The Heisman Trophy Award is named after the former college football
coach John Heisman. This trophy is awarded annually by the Downtown Athletic
Club of New York City to the most outstanding player in collegiate football.
Although it is not the only award honoring the best player in college
football—the Walter Camp Award and Maxwell Award are also awarded to the
"best player"—it is considered the most prestigious. It is awarded in early
December before the postseason bowl games begin.
Heisman Award Winners
1935 — Jay
Berwanger, Chicago, HB
1936 — Larry Kelley, Yale, E
1937 — Clint Frank, Yale, HB
1938 — Davey O'Brien, Texas Christian, QB
1939 — Nile Kinnick, Iowa, HB
1940 — Tom Harmon, Michigan, HB
1941 — Bruce Smith, Minnesota, HB
1942 — Frank Sinkwich, Georgia, HB
1943 — Angelo Bertelli, Notre Dame, QB
1944 — Les Horvath, Ohio State, QB
1945 — Doc Blanchard, Army, HB
1946 — Glenn Davis, Army, HB
1947 — John Lujack, Notre Dame, QB
1948 — Doak Walker, SMU, HB
1949 — Leon Hart, Notre Dame, E
1950 — Vic Janowicz, Ohio State, HB
1951 — Dick Kazmaier, Princeton, HB
1952 — Billy Vessels, Oklahoma, HB
1953 — John Lattner, Notre Dame, HB
1954 — Alan Ameche, Wisconsin, FB
1955 — Howard Cassady, Ohio State, HB
1956 — Paul Hornung, Notre Dame, QB
1957 — John David Crow, Texas A&M, HB
1958 — Pete Dawkins, Army, HB
1959 — Billy Cannon, LSU, HB
1960 — Joe Bellino, Navy, HB
1961 — Ernie Davis, Syracuse, HB
1962 — Terry Baker, Oregon State, QB
1963 — Roger Staubach, Navy, QB
1964 — John Huarte, Notre Dame, QB
1965 — Mike Garrett, Southern California, TB
1966 — Steve Spurrier, Florida, QB
1967 — Gary Beban, UCLA, QB
1968 — O.J. Simpson, Southern California, TB
1969 — Steve Owens, Oklahoma, HB
1970 — Jim Plunkett, Stanford, QB
1971 — Pat Sullivan, Auburn, QB
1972 — Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska, FL
1973 — John Cappelletti, Penn State, HB
1974 — Archie Griffin, Ohio State, HB
1975 — Archie Griffin, Ohio State, HB
1976 — Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh, HB
1977 — Earl Campbell, Texas, FB
1978 — Billy Sims, Oklahoma, HB
1979 — Charles White, Southern California, TB
1980 — George Rogers, South Carolina, HB
1981 — Marcus Allen, Southern California, TB
1982 — Herschel Walker, Georgia, HB
1983 — Mike Rozier, Nebraska, TB
1984 — Doug Flutie, Boston College, QB
1985 — Bo Jackson, Auburn, TB
1986 — Vinny Testaverde, Miami, QB
1987 — Tim Brown, Notre Dame, WR
1988 — Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State, RB
1989 — Andre Ware, Houston, QB
1990 — Ty Detmer, Brigham Young, QB
1991 — Desmond Howard, Michigan, WR
1992 — Gino Torretta, Miami, QB
1993 — Charlie Ward, Florida State, QB
1994 — Rashaan Salaam, Colorado, RB
1995 — Eddie George, Ohio State, TB
1996 — Danny Wuerffel, Florida, QB
1997 — Charles Woodson, Michigan, CB
1998 — Ricky Williams, Texas, RB
1999 — Ron Dayne, Wisconsin, RB
2000 — Chris Weinke, Florida State, QB
2001 — Eric Crouch, Nebraska, QB
2002 — Carson Palmer, Southern California, QB
2003 — Jason White, Oklahoma, QB
2004 — Matt Leinart, Southern California, QB
2005 — Reggie Bush, Southern California, RB
2006 — Troy Smith, Ohio State, QB
2007 — Tim Tebow, Florida, QB
2008 - Sam Bradford,Oklahoma QB