Ranking the last 20 Heisman winners

SI Staff | Dec 11, 2008

Ranking the last 20 Heisman winners /

Ranking the last 20 Heisman winners

Gino Torretta, QB

Torretta threw for 3,080 yards with 19 touchdowns and 7 interceptions and beat out San Diego State sophomore Marshall Faulk.

Eric Crouch, QB

As the centerpiece of Nebraska's last truly effective option attack, Crouch threw for 1,510 yards and seven touchdowns while running for 1,115 yards and 18 scores.

Chris Weinke, QB

Having spent seven years playing minor league baseball before returning to the gridiron in Tallahassee, Weinke became the oldest Heisman winner ever (28), barely beating out Oklahoma's Josh Heupel.

Jason White, QB

After missing two straight years with ACL tears, White quarterbacked one of the most prolific offenses the Big 12 has ever seen and threw for 3,744 and 40 touchdowns.

Ron Dayne, RB

Dayne rushed for 1,834 yards as a senior to become the NCAA's all-time leading rusher (6,279 yards) and easily won the award over Virginia Tech's Michael Vick.

Andre Ware, QB

Leading Houston to a 9-2 record, Ware passed for 4,699 yards and 46 touchdowns. In the Cougars' 47-9 win over Texas, Ware had four touchdown passes.

Troy Smith, QB

Smith guided the Buckeyes to an undefeated regular season, by throwing 30 touchdowns to just six interceptions. The Buckeyes senior set a Heisman record by receiving 86.7 percent of the first-place votes. But Florida revealed Smith's Buckeyes as a fraud with a 41-14 whooping in the BCS National Championship Game.

Carson Palmer, QB

Palmer started all four of his seasons at USC, but didn't come into his own until he played his senior year under offensive coordinator Norm Chow. Palmer threw for 3,942 yards and 33 touchdowns to just 10 picks.

Matt Leinart, QB

Leinart led the USC to its second consecutive national title (at least according to the AP poll), throwing for 3,322 yards 33 touchdowns and just six interceptions. Leinart edged out Adrian Peterson and Jason White to win the award.

Rashaan Salaam, RB

Salaam led the nation in rushing (186.8 yards per game). He rushed for 165 yards against Michigan in the Big House and 312 yards against Texas.

Charlie Ward, QB

The multi-talented QB became the first Florida State player ever to win the Heisman. Working out of the shotgun, Ward could beat teams with his legs and his arm (he completed over 70 percent of his passes.

Danny Wuerffel, QB

In leading the Gators to the national title, Wuerffel passed for 3,625 and 39 touchdowns and broke numerous Florida passing records. Wuerffel also became the only Heisman winner ever to be coached by a former recipient of the award (Steve Spurrier).

Eddie George, RB

George went for 99 yards in the Kickoff Classic, and then rumbled for at least 100 yards in his next 11 games, averaging 152.2 and scoring 23 touchdowns.

Ty Detmer, QB

Following in a long line of prolific QBs that has included Jim McMahon and Steve Young, Detmer set the NCAA mark for single-season yards passing (5,188) and 41 touchdowns.

Reggie Bush, RB

Bush received the highest percentage of first place votes ever (84%), winning the award over Texas' Vince Young and teammate Matt Leinart. One of the most prolific big play threats ever in college football, Bush rushed for 1,658 yards and 15 TDs and caught 31 passes for 383 yards and two TDs.

Desmond Howard, WR

Howard had 19 touchdowns (23 total) in one of the finest years ever for a receiver. After a 93-yard punt return for a touchdown against Ohio State -- during which announcer Keith Jackson uttered "Hello Heisman!" -- Howard celebrated the effort by striking the Heisman pose.

Tim Tebow, QB

After achieving the first 20-20 season (32 passing TDs, 23 rushing TDs) in major college history, Tebow became the first underclassman ever to win the stiff-armed statuette. Although Arkansas RB Darren McFadden enjoyed a prolific season of his own, Florida's dynamic playmaker locked up the award by scoring 21 touchdowns ... in four November games.

Charles Woodson, CB/WR

Woodson is the only primarily defensive player to win the Heisman. As a cornerback, he finished second in the nation with eight interceptions, but he also served as a big play receiver and top notch punt returner (his 78-yard punt return score against Ohio State may have sealed up the Heisman).

Ricky Williams, RB

On his way to becoming the NCAA's all-time leading rusher (a record which would be broken one season later by Ron Dayne), Williams ran for 2,124 yards and 27 TDs.

Barry Sanders, RB

After backing up Thurman Thomas for two seasons, Sanders took over as the Cowboys primary rusher. The junior ran for 2,628 yards while scoring 37 touchdowns in 11 regular-season games (both still NCAA single-season records).

Published Dec 11, 2008

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