Heisman Winners

Red Text=Utilized Redshirt Season

Name Year School Position Class
Jay Berwanger 1935 Chicago RB Senior
Larry Kelly 1936 Yale TE Senior
Clinton Frank 1937 Yale HB Senior
Davey O'Brien 1938 TCU QB Senior
Nile Kinnick 1939 Iowa RB Senior
Tom Harmon 1940 Michigan RB Senior
Bruce Smith 1941 Minnesota RB Senior
Frank Sinkwich 1942 Georgia RB Senior
Angelo Bertelli 1943 Notre Dame QB Senior
Les Horvath 1944 Ohio State HB Senior
Felix "Doc" Blanchard 1945 Army FB Junior
Glenn Davis 1946 Army RB Senior
John Lujack 1947 Notre Dame QB Senior
Doak Walker 1948 SMU RB Junior
Leon Hart 1949 Notre Dame TE Senior
Vic Janowicz 1950 Ohio State RB Junior
Dick Kazmaier 1951 Princeton RB Senior
Billy Vessels 1952 Oklahoma RB Senior
John Lattner 1953 Notre Dame RB Senior
Alan Ameche 1954 Wisconsin FB Senior
Howard Cassady 1955 Ohio State TB Senior
Paul Hornung 1956 Notre Dame QB Senior
John David Crow 1957 Texas A&M RB Senior
Pete Dawkins 1958 Army RB Senior
Billy Cannon 1959 LSU RB Senior
Joe Bellino 1960 Navy RB Senior
Ernie Davis 1961 Syracuse RB Senior
Terry Baker 1962 Oregon State QB Senior
Roger Staubach 1963 Navy QB Junior
John Huarte 1964 Notre Dame QB Senior
Mike Garrett 1965 USC RB Senior
Steve Spurrier 1966 Florida QB Senior
Gary Beban 1967 UCLA QB Senior
O.J. Simpson 1968 USC RB Senior
Steve Owens 1969 Oklahoma RB Senior
Jim Plunkett 1970 Stanford QB Senior
Pat Sullivan 1971 Auburn QB Senior
Johnny Rodgers 1972 Nebraska WR Senior
John Cappelletti 1973 Penn State RB Senior
Archie Griffin 1974 Ohio State RB Junior
Archie Griffin 1975 Ohio State RB Senior
Tony Dorsett 1976 Pittsburgh RB Senior
Earl Campbell 1977 Texas RB Senior
Billy Sims 1978 Oklahoma RB Junior
Charles White 1979 USC RB Senior
George Rogers 1980 South Carolina RB Senior
Marcus Allen 1981 USC RB Senior
Herschel Walker 1982 Georgia RB Junior
Mike Rozier 1983 Nebraska RB Senior
Doug Flutie 1984 Boston College QB Senior
Bo Jackson 1985 Auburn RB Senior
Vinny Testaverde 1986 Miami (FL.) QB Senior
Tim Brown 1987 Notre Dame WR Senior
Barry Sanders 1988 Oklahoma State RB Junior
Andre Ware 1989 Houston QB Junior
Ty Detmer 1990 Brigham Young QB Junior
Desmond Howard 1991 Michigan WR Junior
Gino Torretta 1992 Miami (FL.) QB Senior
Charlie Ward 1993 Florida State QB Senior
Rashaan Salaam 1994 Colorado RB Junior
Eddie George 1995 Ohio State RB Senior
Danny Wuerffel 1996 Florida QB Senior
Charles Woodson 1997 Michigan CB Junior
Ricky Williams 1998 Texas RB Senior
Ron Dayne 1999 Wisconsin RB Senior
Chris Weinke 2000 Florida State QB Senior
Eric Crouch 2001 Nebraska QB Senior
Carson Palmer 2002 USC QB Senior
Jason White 2003 Oklahoma QB Senior
Matt Leinart 2004 USC QB Junior
Reggie Bush 2005 USC RB Junior
Troy Smith 2006 Ohio State QB Senior
Tim Tebow 2007 Florida QB Sophomore
Sam Bradford 2008 Oklahoma QB Sophomore
Mark Ingram 2009 USC RB Sophomore
Cam Newton 2010 Auburn QB Junior
Robert Griffin III 2011 Baylor QB Junior
Johnny Manziel 2012 Texas A&M QB Freshman
Jameis Winston 2013 Florida State QB Freshman
Marcus Mariota 2014 Oregon QB Junior
Derrick Henry 2015 Alabama RB Junior
Lamar Jackson 2016 Louisville QB Sophomore
Baker Mayfield 2017 Oklahoma QB Senior
Kyler Murray 2018 Oklahoma QB Junior
Joe Burrow 2019 LSU QB Senior
DeVonta Smith 2020 Alabama WR Senior
Bryce Young 2021 Alabama QB Sophomore
Caleb Williams 2022 USC QB Sophomore
Jayden Daniels 2023 LSU QB Senior
Travis Hunter 2024 Colorado WR/CB Senior

Heisman Records


Juniors Who Won

Year Player
1945 Doc Blanchard
1948 Doak Walker
1950 Vic Janowicz
1963 Roger Staubach
1974 Archie Griffin
1978 Billy Sims
1982 Herschel Walker
1988 Barry Sanders
1989 Andre Ware
1990 Ty Detmer
1991 Desmond Howard
1994 Rashaan Salaam
1997 Charles Woodson
2004 Matt Leinart
2005 Reggie Bush
2010 Cam Newton
2011 Robert Griffin III
2014 Marcus Mariota
2015 Derrick Henry
2018 Kyler Murray
2024 Ashton Jeanty

Sophomores Who Won

Year Player
2007 Tim Tebow
2008 Sam Bradford
2009 Mark Ingram
2016 Lamar Jackson
2021 Bryce Young
2022 Caleb Williams

Freshmen Who Won

Year Player
2012 Johnny Manziel
2013 Jameis Winston

The Heisman Trophy, awarded annually to the most outstanding player in American college football, has seen a wide range of winners since its inception in 1935. The list of Heisman winners includes some of the greatest names in football history, such as legendary quarterbacks like Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, and Peyton Manning, as well as running backs like Jim Brown, O.J. Simpson, and Barry Sanders, who dazzled with their extraordinary performances. The trophy has also recognized remarkable wide receivers, defensive players, and even kickers, though offensive skill positions have historically dominated. Heisman winners have come from a variety of college programs, though schools like Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Alabama have produced a significant number of recipients. Over the decades, the award has come to symbolize not only athletic excellence but also character, sportsmanship, and contributions to the game. Notable modern winners include players like Tim Tebow, Cam Newton, and Joe Burrow, whose individual performances propelled their teams to national prominence. The Heisman Trophy remains one of the most prestigious individual honors in American sports.