) (2020), and Baking Up Love (2025). 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 All-Star selections and the 1971 MVP, Torre is best remembered as one of the most successful managers of all-time. Torre won four World Series rings in five years with the New York Yankees in the late 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

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 8,500 wishes and raised over $43 million. 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, widely regarded as one of the best female soccer players of all time, became the youngest woman to play with the U.S. National Team at age fifteen. An Olympic gold and silver medalist, she won 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 won ESPN’s ESPY Awards for Female Athlete of the Year and Soccer Player of the Year, and is a part owner of both LAFC and Angel City FC, a National Women’s Soccer League expansion team. Mia 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 expanding opportunities for young women in sports.  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. CiC 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. 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.

The Heisman Trophy has long stood as a symbol of excellence in college football, but its mission extends far beyond the field. Through its charitable initiatives, the Heisman Trophy Trust is committed to empowering young people and strengthening communities across the nation. Over the past 20 years, the Trust has assisted in funding programs that foster academic success, leadership development, and athletic engagement, aiming to inspire future generations to excel in all aspects of life. This commitment is exemplified through partnerships with community foundations and organizations that share its vision of creating meaningful opportunities for youth—a vision brought to life through the Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund.

Charity News2024

This year, the Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund continued its expansion efforts in Los Angeles through its longstanding partnership with the New York Community Trust. Established in 1924, the NYCT is one of the largest community foundations in the United States. Together, the Fund awarded a grant to the California Community Foundation to support local charities in Los Angeles.

Renewal grants were also awarded to the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and the Communities Foundation for North Texas to continue their impactful work. Additionally, the New York Community Trust and its divisions maintained their commitment to supporting organizations across New York City, Long Island, Westchester County, and Newark, New Jersey.

Here we highlight a few of the programs that the Heisman Trust supports through the Heisman Fund for Youth Development at New York Community Trust.

In Los Angeles, under the California Community Foundation, grants were awarded to several organizations, including:

Proyecto Pastoral, founded in 1986, offers grassroots projects in education, leadership, and service aimed at empowering the Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights. Their IMPACTO after-school program offers comprehensive academic and social support to underserved youth. The program provides free academic tutoring, organized sports, and enrichment activities that help youth build life skills and enhance their education. Through its focus on community-building, IMPACTO empowers students to excel academically while promoting positive social development and community engagement.

The Sloane Stephens Foundation aims to use tennis and education to change the narrative of poverty, health inequity, and educational underdevelopment. Their ‘Love, Love Compton’ program uses tennis and academic tutoring to support at-risk youth in Compton. The

program offers tennis coaching, educational resources, and social-emotional support to middle and high school students, aiming to reduce barriers to participation in the sport. In addition to developing tennis skills, the program fosters academic success, leadership, and personal growth, ultimately empowering youth in a challenging environment.

Team Prime Time offers after-school programs to at-risk youth in Los Angeles, combining sports, academics, leadership, and arts to help students reach their full potential. The organization’s Peer:Pair structure matches student coaches with student athletes, allowing them to play and practice as a unit, ultimately fostering lasting relationships and personal growth. Serving a population that includes students with disabilities, Team Prime Time provides a supportive and inclusive environment where students can develop leadership, social, and academic skills through recreational and educational activities.

Under the New York Community Trust, grants were awarded to many organizations, including:

The Evans Scholars Foundation, founded in 1930, provides high school students with academic support, jobs as golf caddies, and full college scholarships to 24 partner colleges. Students with strong academic records and caddie experience can compete for scholarships that cover tuition, housing, and fees. The Foundation’s focus is on fostering academic success and personal development, offering paid employment, tutoring, SAT prep, and life skills workshops to help young people succeed in both school and life.

The Prescod Institute for Sport, Teamwork, and Education is dedicated to introducing youth in Brooklyn to the sport of fencing while promoting discipline, problem-solving, fitness, and respect. Its Fencing Academy offers year-round training, academic support, and enrichment programs such as art, journalism, and music. The Institute serves 600 young people annually, providing them with opportunities for competition, leadership development, and mentorship, aiming to equip them with both athletic and academic skills for long-term success.

Through the Communities Foundation of Texas, funding was provided to a number of organizations including:

Behind Every Door offers a variety of programs aimed at helping people in South Dallas discover their gifts and pursue their potential. Through its community centers, it provides after-school enrichment, sports programs, and educational services for youth, along with employment training for adults. The Cedar Crest Community Center, a central hub in the area, offers sports facilities, health clinics, and classroom space for academic programs, all designed to support the well-being and development of local residents.

Fierce Beauties Football League empowers girls aged 5 to 18 through a combination of flag football, selfdefense, and educational support. The League provides a structured environment where participants build physical fitness, self-esteem, and leadership skills while

receiving academic support. By focusing on character development and academic achievement, the League helps young women break stereotypes, succeed in school, and excel both on and off the field.

The Southside Hornets Athletic Association provides a positive outlet for youth in Fort Worth’s underresourced communities through sports and academic programs. The Association combines athletics with cognitive and emotional support, STEM education, and leadership development. Serving youth from a diverse range of backgrounds, the program helps young people build resilience, improve their academic performance, and develop critical life skills in a supportive environment.

The Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund engaged in a thorough review process, including site visits and evaluations of programs and organizations, ensuring impactful recommendations across all regions. These grants will support year-round programs offering academic support, leadership development, and various sports, including baseball, boxing, flag football, golf, lacrosse, pickleball, swimming, and track and field. Collectively, these efforts will create meaningful opportunities for thousands of young people in communities nationwide.

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.

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

The Heisman Trophy Trust has proudly supported the following organizations and their charitable missions:

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

Brothers in Arms

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

Elkhorn Athletic Association

Els for Autism

Emerging Scholars Program

Emily K Center

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dallas

Trident Swim Foundation

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.

Fund for Israel’s Tomorrow

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

INTERVARSITY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

Island Harvest

Israel Community Service Program, Inc.

Jameis Winston’s Dream Forever Foundation

JDRF Minnesota & Dakotas

Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation

JFCS of the Suncoast, Inc

Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund

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

Kaleidoscope

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

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

NC School of Science and Math 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

Special Olympics

Rock the Boat

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 Defensive Line

The Eileen Fund, Corp.

The Louisville Urban League Inc

The Tamara & Edward George Legacy Fund

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

Evans Scholars Foundation

Figure Skating in Harlem

First Tee New York

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

Jewish Community Center of Staten Island

KING Kids United

Kings County Tennis League

Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club

Madison Square Boys & Girls Club

Mission Society of New York City

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

Behind Every Door

Beyond the Ball

Bridge Lacrosse

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dallas

Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Texas Commerce Sports League

Dallas Leadership Foundation

Diamond Hill Northside Youth Athletic Association

Dallas Tennis Association

Distinctly His Ministries

Elevate Your Game Summer Camp

Fierce Beauties Football League

Girls on the Run DFW Metroplex

Kernow Storm Futbol Club MetroSoccer Program launch

Mercy Street

Puede Network

Rae’s Hope

Southside Hornets Athletic Association

Wesley Rankin Community Center

New Heights Youth

New Rochelle Basketball Association

New York Junior Tennis and Learning

Peace Players International

Peter Westbrook Foundation

Play Rugby USA

Playworks Education Energized

Prescod Institute for Sport, Teamwork, and Education

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

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

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

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

Access Youth Academy

Boys and Girls Club of Whittier

Proyecto Pastoral

Sloane Stephens Foundation

Team Prime Time

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.

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 triplethreat 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 38 and 39. 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, 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 2024 Heisman ballots were distributed on December 2 and were due back to Deloitte by December 9 at 5:00pm EST. There were 928 votes for 2024.

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 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

SECTIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

FAR WEST

SOUTHWEST

MIDWEST

SOUTH

NORTHEAST

MID ATLANTIC

Robert S. Hammond

Laramie Boomerang/WyoSports.net | Laramie, WY

Dave Campbell (1925–2021)

Waco Tribune-Herald | Waco, TX

Bob Hammel

Bloomington News | Bloomington, IN

Lee Corso

ESPN | Orlando, FL

Don Criqui

CBS Sports | New York, NY

Dick Weiss

Blue Star Media/NY Daily News | Philadelphia, PA

so later the winner was further honored at a large, formal dinner in New York to which all former Heisman winners were invited. At this gala banquet, replete with renowned personalities in sports, entertainment, and politics, the actual award was presented, with appropriate remarks from the winner and his coach.

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

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

2024 STATE REPRESENTATIVES

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 Travis Hines - Ames Tribune

KANSAS Kellis Robinett - Wichita Eagle

KENTUCKY John Clay - Lexington Herald Leader

The following year, the DAC returned to the traditional format of announcing and presenting the Heisman winner. At that time, Pannell Kerr Forster tallied the balloting for the awards. The DAC was notified of the Heisman results on November 28, and the media was informed of the winner at a press conference that day. In order to maintain some element of suspense, the winners of the other six DAC Awards were revealed at the Heisman Dinner and Presentation that was held on December 7. They would be the last group so honored; in 1979 the Heisman Committee decided to discontinue the six special DAC Awards and only give out the Heisman Memorial Trophy.

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

Due to the impact of COVID-19, there were no in-person events 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.

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-Dispatch

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 Luke DeCock - Raleigh News & Observer

NORTH DAKOTA Abe Winter - The Bismarck Tribune

OHIO Jeff Gilbert - PressProsMagazine.com

OKLAHOMA John Hoover - Sports Illustrated Sooners

OREGON Gary Horowitz - KBZY Radio

PENNSYLVANIA Bob Flounders - PennLive.com

SOUTH CAROLINA David Cloninger - The Post and 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

1.

2. The finalists receive their Heisman plaques from Mike Comerford, President of the Heisman Trophy Trust, as well as ESPN’s Holly Rowe and Mike Colleran of Nissan North America.

3. Guests gather for the pre-ceremony reception at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

4.

5.

2023 Heisman Finalists (L to R) Jayden Daniels, Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix, and Marvin Harrison Jr. pose with ESPN’s Holly Rowe.

(L to R) Danny Wuerffel (1996), Steve Spurrier (1966), and Tim Tebow (2007) pose with Steve’s wife Jerri and their grandson Palmer.

2023 Heisman Finalists pose for a picture with the Heisman Trophy at the Edge.

6. 2023 Heisman Finalists (L to R) Daniels, Harrison Jr., Nix and Penix Jr. pose with the Heisman Trophy at the press conference ahead of the announcement.

7. (L to R) Billy Sims (1978), Troy Smith (2006), Mike Rozier (1983), Al Dennis, and George Rogers (1980).

8. George Cheng and Katelyn Matarese, 2023 National Winners of the Heisman High School Scholarship, in front of the Hard Rock Times Square before the scholarship award ceremony.

9. 2023 Heisman Finalists visit the Edge with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, as Holly does her best at striking the famous Heisman pose.

10. Tim Tebow (2007) and Johnny Rodgers (1972) at the Heisman welcome reception.

11. Mike Rozier (1983) poses with young fans ahead of the 2023 Heisman Trophy Ceremony.

10. Jayden poses with young fans at the 89th Annual Heisman Dinner Gala. 3 4 7

1. The 2023 Heisman Trophy announcement at Jazz at Lincoln Center, where the finalists are joined on stage with previous winners in attendance.

2. Jayden, his family, and coach Brian Kelly take his trophy out to Times Square.

3. Daniels appears in advertisements in Times Square after winning the Heisman Trophy.

4. 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels posing with his trophy at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt.

5. Jayden embraces his mother, Regina Jackson, following the 2023 Heisman announcement.

6. Daniels poses with LSU head coach Brian Kelly.

7. Crowds gather in Times Square to congratulate Jayden following the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

8. 2023 finalists and former winners share hugs and laughs on stage at the ceremony.

9. Daniels and LSU head coach Brian Kelly pose with the Heisman Trophy in Times Square.

5. 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels with Johnny Rodgers (1972) and Jim Plunkett (1970).

6.

7.

1. Troy Smith (2006) signing autographs for fans ahead of the Heisman Dinner Gala.

2. Jayden Daniels poses with the Heisman Trustees ahead of the Heisman Dinner Gala.

3. Archie Griffin (1974/1975), Mike Garrett (1965), Gary Beban (1967), and Jim Plunkett (1970) ahead of the 89th Annual Heisman Dinner Gala.

4. Solomon Thomas receives the 2023 Heisman Humanitarian Award from Heisman Trophy Trustee, Sanford Wurmfeld.

1998 winner Ricky Williams speaks at the Heisman Dinner Gala as he celebrates his 25th anniversary.

Many former winners attended the 2023 Dinner Gala and welcomed Jayden to the Heisman fraternity.

The Heisman Trust thanks Nike for their support.

Congratulations to the 2024 Heisman Trophy Finalists

Marcus Mariota

2014 Heisman

2015 Rose Bowl Game

Archie Griffin

1974 & 1975 Heisman

1973, ‘74, ‘75, ‘76 Rose Bowl Games

Ron Dayne

1999 Heisman

1999 & 2000 Rose Bowl Games

We are excited to celebrate the anniversaries of these exceptional players and are honored to have been part of their Heisman journeys.

Heisman Hopefuls

Archie

Marcus

Heisman Legends BRUNCH 2024

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Heisman Trophy Trust Remarks

Anne Donahue & James Corcoran

VIDEO PRESENTATION

WELCOME

Kevin Negandhi, Master of Ceremonies, ESPN and ABC Sports

NATIONAL ANTHEM Performed by Holli’ Conway

VIDEO PRESENTATION - Heisman Trophy: The Early Years

WELCOME

Holly Rowe, Lead ESPN and ABC Reporter

VIDEO PRESENTATION - 2024 Heisman Trophy Trust Charities

HEISMAN WINNERS Q&A

Mike Garrett, Gary Beban, Jim Plunkett, Johnny Rodgers, Billy Sims

VIDEO PRESENTATION - Heisman Trophy: 60s & 70s

HEISMAN HUMANITARIAN AWARD

Introduction by Carol Pisano, Heisman Trophy Trustee

VIDEO PRESENTATION - Heisman Humanitarian

MISTY COPELAND 2024 Heisman Humanitarian Award Recipient

VIDEO PRESENTATION - Heisman Trophy: 80s & 90s

HEISMAN WINNERS Q&A

George Rogers, Mike Rozier, Doug Flutie, Gino Torretta, Charlie Ward, Danny Wuerffel, Ricky Willams

RON DAYNE: 25TH ANNIVERSARY 1999 Heisman Trophy Winner

VIDEO PRESENTATIONS

Nissan Heisman House Sizzle & Nissan Bloopers Reel

VIDEO PRESENTATION - Heisman Trophy: 2000 and Beyond

HEISMAN WINNERS Q&A

Eric Crouch, Troy Smith, Tim Tebow, Johnny Manziel

ARCHIE GRIFFIN: 50TH ANNIVERSARY 1974 Heisman Trophy Winner

Presentation of the 90th Annual Heisman Memorial Trophy

Michael J. Comerford, Heisman Trophy Trust President

TRAVIS HUNTER

University of Colorado 2024 Heisman Memorial Trophy Winner Acceptance of Trophy

The University of Connecticut marching band will provide today’s musical accompaniment

Travis Hunter

COLORADO

“I want to be an example for others that anything is possible. Keep pursuing your dreams.”

TRAVIS HUNTER

HUNTER

Colorado Cornerback & Wide Receiver

TRAVIS HUNTER

2024 HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER

For 90 years, Heisman winners have been setting examples for others in pursuit of their goals. On December 14, 2024, Travis Hunter joined the Heisman brotherhood and certainly proved the impossible—he is the first true twoway player to win the Heisman Trophy. Hunter joins 1994 winner Rashaan Salaam as the second winner from the University of Colorado.

It is fitting that Hunter won in the trophy’s 90th year, celebrating all the legends that have won before him. In 1935, John Heisman handed the first trophy—then known as the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy—to Jay Berwanger who had earned the nickname ‘Mr. Versatility’ for his ability to pass, run, and tackle. ‘Mr. Versatility’ is a name that also suits Travis Hunter, among the nation’s best offensive and defensive players of the season, playing nearly every snap at wide receiver and cornerback, respectively. Hunter finished the 2024 regular season with 92 catches, 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. On defense, he had four interceptions, 11 pass break-ups and forced one crucial fumble which secured an overtime win over Baylor. It was reminiscent of a different era, with Heisman legends like 1947 Heisman winner Johnny Lujack of the University of Notre Dame making a touchdown saving tackle on 1945 winner Felix ‘Doc’ Blanchard from Army.

Hunter’s accomplishments on both sides of the field also earned him his second straight Paul Hornung Award, presented annually to college football’s most versatile player and named after another Heisman legend, the 1956

by Brian Dombrowski

TRAVIS HUNTER

2024 HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER

winner from Notre Dame. And in another remarkable feat showcasing his versatility, Hunter became the first college player ever to win both the Bednarik and Biletnikoff Awards, given annually to the best defensive player and best wide receiver.

Across the Heisman’s history most winners have predominantly played offense, with Charles Woodson (1997) as the only true defensive player to ever win the award; Tim Brown, Desmond Howard, and DeVonta Smith are the only wide receivers. Travis Hunter will stand on his own for being college football’s most outstanding player while playing two positions.

Over the course of the season, Hunter struck the Heisman pose a number of times following key plays and touchdowns as he continued to be among the most dynamic players the game has ever seen. He recorded both an interception and a receiving touchdown in three games. Just as impressive was his performance against Utah, in which he had both an interception and a rushing touchdown on an incredible double reverse play.

With 688 defensive and 672 offensive snaps, he was the only FBS player to exceed 150 snaps on both sides of the ball. Hunter also achieved milestones that have not been recorded in over a generation: against rival Colorado State, he had 10 receptions, 100 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. In the final game of the season against Oklahoma State, Hunter became the first FBS player in 25 years to record three touchdowns and an interception in the same game.

John Heisman once shared that “Champions are made from something they have deep inside them—a desire, a dream, a vision.” Travis Hunter’s vision is to be the best, and in winning the 90th Heisman Memorial Trophy—as this generation’s Mr. Versatility—he proved he is the best. He now joins Salaam, Woodson, Berwanger, and nearly a century of Heisman winners who will forever be celebrated as legends.

David M. Rottkamp, CPA Partner, Nonprofit Services Leader

Lisa Rispoli, CPA, AEP, TEP

Partner, Trust & Estate Services Leader

Private

Client Services Leader

DAVIS • LUJACK • WALKER • HART • JANOWICZ • KAZMAIER • VESSELS • LATTNER • AMECHE • CASSADY • HORNUNG CROW • DAWKINS • CANNON • BELLINO • DAVIS • BAKER • STAUBACH • HUARTE • GARRETT • SPURRIER • BEBAN • SIMPSON

OWENS • PLUNKETT • SULLIVAN • RODGERS • CAPPELLETTI • GRIFFIN • DORSETT • CAMPBELL • SIMS • WHITE • ROGERS •ALLEN • WALKER • ROZIER • FLUTIE • JACKSON • TESTAVERDE • BROWN • SANDERS • WARE • DETMER • HOWARD • TORRETTA • WARD • SALAAM • GEORGE • WUERFFEL • WOODSON • WILLIAMS • DAYNE • WEINKE • CROUCH • PALMER WHITE • LEINART • BUSH • SMITH • TEBOW • BRADFORD • INGRAM • NEWTON • GRIFFIN • MANZIEL • WINSTON • MARIOTA HENRY • JACKSON • MAYFIELD • MURRAY • BURROW • SMITH • YOUNG • WILLIAMS • DANIELS • BERWANGER • KELLEY

FRANK • O’BRIEN • KINNICK • HARMON • SMITH • SINKWICH • BERTELLI • HORVATH • BLANCHARD • DAVIS • LUJACK • WALKER • HART • JANOWICZ • KAZMAIER • VESSELS • LATTNER • AMECHE • CASSADY • HORNUNG • CROW • DAWKINS • CANNON • BELLINO • DAVIS • BAKER • STAUBACH • HUARTE • GARRETT • SPURRIER • BEBAN • SIMPSON • OWENS • PLUNKETT • SULLIVAN • RODGERS • CAPPELLETTI • GRIFFIN • DORSETT • CAMPBELL • SIMS • WHITE • ROGERS • ALLEN

WALKER • ROZIER • FLUTIE • JACKSON • TESTAVERDE • BROWN • SANDERS • WARE • DETMER • HOWARD • TORRETTA WARD • SALAAM • GEORGE • WUERFFEL • WOODSON • WILLIAMS • DAYNE • WEINKE • CROUCH • PALMER • WHITE • LEINART • BUSH • SMITH • TEBOW • BRADFORD • INGRAM • NEWTON • GRIFFIN • MANZIEL • WINSTON • MARIOTA • HENRY

JACKSON • MAYFIELD • MURRAY • BURROW • SMITH • YOUNG • WILLIAMS • DANIELS • BERWANGER • KELLEY • FRANK O’BRIEN • KINNICK • HARMON • SMITH • SINKWICH • BERTELLI • HORVATH • BLANCHARD • DAVIS • LUJACK • WALKER HART • JANOWICZ • KAZMAIER • VESSELS • LATTNER • AMECHE • CASSADY • HORNUNG • CROW • DAWKINS • CANNON BELLINO • DAVIS • BAKER • STAUBACH • HUARTE • GARRETT • SPURRIER • BEBAN • SIMPSON • OWENS • PLUNKETT • SULLIVAN • RODGERS • CAPPELLETTI • GRIFFIN • DORSETT • CAMPBELL • SIMS • WHITE • ROGERS • ALLEN • WALKER • ROZIER • FLUTIE • JACKSON • TESTAVERDE • BROWN • SANDERS • WARE • DETMER • HOWARD • TORRETTA • WARD • SALAAM • GEORGE • WUERFFEL • WOODSON • WILLIAMS • DAYNE • WEINKE • CROUCH • PALMER • WHITE • LEINART • BUSH • SMITH • TEBOW • BRADFORD • INGRAM • NEWTON • GRIFFIN • MANZIEL • WINSTON • MARIOTA • HENRY

SMITH

YOUNG

WILLIAMS

KELLEY

FRANK

JANOWICZ • KAZMAIER

BAKER

SMITH

SINKWICH

VESSELS

STAUBACH

LATTNER

HUARTE

AMECHE

JACKSON MAYFIELD • MURRAY • BURROW

O’BRIEN KINNICK • HARMON

WALKER

HART

CAPPELLETTI

GRIFFIN

FLUTIE

JACKSON

GEORGE • WUERFFEL

TESTAVERDE

WOODSON

BROWN

WILLIAMS

STAUBACH

HUARTE

GRIFFIN

BROWN

DORSETT

SULLIVAN RODGERS

RODGERS CAPPELLETTI

SALAAM • GEORGE • WUERFFEL WOODSON • WILLIAMS • DAYNE • WEINKE • CROUCH • PALMER • WHITE • LEINART • BUSH • SMITH • TEBOW • BRADFORD INGRAM • NEWTON • GRIFFIN • MANZIEL • WINSTON • MARIOTA • HENRY • JACKSON • MAYFIELD • MURRAY • BURROW • SMITH • YOUNG • WILLIAMS • DANIELS • BERWANGER • KELLEY • FRANK • O’BRIEN • KINNICK • HARMON • SMITH • SINKWICH • BERTELLI • HORVATH • BLANCHARD • DAVIS • LUJACK • WALKER • HART • JANOWICZ • KAZMAIER • VESSELS LATTNER • AMECHE • CASSADY • HORNUNG • CROW • DAWKINS • CANNON • BELLINO • DAVIS • BAKER • STAUBACH • HUARTE • GARRETT • SPURRIER • BEBAN • SIMPSON • OWENS • PLUNKETT • SULLIVAN • RODGERS • CAPPELLETTI • GRIFFIN • DORSETT • CAMPBELL • SIMS • WHITE • ROGERS • ALLEN • WALKER • ROZIER • FLUTIE • JACKSON • TESTAVERDE BROWN • SANDERS • WARE • DETMER • HOWARD • TORRETTA • WARD • SALAAM • GEORGE • WUERFFEL • WOODSON WILLIAMS • DAYNE

WEINKE

PALMER

BRADFORD

INGRAM NEWTON

GRIFFIN

MANZIEL

WINSTON

BURROW

DANIELS

AMECHE

CASSADY

BERWANGER

BLANCHARD

HORNUNG

DAVIS

CROW

SINKWICH

VESSELS

SMITH YOUNG • WILLIAMS

LATTNER

HUARTE

GARRETT

SPURRIER

BEBAN

SIMPSON

GRIFFIN

OWENS • PLUNKETT • SULLIVAN • RODGERS • CAPPELLETTI • GRIFFIN • DORSETT • CAMPBELL • SIMS • WHITE • ROGERS • ALLEN • WALKER • ROZIER • FLUTIE • JACKSON • TESTAVERDE • BROWN • SANDERS • WARE • DETMER • HOWARD • TORRETTA • WARD • SALAAM • GEORGE • WUERFFEL • WOODSON • WILLIAMS • DAYNE • WEINKE • CROUCH • PALMER WHITE • LEINART • BUSH • SMITH • TEBOW • BRADFORD • INGRAM • NEWTON • GRIFFIN • MANZIEL • WINSTON • MARIOTA HENRY • JACKSON • MAYFIELD • MURRAY • BURROW • SMITH • YOUNG • WILLIAMS • DANIELS • BERWANGER • KELLEY FRANK • O’BRIEN • KINNICK • HARMON • SMITH • SINKWICH • BERTELLI • HORVATH • BLANCHARD • DAVIS • LUJACK WALKER • HART • JANOWICZ • KAZMAIER • VESSELS • LATTNER • AMECHE • CASSADY • HORNUNG • CROW • DAWKINS • CANNON • BELLINO • DAVIS • BAKER • STAUBACH • HUARTE • GARRETT • SPURRIER • BEBAN • SIMPSON

PLUNKETT • SULLIVAN

RODGERS

CAPPELLETTI

FLUTIE

WARD • SALAAM

GEORGE

JACKSON

WUERFFEL

WHITE

ROGERS • ALLEN WALKER • ROZIER

BROWN

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 4.2 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 Jay Berwanger, Chicago

2 Monk Meyer, Army

3 William Shakespeare, Notre Dame

4 Pepper Constable, Princeton

YALE END

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

and did well. The field of secondary education 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 Larry Kelley, Yale

2 Sam Francis, Nebraska

3 Ray Buivid, Marquette

4 Sammy Baugh, Texas Christian

5 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 passed away in July of 1992. Clinton Frank was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1955 and was the National Football Hall of Fame’s 1988 Gold Medal Recipient.

1 Clinton Frank, Yale

2 Byron White, Colorado

3 Marshall Goldberg, Pittsburgh

4 Alex Wojciechowicz, Fordham

5 Joe Kilgrow, Alabama

1938 Davey O’Brien

TEXAS CHRISTIAN QUARTERBACK

This 5-foot-7, 151-pounder sparked Texas Christian to an undefeated season his senior year. Davey threw 166 passes, completed 93 for 1,509 yards, 19 touchdowns and only four interceptions. 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 Davey O’Brien, Texas Christian

2 Marshall Goldberg, Pittsburgh

3 Sid Luckman, Columbia

4 Bob MacLeod, Dartmouth

5 Vic Bottari, California

1939 Nile Kinnick

IOWA RUNNING BACK

The Hawkeyes’ greatest player, Nile 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 totalled 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 “I thank God I was warring on the gridirons of the Midwest and not on the battlefields of Europe. I can speak confidently and positively that the players of this country would much more, much rather struggle and fight to win a Heisman award than a Croix de Guerre.” During World War II, Nile was a pilot attached to an aircraft carrier in the Caribbean. On June 2, 1943, he was killed in action after crashing his fighter in the ocean. Nile Kinnick was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1951.

1 Nile Kinnick, Iowa

2 Tom Harmon, Michigan

3 Paul Christman, Missouri

4 George Cafego, Tennessee

5 John Kimbrough, Texas A&M

Kelley

Kinnick

1940 Tom Harmon

MICHIGAN RUNNING BACK

In his three seasons, “Old Ninety-Eight” scored 33 touchdowns, kicked two field goals, kicked 33 extra points 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 take him down. He was arguably 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 from 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 plus broadcasts. Until Tom’s passing on March 15, 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 Tom Harmon, Michigan

2 John Kimbrough, Texas A&M

3 George Franck, Minnesota

4 Frankie Albert, Stanford

5 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 well over 200 pounds, he was one of the Big Ten Conference’s fastest men. In 1941, he led the Gophers to their second consecutive undefeated season and national championship. After graduation, the All-American halfback earned MVP honors in the College All-Star game against the Chicago Bears. The next year, before going off to fight in WWII, Smith went to Hollywood and starred in the movie Smith of

Minnesota, about a small-town family whose son becomes an All-American halfback. Smith went on to become a Navy fighter pilot, and also played service football for the Great Lake Navy team. Returning home in 1945, he signed with the Green Bay Packers and later the Los Angeles Rams. He played in the NFL for four years 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 Bruce Smith, Minnesota

2 Angelo Bertelli, Notre Dame

3 Frankie Albert, Stanford

4 Frank Sinkwich, Georgia

5 Bill Dudley, Virginia

1942 Frank Sinkwich

GEORGIA RUNNING BACK

Sinkwich is the first Georgia Bulldog to win the Heisman Trophy and the first Heisman winner to be born outside of the United States. Born in Croatia, Frank came to Georgia and led the team of 1939 to an unbeaten season as a freshman. 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 three 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 was in a Marine uniform when he accepted his Heisman Trophy. He played several seasons of 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 Frank Sinkwich, Georgia

2 Paul Governali, Columbia

3 Clint Castleberry, Georgia

4 Mike Holovak, Boston College

5 Bill Hillenbrand, Indiana

Angelo Bertelli

NOTRE DAME QUARTERBACK

As the first Heisman Trophy winner from Notre Dame, 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 Angelo Bertelli, Notre Dame

2 Bob Odell, Pennsylvania

3 Otto Graham, Northwestern

4 Creighton Miller, Notre Dame

5 Eddie Prokop, Georgia Tech

Leslie Horvath

OHIO STATE QUARTERBACK

Les hit his peak in his senior year at Ohio State, gaining 924 yards on 163 carries for 5.7 yards per carry. He scored 12 touchdowns in 1944, and completed 14 of 32 passes for 344 yards—three 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 Ohio 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. He entered the Navy in 1945 as a double threat: dental officer in the morning and assistant football coach to Paul Brown in the afternoon. Les 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 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 Leslie Horvath, Ohio State

Glenn Davis, Army

Felix Blanchard, Army

Don Whitmire, Navy

Buddy Young, Illinois

Horvath 1943 Bertelli 1941 Smith 1942 Sinkwich

Harmon

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 four times for a 4.5 yard average, although he played for only 17 minutes. Felix was the first junior to win the Heisman Trophy. After graduation 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 on April 19, 2009. Felix Blanchard was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1959.

1 Felix Blanchard, Army

2 Glenn Davis, Army

3 Bob Fenimore, Oklahoma A&M

4 Herman Wedemeyer, St. Mary’s

5 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 nine 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.

1 Glenn Davis, Army

2 Charles Trippi, Georgia

3 John Lujack, Notre Dame

4 Felix Blanchard, Army

5 Herman Wedemeyer, St. Mary’s

1949 Hart

1948 Walker

1947 Lujack

1945 Blanchard

1946 Davis

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, 1946–47) 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 six 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 resided in Davenport, Iowa in the summers and Indian Wells, California during the winters, enjoying his hobby of golf. He passed away on July 25, 2023. John Lujack was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1960.

1 John Lujack, Notre Dame

2 Bob Chappius, Michigan

3 Doak Walker, SMU

4 Charles Conerly, Pennsylvania

5 Harry Gilmer, Alabama

1948

Doak Walker

SMU RUNNING BACK

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

leading the league in rushing in his best year. After retiring from football, he formed his own firm, Walker Chemical Co., which he subsequently sold, and then served as Vice President of Fischbach & Moore Electric Group. Doak was married to former Olympic skier Gladys “Skeeter” Werner. He passed away on September 27, 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 Doak Walker, SMU

2 Charlie Justice, North Carolina

3 Chuck Bednarik, Pennsylvania

4 Jackie Jensen, California

5 Stanley Heath, Nevada

1949 Leon Hart

NOTRE DAME END

Leon was the second end to win the Heisman Trophy and the third player from Notre Dame to win the award. 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; 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 Leon Hart, Notre Dame

2 Charlie Justice, North Carolina

3 Doak Walker, SMU

4 Arnold Galiffa, Army

5 Bob Williams, Notre Dame

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, 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 1953–54. Returning to football, he played defensive back for the Redskins and, in 1955, 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. Vic rebounded as a broadcaster of Ohio State Buckeye football games. In 1986 he was appointed an administrative assistant to Jim Petro, the Auditor of the State of Ohio. He was a member of the OSU, Elyris, and the Polish American Hall of Fame. In 1991, the Columbus Downtown Quarterback Club honored him as “the greatest OSU athlete in the past fifty years.” Vic passed away on February 27, 1996. Victor Janowicz was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1976.

1 Victor Janowicz, Ohio State

2 Kyle Rote, SMU

3 Red Bagnell, Pennsylvania

4 Babe Parilli, Kentucky

5 Bobby Reynolds, Nebraska

1951

Richard Kazmaier

PRINCETON RUNNING BACK

Dick Kazmaier won Princeton’s only Heisman Trophy while leading his team to a 9–0 record and a No. 6 final ranking. He is the last single-wing player to win the Heisman and the last to come from any Ivy League school. Dick’s team was the best in the East in 1951; 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, the most accurate passer in the country, and voted the Athlete of the

Year by the Associated Press. After college, Dick was Chairman of Kazmaier Associates, Inc., a family investment company, a Trustee of Princeton University, and Chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under Ronald Reagan. The National Football Foundation honored Dick with the Distinguished American Award for 1993. He passed away on August 1, 2013, survived by his wife of sixty years, Patricia, five of his six daughters, and many grandchildren. Richard Kazmaier was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1966.

1 Richard Kazmaier, Princeton

2 Hank Lauricella, Tennessee

3 Babe Parilli, Kentucky

4 Bill McColl, Stanford

5 John Bright, Drake

1952 Billy Vessels

OKLAHOMA RUNNING BACK

Billy Vessels won Oklahoma’s first Heisman while rushing for over 1,000 yards; the first player to win the trophy while topping that yardage mark. A great star on a star-studded Sooner team, Billy scored 18 touchdowns, gained over 1,000 yards rushing, and caught eight passes for 200 yards. In his senior year, he threw 18 passes and completed 7 for 209 yards and three touchdowns. A fierce competitor, he is best remembered for his running savagery against Notre Dame, scoring three 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. Selected with the No. 1 overall pick, he spent 1956 with the Baltimore Colts and, in 1957, moved to Florida as assistant to the president of the Mackle Company, a major real estate developer. Active in fundraising and alumni association work, he 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.

1 Billy Vessels, Oklahoma

2 Jack Scarbath, Maryland

3 Paul Giel, Minnesota

4 Donn Moomaw, UCLA

5 John Lattner, Notre Dame

1953

John Lattner

NOTRE DAME RUNNING BACK

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. Lattner claimed the Heisman Trophy during his senior year in the second-closest Heisman balloting in history. He 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, Marina City. John was VP of sales for PAL Graphics, was active in fundraising for many charities, and 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.

1 John Lattner, Notre Dame

2 Paul Giel, Minnesota

3 Paul Cameron, UCLA

4 Bernie Faloney, Maryland

5 Bob Garrett, Stanford

1954

Alan Ameche

WISCONSIN FULLBACK

This stampeding fullback played in 37 games over four years, scored 25 touchdowns, gained 3,345 scrimmage yards, and was largely responsible for 26 Badger victories between 1951–54. With the ability 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.

1 Alan Ameche, Wisconsin

2 Kurt Burris, Oklahoma

3 Howard Cassady, Ohio State

4 Ralph Gugliemi, Notre Dame

5 Paul Larson, California

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; Howard 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. He also played baseball for Ohio State for four years and was named Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press in 1955. Howard played eight years with the Detroit Lions, one with the Philadelphia Eagles, and one with the Cleveland Browns. After football, he founded his own concrete pipe manufacturing company, sold steel with Hopalong Cassady Associates and later worked for American Shipbuilding in Tampa. He was a scout for the New York Yankees and a first base coach for the Columbus Clippers, a Yankees affiliate team. 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 on September 20, 2019. Howard Cassady was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1979.

1 Howard Cassady, Ohio State

2 Jim Swink, Texas Christian

3 George Welsh, Navy

4 Earl Morrall, Michigan State

5 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, three 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 received the award while playing on a losing team, as the Fighting Irish were 2–8 in 1956. As almost every football fan knows, Paul went to the

Green Bay Packers, leading the NFL in scoring for three straight years, and was voted MVP in 1960 and 1961. He accomplished his records despite injuries and military obligations, and it is no wonder that his coach, Vince Lombardi, called him “the most versatile man who ever played the game.” He was President of Paul Hornung Sports Showcase and Paul Hornung Enterprises, Inc., Vice President of Real Estate and Investment Co. and a member of the National High School Hall of Fame. He passed away on November 13, 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.

1 Paul Hornung, Notre Dame

2 John Majors, Tennessee

3 Tom McDonald, Oklahoma

4 Jerry Tubbs, Oklahoma

5 Jimmy Brown, Syracuse

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 six touchdowns, passed for five more, and added five interceptions. He was 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 worked for 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 also 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 on June 17, 2015. 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.

1 John David Crow, Texas A&M

2 Alex Karras, Iowa

3 Walt Kowalczyk, Michigan State

4 Lou Michaels, Kentucky

5 Tom Forrestal, Navy

1958 Pete Dawkins

ARMY RUNNING BACK

As a child, Pete Dawkins contracted polio and underwent successful treatment at age 11. He became not only an exceptional athlete, but also a fine student. He was accepted to Yale University but instead chose to play football at West Point. As the 69th football captain at Army, Dawkins posed a double threat as a runner and a left-handed passer. In three years, he rushed for 1,123 yards, threw 16 passes, seven 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, retiring after 24 years of service. After several years on Wall Street, he ran for a seat in the US 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.

1 Pete Dawkins, Army

2 Randy Duncan, Iowa

3 Billy Cannon, Louisiana State

4 Bob White, Ohio State

5 Joe Kapp, California

Billy Cannon

LOUISIANA STATE RUNNING BACK

At LSU, Billy gained 598 yards rushing, an average of 4.3 yards, completed two passes for 20 yards, caught 15 punts and ran them back for 221 yards, returned eight kickoffs for 191 yards, scored seven 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 also 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. He passed away on May 20, 2018. Billy Cannon was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2008.

1 Billy Cannon, Louisiana State

2 Richie Lucas, Penn State

3 Don Meredith, SMU

4 Bill Burrell, Illinois

5 Charles Flowers, Mississippi

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 five of 14 passes, two for touchdowns, caught 15 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns. His quick kicks averaged 47.1 yards, and he returned five 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. 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 US Navy and Naval Reserve and held the rank of Captain, USNR, Retired. Joe passed away on March 28, 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.

1 Joseph Bellino, Navy

2 Tom Brown, Minnesota

3 Jake Gibbs, Mississippi

4 Ed Dyas, Auburn

5 Bill Kilmer, UCLA

1961

Ernest Davis

SYRACUSE RUNNING BACK

Ernie, a big, rugged 6-foot-2, 211-pounder, played left halfback and was his team’s leading rusher for three seasons. He completed the 1961 season with 823 yards on 150 carries, averaging 5.5 yards. He scored 15 touchdowns and totaled 94 points, leading Syracuse in 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 tragically 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.

1 Ernest Davis, Syracuse

2 Bob Ferguson, Ohio State

3 Jimmy Saxton, Texas

4 Sandy Stephens, Minnesota

5 Pat Trammel, Alabama

1962

Terry Baker

OREGON STATE QUARTERBACK

The West Coast’s first Heisman winner established an amazing record in total offense, running and passing for 4,980 yards at Oregon State. In 1962, Terry completed 111 passes out of 202 attempts for 1,723 yards, including 15 touchdown passes. He led his team in net yards gained rushing, averaging 4.5 yards per carry, and kicked 33 of his team’s 42 punts, averaging 37.4 yards per punt. A fine all-around athlete, he is the only Heisman winner to also play in an NCAA Final Four. Terry graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1963, then played pro ball with the Los Angeles Rams and the Edmonton Eskimos. He attended law school at USC, received his Juris Doctorate in 1968, and was admitted to the Oregon State Bar that year. Terry served on the staff of the President’s Commission on Campus Unrest and Kent State Task Force in 1970. He practiced law in Portland, Oregon, as a partner in the law firm Tonkon Torp LLP until retiring in 2012. He received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award in 1988 and was elected to the GTE Academic All-American Hall of Fame in 1991. Terry Baker was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1982. To this day, Baker’s No.11 is the only jersey retired at Oregon State.

1 Terry Baker, Oregon State

2 Jerry Stovall, Louisiana State

3 Bob Bell, Minnesota

4 Lee Roy Jordan, Alabama

5 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, nine for touchdowns, and as a sophomore completed 67 of 98 pass attempts as the leading percentage passer in the nation. In the Michigan-Navy game of 1963, he connected on 14 passes for 237 yards, and against West Virginia, he completed 17 passes. He was the fourth junior to win the Heisman Trophy. Of

Roger’s subsequent professional career with the Dallas Cowboys, not much needs to be said other than that he proved himself to be one of the finest quarterbacks in history in terms of both performance and team leadership. Roger joined the Cowboys in 1969, following four years of service in the Navy, with one year in Vietnam. He was voted MVP in Super Bowl VI. Roger was the Executive Chairman of Americas of Jones Lang LaSalle, an international diversified commercial real estate company headquartered in Chicago. Roger Staubach was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1981 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985—the first year he became eligible for this honor.

1 Roger Staubach, Navy

2 Billy Lothridge, Georgia Tech

3 Sherman Lewis, Michigan State

4 Don Trull, Baylor

5 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 five 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.

1 John Huarte, Notre Dame

2 Jerry Rhome, Tulsa

3 Dick Butkus, Illinois

4 Bob Timberlake, Michgan

5 Jack Snow, Notre Dame

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 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 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 years 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.

1 Mike Garrett, USC

2 Howard Twilley, Tulsa

3 Jim Grabowski, Illinois

4 Don Anderson, Texas Tech

5 Floyd Little, Syracuse

1966

Steve Spurrier

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. As the third overall pick in the 1967 NFL Draft by 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. 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. Steve 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).

1 Steve Spurrier, Florida

2 Bob Griese, Purdue

3 Nick Eddy, Notre Dame

4 Gary Beban, UCLA

5 Floyd Little, Syracuse

1968 Simpson

1967

Beban

1965 Garrett

1966

Spurrier

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 a pair of two-point conversions. Against USC in his senior year, Gary completed 16 out of 24 passes for 301 yards and two touchdown strikes of 53 and 20 yards. After college, Gary played for the Washington 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.

1 Gary Beban, UCLA

2 O.J. Simpson, USC

3 Leroy Keyes, Purdue

4 Larry Csonka, Syracuse

5 Kim Hammond, Florida State

July 1947–April 2024 r

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, scoring 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. After graduation, O.J. became 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 and went on to be seen on television and movie screens regularly. He

was a sports broadcaster for NBC and ABC. He owned and was CEO of two companies, Orenthal Productions and O.J. Simpson Enterprises. He passed away on April 10, 2024 after a battle with prostate cancer. O.J. Simpson was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

1 O.J. Simpson, USC

Leroy Keyes, Purdue

Terry Hanratty, Notre Dame 4 Ted Kwallick, Penn State 5 Ted Hendricks, Miami

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. He 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, Owens retired with a serious knee injury. In 1991, he 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, offering 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 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.

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 rookie 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: 1980 (in which he was named MVP) and 1983. Jim retired after a stellar seventeen-season pro-football career then worked as an analyst for the Oakland Raiders pre-season television and co-host of 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.

1 Jim Plunkett, Stanford

2 Joe Theismann, Notre Dame

3 Archie Manning, Mississippi

4 Steve Worster, Texas

5 Rex Kern, Ohio State

1971

Pat Sullivan

AUBURN QUARTERBACK

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

the San Francisco 49ers in 1977. Following his pro career, Pat was successful as an insurance and tire company executive in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. For five years, he served as the color analyst on Auburn’s radio broadcast, and in 1986 he returned to Auburn as QB coach. In 1992 he became the Head Football Coach at Texas Christian University and was named Southwest Conference 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. He also volunteered for the UAB Head and Neck Cancer Survivor Care Program. He passed away on December 1, 2019. Pat Sullivan was a member of the Gator Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Senior Bowl Halls of Fame. In 1981, he 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.

1 Pat Sullivan, Auburn

2 Ed Marinaro, Cornell

3 Gregg Pruitt, Oklahoma

4 John Musso, Alabama

5 Lydell Mitchell, Penn State

1972

Johnny Rodgers

NEBRASKA WIDE RECEIVER

The first wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy, Johnny was one of the most versatile players in Cornhusker history. Operating as a punt and kickoff returner, he broke both 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 five-touchdown performance against Notre Dame. He rushed for three 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 1974–76. 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 lifelong 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 assists 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.

1 Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska

2 Greg Pruitt, Oklahoma

3 Rich Glover, Nebraska

4 Bert Jones, Louisiana State

5 Terry Davis, Alabama

1973 John Cappelletti

PENN STATE RUNNING BACK

In 1972, John had the third best year in Penn State history when he gained 1,117 yards rushing. In 1973, he had the second 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 speech ever given at these ceremonies, as he honored his brother, Joey, a victim of leukemia. John was a first-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Rams and spent two years grinding out short yardage. In 1976, he was promoted to starting duties and rushed for 688 yards on 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.

1 John Cappelletti, Penn State

2 John Hicks, Ohio State

3 Roosevelt Leaks, Texas

4 David Jaynes, Kansas

5 Archie Griffin, Ohio State

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 four or five 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. He 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.

1 Archie Griffin, Ohio State

2 Anthony Davis, USC

3 Joe Washington, Oklahoma

4 Tom Clements, Notre Dame

5 Dave Humm, Nebraska

1 Archie Griffin, Ohio State

2 Chuck Muncie, California

3 Ricky Bell, USC

4 Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh

5 Joe Washington, Oklahoma

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, he 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 weightlifting 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. He equalled the record for most games rushing for 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. He was named NFL Rookie of the Year in 1977 and played in the Super Bowl. Tony 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.

1 Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh

2 Ricky Bell, USC

3 Rob Lytle, Michigan

4 Terry Miller, Oklahoma State

5 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 overall pick in the 1978 NFL Draft, taken 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 Special Assistant to the Athletic Director at the University of Texas, He is also the President of Earl Campbell Foods, Inc. 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.

1 Earl Campbell, Texas

2 Terry Miller, Oklahoma State

3 Ken MacAfee, Notre Dame

4 Doug Williams, Grambling College

5 Ross Browner, Notre Dame

1978

Billy Sims

OKLAHOMA RUNNING BACK

Billy became the sixth junior to win the Heisman and was the nation’s leading rusher and scorer for 1978, averaging 160.1 yards and 10.9 points. He set the Big Eight Conference single season rushing record of 1,762 on 231 carries for a phenomenal average of 7.6 yards every time he touched the ball. Billy was the only back in the nation’s top 50 to average 7.0 per carry, and became the first player in Big Eight’s history to rush for more than 200 yards in three straight games. In 1978, Billy was elected College Player of the Year by both the Associated Press and the United Press, and was Sports Magazine’s Player of the Year. He finished as the Heisman runner up to Charles White in 1979, then went on to become the NFL’s Rookie of the Year for Detroit in 1980. In 1990, he was inducted into the Michigan Hall of Fame and, in 1994, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. In 2004 Sims co-founded Billy Sims BBQ and he continues to be actively involved in the day to day running of the company. He spends his days off with his kids and grandchildren. Billy Sims was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1995.

1 Billy Sims, Oklahoma

2 Chuck Fusina, Penn State

3 Rick Leach, Michigan

4 Charles White, USC

5 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.” As USC’s all-purpose back, Charlie averaged an incredible 30 to 40 carries per game. Against Notre Dame, he scored four touchdowns, carrying 44 times and rushing for 261 yards. In his regular season career, he rushed for 5,598 yards, and 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. He 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 in 1980, he then went on to play for the Los Angeles Rams in 1985 and led the NFL in rushing in 1987. Charlie passed away on January 11, 2023, survived by five children, Nicole, Julian, Ashton, Tara, and Sophia, and one granddaughter, Giovanna Lee Hemmen. Charles White was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1996.

1 Charles White, USC

2 Billy Sims, Oklahoma

3 Marc Wilson, Brigham Young

4 Art Schlichter, Ohio State

5 Vagas Ferguson, Notre Dame

1980 George Rogers

SOUTH CAROLINA RUNNING BACK

Ball carriers can get pigeonholed as “musclers” or “runabouts,” but 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 choice of the 1981 NFL Draft, also noted his double edge—he could dodge a defender or run over him. As tailback for the SC Gamecocks, George rolled up 21 consecutive 100-yard games, including every game in his senior year, when he led the nation in rushing with 1,781 yards and tied for third in touchdowns with 14. When the 1980 college season opened, he was a Heisman long shot, but when the voting was over, he led decisively, beating out Hugh Green of Pittsburgh. In his first NFL season with the Saints, he was one of the league’s leading ground-gainers. In 1987 he won a Super Bowl with the Washington Redskins, and retired from football in 1988 due to injury. 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 nonprofit organizations. His foundation 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 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1997, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, and the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

1 George Rogers, South Carolina

2 Hugh Green, Pittsburgh

3 Herschel Walker, Georgia

4 Mark Herrmann, Purdue

5 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

State, Marcus totalled 289 yards on 44 carries and scored four 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.

1 Marcus Allen, USC

2 Herschel Walker, Georgia

3 Jim McMahon, Brigham Young

4 Dan Marino, Pittsburgh

5 Art Schlichter, Ohio State

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 32 games, averaging 159.3 yards per game and a whopping 5.3 yards per carry. Herschel led the Bulldogs to a National Championship as a freshman and an amazing three-year record of 32 wins and only two losses. Following his junior season, Walker decided to go pro. The NFL still didn’t take underclassmen, but the newly-formed USFL did. He 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.

1 Herschel Walker, Georgia 2 John Elway, Stanford 3 Eric Dickerson, SMU 4 Anthony Carter, Michigan 5 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

Camden, New Jersey “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 eight yards per carry, was also the recipient of the Timmie and Maxwell Awards and was Walter Camp’s Player of the Year. Rozier was a No. 1 USFL draft pick by the Pittsburgh Maulers and then played for the Jacksonville Bulls. He was taken in the supplemental draft by the Houston Oilers in 1984, where he then played for seven 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, a 501(c)(3) charity, which assists cancer patients and their families with unexpected ancillary expenses—concerns like food, transportation to and from treatment, parking and lodging. 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.

1 Mike Rozier, Nebraska

2 Steve Young, Brigham Young

3 Doug Flutie, Boston College

4 Turner Gill, Nebraska

5 Terry Hoage, Georgia

1984

Doug Flutie

BOSTON COLLEGE QUARTERBACK

Doug set the NCAA all-time passing yardage record while winning BC’s first Heisman Trophy 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 San Diego Chargers from 2001–04, and for the New England Patriots in 2005 before retiring. He is 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.

1 Doug Flutie, Boston College

Keith Byars, Ohio State

Robbie Bosco, Brigham Young

Flutie

Rozier

Allen

Walker

Rogers

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 of the 1986 amateur draft. He played several 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.

1 Bo Jackson, Auburn

2 Chuck Long, Iowa

3 Robbie Bosco, Brigham Young

4 Lorenzo White, Michigan State

5 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 four 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 of 242 passes for 2,249 yards and 24 touchdowns.

His completion percentage was 63.6, but even more impressive was that he threw only eight interceptions. He was Miami’s thenall-time leader in career touchdown passes with 46. Vinny was the No. 1 selection for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1987 Draft 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.

1 Vinny Testaverde, Miami

2 Paul Palmer, Temple

3 Jim Harbaugh, Michigan

4 Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma

5 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 Heisman 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 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 three touchdowns, 29 rushes for 133 yards and one touchdown, 19 kickoff returns for 398 yards, and 31 punt returns for 380 yards and three 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.

1 Tim Brown, Notre Dame

2 Don McPherson, Syracuse 3 Gordon Lockbaum, Holy Cross 4 Lorenzo White, Michigan State

5 Craig Heyward, Pittsburgh

1988 Barry Sanders

OKLAHOMA STATE RUNNING BACK

Barry Sanders 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 five touchdowns in the 1988 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’ first round pick in the 1989 NFL 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.

1 Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State

2 Rodney Peete, USC

3 Troy Aikman, UCLA

4 Steve Walsh, Miami

5 Major Harris, West Virginia

1989 Andre Ware

UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON QUARTERBACK

Andre won Houston’s first Heisman with one of the all-time 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. Rebounding as a sophomore in 1988, he earned the starting job, throwing for 2,507 yards and 25 touchdowns as the Cougars improved from 4–6–1 to 9–3. Winning the Heisman as a junior, he was taken in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions and 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.

1 Andre Ware, Houston

2 Anthony Thompson, Indiana

3 Major Harris, West Virginia

4 Tony Rice, Notre Dame

5 Darian Hagan, Colorado

As we celebrate our 100th season, the New York Giants congratulate the 90th Heisman Trophy Winner, The Heisman Trophy Trust and the late, great Downtown Athletic Club on their 90th Anniversary

1990 Ty Detmer

BYU QUARTERBACK

Ty was the brilliant junior quarterback of the BYU Cougars. To football fans who love the aerial game, names like 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 halftime. 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, Detmer 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.

1 Ty Detmer, Brigham Young

2 Raghib Ismail, Notre Dame

3 Eric Bieniemy, Colorado

4 Shawn Moore, Virginia

5 David Klingler, Houston

1991

Desmond Howard

MICHIGAN RECEIVER

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 outstretched 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 of the 1992 NFL Draft 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. He has been an analyst for ESPN’s College GameDay since 2005. Desmond Howard was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2010.

1 Desmond Howard, Michigan

2 Casey Weldon, Florida State

3 Ty Detmer, Brigham Young

4 Steve Emtman, Washington

5 Shane Matthews, Florida

1990 Detmer

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 was the latest in a long line of standout Miami quarterbacks, but he eclipsed all other Hurricane QBs in the record book with 7,000 aerial yards. He spent five seasons in the NFL and is now a Senior Vice President for Gabelli Asset Management Company headquartered in Rye, NY. He is also the Chairman, CEO, and 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.

1 Gino Torretta, Miami

2 Marshall Faulk, San Diego State

3 Garrison Hearst, Georgia

4 Marvin Jones, Florida State

5 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. His margin of victory was a massive 1,622 points, the second largest lead at the time. Charlie won over thirty college football awards and received a No. 1 AP ranking while setting 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 still holds Seminole basketball records for steals in a

game (9) and steals in a career (236) and ranks sixth all-time in assists (396). After graduating from FSU, Ward was drafted twice by Major League Baseball before being a first-round pick in 1994 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. The only Heisman winner to play in the NBA, he helped 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 also served as an assistant coach with the Rockets. Ward is the head coach of the Florida State University School’s boys’ basketball team. He and his wife Tonja founded The Charlie & Tonja Ward Family Foundation, fostering youth character development through sports, education, the arts and wellness and supporting disaster relief initiatives. Charlie Ward was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2006.

1 Charlie Ward, Florida State

2 Heath Shuler, Tennessee

3 David Palmer, Alabama

4 Marshall Faulk, San Diego State

5 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 in front of 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 three-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 on December 5, 2016. He was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2022.

1 Rashaan Salaam, Colorado 2 Ki-Jana Carter, Penn State 3 Steve McNair, Alcorn State

Kerry Collins, Penn State

Troy Davis, Iowa State

1995 Eddie George

OHIO STATE RUNNING BACK

Eddie was Ohio State’s sixth Heisman Trophy winner. At 6-feet 3-inches and 227 pounds, the gifted senior tailback gained 1,877 yards rushing for an average of 152.2 yards per game and scored 23 touchdowns. He also caught 44 passes for 399 yards and one 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, accomplishing all of this while rarely playing more than three quarters in a game. 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 three touchdowns, two rushing and one 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 1997–2000. Eddie George was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2011.

1 Eddie George, Ohio State

2 Tommie Frazier, Nebraska

3 Danny Wuerffel, Florida

4 Darnell Autry, Northwestern

5 Troy Davis, Iowa State

1996 Danny Wuerffel

FLORIDA QUARTERBACK

At 6-feet 2-inches and 212 pounds, Danny is the second Gator to win the award and the first Heisman winner whose head coach, Steve Spurrier, was also a recipient of the Heisman 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, he passed for 3,625 yards with a pass efficiency of 167.86, and threw for 36 touchdown passes over 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 under-resourced neighborhoods through spiritual and community development. Danny Wuerffel was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2013.

1 Danny Wuerffel, Florida

2 Troy Davis, Iowa State

3 Jake Plummer, Arizona State

4 Orlando Pace, Ohio State

5 Warrick Dunn, Florida State

1998 Williams 1997 Woodson 1995 George

Wuerffel

Weinke

1997 Charles Woodson

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 eight 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 Trophy 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 the 1998 NFL Draft 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.

1 Charles Woodson, Michigan

2 Peyton Manning, Tennessee

3 Ryan Leaf, Washington State

4 Randy Moss, Marshall

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

1 Ricky Williams, Texas

2 Michael Bishop, Kansas State

3 Cade McNown, UCLA

4 Tim Couch, Kentucky

5 Donovan McNabb, Syracuse

1999 Ron Dayne

WISCONSIN RUNNING BACK

At 5-feet 10-inches and 252 pounds, Ron is the second Wisconsin Badger, following Alan Ameche, to win the Heisman Trophy. During Ron’s four-year career at Wisconsin, the Badgers complied a 37–13 record and won two Big Ten titles. Ron led the Big Ten in rushing three times in his illustrious career; his 6,397 career rushing yards were 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 backto-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 Ron Dayne, Wisconsin

2 Joe Hamilton, Georgia Tech

3 Michael Vick, Virginia Tech

4 Drew Brees, Purdue

5 Chad Pennington, Marshall

Chris Weinke

FLORIDA STATE QUARTERBACK

Chris is the second Florida State Seminole to win the Heisman Trophy. At 6-feet 5-inches and 230 pounds, Chris was the first threeyear starter at quarterback in the twenty-two-year tenure of Florida State Head Coach, Bobby Bowden. In 1999, he 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 his Heisman winning season, Chris led the nation in passing with 4,167 yards during the regular season for an average of 347.3 yards per game. He 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 of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played with the Panthers and the 49ers before retiring. He moved on to a coaching career, taking a job as the quarterbacks coach for the St. Louis Rams. In 2010, Weinke teamed with Pro Football Hall of Fame coach John Madden and became the director of IMG Madden Football Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He is the Co-Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach at Georgia Tech.

Chris Weinke, Florida State

RODGERS (1972)

JOHNNY

MIKE ROZIER (1983)

ERIC CROUCH (2001)

SALUTES ITS THREE HEISMAN TROPHY WINNERS

2001

Eric Crouch

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 seven touchdown passes gave him 29 for his career. He ran for more than 100 yards six times and guided his team into a top-10 ranking each year he was QB. Eric was drafted in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams and also spent time in Germany with the Hamburg Sea Devils of 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.

1 Eric Crouch, Nebraska

2 Rex Grossman, Florida

3 Ken Dorsey, Miami

4 Joey Harrington, Oregon

5 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 multiple USC records including: 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 career with a win at the 2003 Orange Bowl where he was selected as the MVP. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the first overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. From 2004–11, he was the starting quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, then played for the Oakland Raiders from 2011–12 and the Arizona Cardinals from 2013–17. He retired from the NFL in 2018. Carson Palmer was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2021.

1 Carson Palmer, USC

2 Brad Banks, Iowa

3 Larry Johnson, Penn State

4 Willis McGahee, Miami

5 Ken Dorsey, Miami

2003 Jason White

OKLAHOMA QUARTERBACK

At 6-feet 2-inches and 220 pounds, Jason became the fourth Sooner to win the Heisman Trophy following Billy Vessels, Steve Owens, and Billy Sims. Jason led his team to twelve straight victories, throwing for a school record of 40 touchdown passes in a season and securing a spot for the Sooners to play in the Sugar Bowl. At Oklahoma, Jason is ranked second in passing yards in a season with 3,744. In 2003, He 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 2004–05 season to complete his NCAA eligibility. Jason has partnered with Air Comfort Solutions Heating and Air in OKC and Tulsa and also owns Jason White’s 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 Jason White, Oklahoma

Pittsburgh

Mississippi

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, Charles 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 that year, Matt decided against entering the NFL Draft, instead choosing to stay at USC for his senior year and attempt to be part of a first-ever three-time National Championship team with the Trojans. He was selected 10th overall in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He also had stints with the Houston Texans, the Oakland Raiders, and Buffalo Bills before settling in as a college football commentator for Fox Sports. He is currently an analyst on Big Noon Kickoff. Matt Leinart was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2017.

1 Matt Leinart, USC 2 Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma 3 Jason White, Oklahoma 4 Alex Smith, Utah

5 Reggie Bush, USC

2005 Reggie Bush

USC RUNNINGBACK

Bush was the seventh USC Trojan to win the Heisman Trophy. In 2005, Reggie led the nation with an average of 222.3 all-purpose yards per game. He also set the Pac-10 record for all-purpose yards in a game on November 19, 2005, when he compiled 513 (294 rushing, 68 receiving, 151 return) yards against the Fresno State Bulldogs. Bush received 784 first-place Heisman votes, while Texas quarterback Vince Young finished second with 79 first-place votes. Bush had the second most first-place votes in the history of Heisman voting at the time, behind only O.J. Simpson’s 855 in 1968. Along with his Heisman Trophy, Reggie also won the Doak Walker Award, the Walter Camp Award, and was selected as the Pac-10’s offensive player of the year. In the 2006 Rose Bowl, shortly after Bush received his Heisman Trophy, both he and Matt Leinart became the first pair of Heisman Trophy winners to play together for the same team in a single game. Reggie was selected by the New Orleans Saints with the second overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft and won a Super Bowl with the team in 2009. He played with the Saints until 2010, then with the Dolphins, Lions, 49ers, and Bills before retiring from the NFL in 2017. Reggie Bush was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2023.

1 Reggie Bush, USC

2 Vince Young, Texas

3 Matt Leinart, USC

4 Brady Quinn, Notre Dame

5 Michael Robinson, Penn State

2006

Troy Smith

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 four touchdowns in a 42–39 victory. Troy surpassed 2,700 total offensive yards in his 2006 Heisman campaign. Troy was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2007 NFL Draft. He later played for the 49ers, the Steelers and in the CFL, before retiring from football in 2014.

1 Troy Smith, Ohio State

2 Darren McFadden, Arkansas

3 Brady Quinn, Notre Dame

4 Steve Slaton, West Virginia

5 Mike Hart, Michigan

2007

Tim Tebow

FLORIDA QUARTERBACK

Tim capped an unprecedented season by becoming the first sophomore in NCAA history to win the Heisman. 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 selected by the Denver Broncos as the 25th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He created the Tim Tebow Foundation in 2010 to bring faith, hope, and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour. The foundation makes dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses, builds Timmy’s Playrooms in children’s hospitals, provides life-changing surgeries to children of the Philippines through the Tebow CURE Hospital, and sponsors Night to Shine, a nationwide prom for people with special needs. Tim also serves as an analyst for ESPN and pursued a career in professional baseball with the New York Mets. Tim Tebow was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2023.

1 Tim Tebow, Florida

2 Darren McFadden, Arkansas

3 Colt Brennan, Hawaii

4 Chase Daniel, Missouri

5 Dennis Dixon, Oregon

2008

Sam Bradford

OKLAHOMA QUARTERBACK

Sam became the fifth Oklahoma player—and second-consecutive sophomore—to win the Heisman. His 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 six interceptions. He again led the nation in passing and added five rushing touchdowns as the Sooners went 12–1 and qualified for the BCS National Championship game. He was selected as the first overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams and was the 2010 NFL Rookie of the Year. Sam also played for the Eagles, Vikings and Cardinals. After an 8-year professional career, Bradford retired from the NFL in 2018.

1 Sam Bradford, Oklahoma

2 Colt McCoy, Texas

3 Tim Tebow, Florida

4 Graham Harrell, Texas Tech

5 Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech

2009 Mark Ingram

ALABAMA RUNNING BACK

In his sophomore season, Mark became Alabama’s first Heisman Trophy winner as he helped lead the Crimson Tide to their 13th National Championship. Mark was the sixth player to win both the Heisman Trophy 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, setting the Alabama freshman record, and gained 728 yards while averaging 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 a total of 11 touchdowns. He also had 252 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. Mark was selected by the New Orleans Saints with the 28th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. After a 12-year pro career that included stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texas, he retired from football in 2023. Ingram is currently an analyst with Fox Sports’ Big Noon Kickoff

1 Mark Ingram, Alabama

2 Toby Gerhart, Stanford

3 Colt McCoy, Texas

4 Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska

5 Tim Tebow, Florida

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 seven interceptions. He also accumulated 1,473 yards and an additional 20 touchdowns on 264 rush attempts and caught two 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 Cam Newton, Auburn

2 Andrew Luck, Stanford

3 LaMichael James, Oregon

4 Kellen Moore, Boise State

5 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 nine 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. In addition to the Redskins, Griffin played for the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens. He also worked as an analyst for ESPN and currently hosts his own podcast series.

1 Robert Griffin III, Baylor

2 Andrew Luck, Stanford

3 Trent Richardson, Alabama

4 Montee Ball, Wisconsin

5 Tyrann Mathieu, Lousiana State

2012

Johnny Manziel

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.

1 Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M

2 Manti Te’o, Notre Dame

3 Collin Klein, Kansas State

4 Marquise Lee, USC

5 Braxton Miller, Ohio State

2010 Newton

2011 Griffin III

2012 Manziel

2013 Jameis Winston

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.

1 Jameis Winston, Florida State

2 AJ McCarron, Alabama

3 Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois

4 Andre Williams, Boston College

5 Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M

2014

Marcus Mariota

UNIVERSITY OF OREGON QUARTERBACK

Marcus is the first Oregon player, the first Polynesian, and the first player from Hawaii to win the Heisman. Mariota was born in Honolulu and attended St. Louis High School, where he was a two-sport star in football and track. At Oregon, his junior Heisman-winning season was spectacular. He threw for 3,783 yards and 38 touchdowns with just two interceptions while also rushing for 669 yards and 14 scores (he also caught a TD pass) as the Ducks finished the regular season with a 12–1 record. His 53 total touchdowns tied Sam Bradford for the most in Heisman history. Mariota led the nation in touchdowns, passing efficiency (186.33) and total offense (4,452 yards). His winning Heisman vote was the third-highest vote total in Heisman history and he appeared on a record 95.16% of ballots. Mariota bypassed his senior season and was the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans.

1 Marcus Mariota, Oregon

2 Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin

3 Amari Cooper, Alabama

4 Trevone Boykin, Texas Christian

5 J.T. Barrett, Ohio State

2015 Derrick Henry

ALABAMA RUNNING BACK

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

1 Derrick Henry, Alabama

2 Christian McCaffrey, Stanford

3 Deshaun Watson, Clemson

4 Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma

5 Keenan Reynolds, Navy

Lamar Jackson

LOUISVILLE QUARTERBACK

Lamar won Louisville’s first Heisman by producing one of the most statistically impressive seasons in Heisman history. He is the youngest player to win the Heisman, at just 19 years, 337 days. The 6-3, 218-pounder accumulated 4,928 yards of total offense, second in Heisman history behind Ty Detmer’s 5,022 in 1990. 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: eight touchdowns in the first half against Charlotte, 610 yards of total offense (411 passing, 199 rushing) against Syracuse and five 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.

1 Lamar Jackson, Louisville

2 Deshaun Watson, Clemson

3 Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma

4 Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma

5 Jabrill Peppers, Michigan

2017 Baker Mayfield

OKLAHOMA QUARTERBACK

Baker won Oklahoma’s sixth Heisman with the highest passing efficiency rating in FBS history. 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 five 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 seven scores on the ground. 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 five 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.

1 Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma

2 Bryce Love, Stanford

3 Lamar Jackson, Louisville

4 Saquon Barkley, Penn State

5 Rashaad Penny, San Diego State

2018

Kyler Murray

OKLAHOMA QUARTERBACK

Kyler won Oklahoma’s seventh (and second consecutive) Heisman with a remarkable season, accumulating 4,946 yards of total offense and 51 touchdowns, 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 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. He was also a baseball star and was considered a major prospect for the 2015 MLB draft. After sitting out a year, he served as backup to Baker 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 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.

1 Kyler Murray, Oklahoma

2 Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

3 Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State

4 Will Grier, West Virginia

5 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 thirdconsecutive 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.

1 Joe Burrow, Louisiana State

2 Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma

3 Justin Fields, Ohio State

4 Chase Young, Ohio State

5 Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

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-or-running 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 seasonhigh 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 first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

1 DeVonta Smith, Alabama

2 Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

3 Mac Jones, Alabama

4 Kyle Trask, Florida

5 Najee Harris, Alabama

2022 Williams

2021 Young

2019 Burrow

2020 Smith

2023

Daniels

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 backup 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 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.

1 Bryce Young, Alabama

2 Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan

3 Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh

4 C.J. Stroud, Ohio State

5 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 midseason. 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. 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’s 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. Caleb Williams was selected No. 1 overall by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

1 Caleb Williams, USC

2 Max Duggan, Texas Christian

3 C.J. Stroud, Ohio State

4 Stetson Bennett, Georgia

5 Hendon Hooker, Tennessee

Jayden Daniels

LOUISIANA STATE QUARTERBACK

LSU’s third Heisman winner, Jayden Daniels also won the Walter Camp Player of the Year and Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Awards. The 6-foot-4 Daniels, who transferred to LSU ahead of the 2022 season from Arizona State, completed 236-of327 passes for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns with just four interceptions while also rushing for 1,134 yards and another 10 scores, leading the Tigers to a 9–3 regular season. In 2023, he led the nation in total offense (4,946) in the regular season as well as in TDs responsible for (50), passer rating (208.0), yards per pass attempt (11.7) and rushing yards by a quarterback (1,134) while his 40 TD passes were tied for first. He became the first player in FBS history to rush for 200 yards and pass for 350 yards in a game when he did it against Florida on November 11, collecting 372 yards through the air and 234 on the ground. The 606 total yards broke the SEC record. Daniels, also the 2023 Johnny Unitas Award winner, joined Heisman winner Johnny Manziel as the only other player in SEC history to pass for 3,500 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a season and is the eighth player to do it overall. Jayden Daniels was selected with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders.

1 Jayden Daniels, Lousiana State 2 Michael Penix, Jr., Washington 3 Bo Nix, Oregon 4 Marvin Harrison, Jr., Ohio State 5 Jordan Travis, Florida State

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