Gridiron Elites: Last 30 Heisman Winners List

Caleb William is the seventh Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Southern California. He won the 88th Trophy after an impressive second year.

Williams made history on December 10, 2022, as the seventh USC player to win the title. His sophomore season with USC was a blast, besting the Maxwell and Walter Camp Awards and the AP Player of the Year.

He boasted 4,075 passing yards and 37 touchdowns. His exceptional play led USC to an 11-2 season, a massive leap from their 4-8 standing the previous year.

Even in the Cotton Bowl Classic, despite a harrowing 46-45 loss to Tulane, Williams set bowl game records with 462 passing yards and five touchdowns, sealing his Heisman legacy in spectacular style.

Bryce Young made history as Alabama's youngest Quarterback on December 11. He claimed the Heisman Trophy as a 20-year-old athlete and became the fourth Crimson Tide player to win it since 2009.

After an impressive sophomore season, the player threw 4,322 yards while completing 68% of his passes. This was his first year as a starting quarterback.

He managed an exceptional 43 touchdowns and only four interceptions. His leadership guided the Crimson Tide to a 12-1 record, securing the 2021 SEC championship and claiming the top seed in the College Football Playoff.

Devonta Smith made a historic Heisman Trophy win since Desmond Howard. He became the first wide receiver since 1991 to clinch the prestigious award.

His senior year stats were staggering, leading the nation with 98 receptions and 1,511 receiving yards. He also contributed 17 touchdown catches and an average of 137.4 yards per game.

Smith was a senior in his fourth year who was also awarded the best offensive player award in the SEC in 2020. He and his teammate Mac Jones helped Alabama win the SEC championship and become the top team in the College Football Playoff.

Joe Burrow's Heisman Trophy marked a monumental achievement, making him the second LSU player following Late Billy Cannon in 1959.

The Quarterback recorded an astounding season, amassing 4,715 passing yards and tying an award record with 48 touchdowns. His versatility extended, adding 289 yards and three rushing scores, boasting an exceptional 77.9% completion rate, which was best in class.

He led LSU to a perfect season of 13 wins and 0 losses. They became SEC champions after eight years and made it to the College Football Playoff for the first time with Joe's leadership.

Kyler Murray recorded his name in history, winning the Heisman Trophy for the Oklahoma Sooners. He was a successor to the quarterback Baker Mayfield for the title.

He joined the prestigious group that includes Billy Vessels, Steve Owens, Billy Sims, Jason White, Sam Bradford, and Mayfield.

Oklahoma now has seven trophies, tying Notre Dame and Ohio State for the most trophy wins by a university. He gathered 4,946 yards of offense and scored 51 touchdowns while leading the Sooners to the College Football Playoff.

Baker Mayfield is one of the entertaining CFB players who was able to clinch Oklahoma’s sixth Heisman. He was the one who contributed the highest passing efficiency rating in FBS history.

He had an incredible performance for the season with 4,340 yards and 41 touchdowns with five interceptions, securing the team in the College Football Playoff.

His outstanding achievements led him to win the accolade with 2,398 points. This record was far ahead of Bryce Love's 1,300, lending him a legendary trophy win from the Oklahoma Sooners.

Lamar Jackson made history by claiming the Heisman Trophy at just 19 years of age. He became the youngest winner ever.

The legendary quarterback recorded 4,928 total offensive yards and 51 combined touchdowns in rushing and passing for Louisville.

Jackson won the accolade decisively with 2,144 points compared to Deshaun Watson's ACC rival with 1,524. He dominated in all six voting regions, showcasing his fantastic season record.

By the end of the season, Lamar's yardage and touchdown totals were among the best in College Football History. He clinched the award-winning all six voting regions.

Derrick Henry has been recorded as the second Alabama player to have a victory over the Heisman Trophy since 1999. Henry won the award by surpassing Christian McCaffrey from Stanford.

He surpassed McCaffrey's 219 voting points with a whopping 368 points, making him a lead for the trophy that year.

After that, he guided the Crimson Tide to the national title, scoring 158 yards and three touchdowns against Clemson. That year, the player contributed 2219 rushing yards with an average of 5.6 and made an impressive 28 touchdowns.

Marcus Mariota clinched the Heisman Trophy in the year, making history. He was Oregon's first winner and the inaugural Polynesian recipient.

That year, he contributed 53 total touchdowns with a 95.16% ballot appearance. This mark and his massive contribution made him win the honorable trophy.

His previous junior year became legendary, securing 3,783 passing yards and 38 touchdowns, record-breaking statistics. Mariota was the leader nationwide in touchdowns, passing efficiency with a rating of 186.33, and total offense, accumulating 4,452 yards.

Jameis Winston was among the youngest players to grab the Heisman Trophy at 19. He was the third Florida State Seminole to win the trophy after Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke.

Winston led his team to an undefeated season and a BCS title in 2013. He was the first redshirt freshman to win the Crowns and a national championship in a single season.

Before winning the crown, the footballer contributed 3,820 yards and 38 touchdowns with ten interceptions. His passing efficiency rating of 190.04 was the second-best among all trophy winners.

Johnny Manziel had a ground-breaking achievement, securing the Heisman Trophy as the first freshman in 2012. He played as a Quarterback for Texas A&M.;

He set an SEC record of 4,600 yards, propelling the Aggies to a 10-2 season. His impressive stat of 3,419 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and 1,181 rushing yards sealed him the fortune of the honorary trophy in that year.

Manziel had also earned the SEC Freshman of the Year title, was a Davey O’Brien Award winner, and became the 77th Trophy recipient for his outstanding performances.

Robert Griffin III made history as the first Baylor Bear to clinch the Heisman Trophy, earning the honor after a remarkable junior season.

Griffin passed for 3,998 yards and 36 touchdowns and rushed for 644 yards and nine scores. He guided Baylor to a 9-3 regular-season record and its highest ranking since 1986, reaching the top 15.

The Quarterback's pass efficiency rating 192.31 set a new standard in the award history.

He received multiple 2011 National Player of the Year awards from various sources, including the Davey O’Brien and Manning Awards, before becoming the 76th trophy winner.

Cam Newton is Auburn's third Heisman winner, who left an unerasable mark in 2010. He became the first junior college transfer since Mike Rozier in 1983 to achieve this feat.

During his previous season before the trophy, Newton had an impressive season. He recorded 2,589 yards and 28 touchdowns with only six interceptions.

He also rushed for 1,409 yards and scored 20 touchdowns. His outstanding performance contributed to the Tigers' undefeated season and their victory in the SEC championship.

Newton's exceptional season earned him the titles of 2010 SEC Offensive Player of the Year and the 2010 AP Player of the Year before he won the crown in a commanding fashion.

Ingram made history by becoming the first Alabama player to win the Heisman Trophy. His contributions significantly led the Crimson Tide to the 2009 national championship.

Ingram rushed for 1,542 yards and scored 15 touchdowns, catching 30 passes for 322 yards in his sophomore year. His impressive performance contributed to Alabama's undefeated season and their first SEC title win since 1999.

As a reward, the running back clinched the trophy and was recorded as the youngest player. The player was awarded the MVP title in the BCS game as Alabama won over Texas, securing their 13th national championship.

Sam Bradford became the fifth Oklahoma player and second consecutive sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy. The pivotal 2008 season saw Bradford make the highest-scoring NCAA offense.

His remarkable stats following 4,464 passing yards and 48 touchdowns led Oklahoma to a 12-1 record and clinch a BCS title game.

The Quarterback entered the NFL draft and was chosen as the first overall pick in the 2010 draft by the St. Louis Rams. He earned the title of 2010 NFL Rookie of the Year for his outstanding performance after that.

Tebow concluded an exceptional season by becoming the first sophomore in NCAA history to win the Heisman Trophy. His win placed him alongside Steve Spurrier, and Danny Wuerffel from the University of Florida.

Tebow achieved a remarkable feat by both rushing and passing for a total of 51 touchdowns during the regular season. He was also the first of the outstanding spread quarterbacks (QB) to win the trophy.

By the end of his college career, the QB had an incredible tally. He was able to secure five NCAA titles, 14 SEC, and 28 Florida statistical records.

Troy Smith was named the seventh Heisman winner for Ohio State after guiding the Buckeyes to an undefeated 2006 regular season. He was the 5th winner as a Buckeye player.

The QB showcased his remarkable skills by completing 67% of his passes for 2,507 yards and 30 touchdowns, with only five interceptions in the 2006 season. His exceptional performance guided the Buckeyes to an undefeated regular season.

Smith concluded the year by receiving an overwhelming 86.7% of the award vote. This marked him the second-highest percentage in the history of the award.

Reggie is the electrifying running back from USC who captured Southern California's prestigious Heisman in 2005.

That season, Bush attempted 13 games and contributed an outstanding 1740 rushing yards with an average of 8.7 per attempt. He achieved 16 touchdowns with 478 receiving yards.

Bush became a unanimous first-team All-American, followed by the Prestigious accolade. He received multiple prestigious awards, including the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year in that particular season.

Matt Leinart successfully listed himself as the Heisman winner by leading the Trojans to an undefeated season. The QB steered USC to become the second team ever to hold the No. 1 spot in the polls from start to finish.

Leinart had an impressive season, throwing 2,990 yards and 28 touchdowns with only 6 interceptions that year. Additionally, he scored three touchdowns through rushing.

The legendary Quarterback guided the Trojans to an undefeated regular season and a spot in the BCS title game. throwing for 332 yards and five touchdowns. This stellar performance led the team to a decisive 55-19 victory over Oklahoma securing a second consecutive national title.

Jason White was a Quarterback from the University of Oklahoma who fought past severe injuries to clinch the Heisman title. He became the fourth Sooner to achieve this feat.

White seemed an unlikely candidate to stay healthy through the 2003 season despite enduring two ACL surgeries. With limited mobility, he threw 3,744 yards and 40 touchdowns with only eight interceptions.

This was one of his most stellar performances which led the sooner to an undefeated regular season and a spot in the BCS title game in that year.

He was awarded numerous titles including the Associated Press Player of the Year, Unanimous All-American honors, and the consensus Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year after that game.

Carson Palmer secured USC's fifth Heisman win which was also the first since 1981. He played a crucial role in leading the Trojans to their highest ranking and most victories since 1979.

Palmer evolved into an elite player passing 3,639 yards and 32 touchdowns, leading the Trojans to a 10-2 finish and securing a trip to the Orange Bowl. This was done by the player under the guidance of renowned offensive coordinator Norm Chow.

The Quarterback's performance notably peaked in the latter half of the season, when he threw 19 touchdowns in the final six games. This outstanding performance including four crucial touchdowns in a significant win against Notre Dame earned him the honorary accolade.

Eric Crouch secured the third Heisman, standing alongside Johnny Rodgers (72) and Mike Rozier (83) from Nebraska. He is notably recognized as the final quarterback to win the award.

In his final year in 2002, the winner of the accolade played outstandingly. He passed for 1,510 yards and ran for a career-high 1,115 yards, scoring 18 touchdowns.

He was able to secure three big awards in that year. This includes Walter Camp Player of the Year and the Davey O’Brien quarterback prize.

Chris Weinke earned Florida State's second Heisman while guiding the Seminoles to a spot in the BCS title game. He holds the record for being the oldest player to win this award at 28 years old.

Weinke was recognized as the best passer who contributed 4,167 yards in his senior year in 2000. In that year he accumulated a variety of awards including the Davey O'Brien Award and the Johnny Unitas Award for his record-breaking skill as a QB.

The record-breaker passer was also able to guide the Seminoles to the Orange Bowl which was their third national championship game in three years but was less fortunate losing with the sooner 13-2

Hailing from the University of Wisconsin, Ron Dayne secured the Heisman title after setting an incredible NCAA career rushing record. He accumulated 1834 rushing yards that year clinching the accolade.

The Running Back played a pivotal role in leading Wisconsin to consecutive Rose Bowl victories in his last two seasons. He made a significant impact rushing for a total of 446 yards in wins against UCLA and Stanford.

Dayne stands as the sole Big Ten player ever to secure back-to-back Rose Bowl MVP awards. After that, he was drafted 11th overall by the New York Giants in the 2000 NFL Draft.

Ricky Williams accomplished a remarkable feat by breaking Tony Dorsett's 22-year-old NCAA career rushing record. He further solidified his legacy by becoming the second player from Texas to win the Heisman joining Earl Campbell in that elite group.

Williams led Texas to a great 9-3 season and won the Trophy in 1998. Lots of people voted for him to win getting 43% of the first-place votes from 920 voters.

He had an amazing season running for 2,124 yards and scoring 27 touchdowns. Ricky was also able to pull off the Doak Walker Award twice including the Maxwell and Walter Camp Foundation Player of the Year awards in that season.

Woodson became the third Heisman winner for Michigan following the lead of Desmond Howard and Tom Harmon. He made history as the sole player to win the crown while playing substantial time on both offense and defense.

Woodson excelled in his skills on both offense and defense in his junior year snagging seven interceptions. He contributed 43 tackles and 11 passes for 231 yards with a touchdown.

He was an excellent punt returner which led the college to have an undefeated regular season. With his lead, the team was able to claim their first National Title since 1949 and clinch the honor.

Danny Wuerffel is the successor of Coach Steve Spurrier from the University of Florida to grasp the Heisman Trophy. It was the first time a winner emerged from a college coached by someone who was once a recipient of the trophy.

Wuerffel made an outstanding contribution in the year tossing 3,625 yards and 36 touchdowns. He steered the Gators to an impressive 11-1 record and another chance at the national title followed by the trophy.

He led Gators to an astounding 50-20 victory over their rival Florida State securing their first national title in 1996.

Eddie George seized the sixth Heisman Trophy, leaving an indelible mark with the Buckeyes. His legacy includes becoming the second-highest career rusher in OSU history, who tallied an impressive 3,768 yards and ranking third in rushing touchdowns with a total of 44.

George left Ohio State as the second-highest career rusher in school history by gathering 3,768 yards. He secured the third spot in rushing touchdowns, i.e., 44.

Overall, he ended his college career with 4,284 yards and 45 touchdowns. His remarkable achievements made him into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

Salaam was able to surpass the impressive milestone of 2,000 rushing yards in a single season. He is Colorado's first Heisman Trophy winner in the collegiate franchise history.

Salaam played a pivotal role in an exceptional 10-1 regular season, propelling the team to a No. 4 ranking. His exceptional performance led to a decisive trophy over the runner-up Ki-Jana Carter.

Salaam showcased his prowess by scoring three touchdowns against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl after his trophy. This victory secured Colorado to an 11-1 season finish securing a No. 3 ranking in the final standings.

Ward's leadership guided the Seminoles to an impressive 11-1 record and secured a No. 1 ranking in the AP polls. He clinched the inaugural Heisman Trophy following an outstanding season at Florida State.

In that season, the QB contributed an impressive 3032 passing yards and 27 touchdowns. Moreover, Ward led the Seminoles to a historic 18-16 triumph against Nebraska in the Orange Bowl securing Florida State after the legendary trophy win.