Ranking Heisman Trophy winners from 1-81
Chris Weinke 2000 Season Statistics
- Games: 12
- Pass Completions: 266
- Pass Attempts: 431
- Completion Percentage: 61.7
- Passing Yards: 4,167
- Passing Yards Per Game: 347.3
- Passing Touchdowns: 33
- Interceptions: 11
- Rushing Attempts: 30
- Rushing Yards: -97
- Yards Per Carry: -3.2
- Rushing Touchdowns: 1
Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke became the second Seminoles QB to win both a national championship and the Heisman Trophy, accomplishing those goals in 1999 and 2000, respectively.
While Weinke’s accomplishments are terrific, as are the statistics from his Heisman-winning campaign, Weinke falls to the bottom half of this list because he played with a bit of an unfair advantage during his time in Tallahassee. After earning high school All-American honors in 1989 and signing with FSU as part of the same recruiting class that featured Heisman winner Charlie Ward, Weinke instead decided to play professional baseball.
After spending seven years in the minor leagues, Weinke eventually enrolled at FSU in 1997. In 2000, Weinke was 28 years old, which makes him the oldest Heisman winner by far.
Nevertheless, Weinke put together an impressive resume that helped him beat Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel by a narrow margin of just 76 points in one of the closest races in history. Weinke also beat Purdue QB Drew Brees and TCU running back LaDanian Tomlinson in a star-studded field of Heisman hopefuls while leading the nation with 4,167 passing yards. His 33 touchdowns were the second-most in the country.
In addition to winning the Heisman, Weinke won the Davey O’Brien Award, the Sammy Baugh Trophy and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
Larry Kelley 1936 Season Statistics*
- Games: 8
- Receptions: 17
- Receiving Yards: 372
- Receiving Yards Per Game: 46.5
- Receiving Touchdowns: 4
- Interceptions (Defense): 1
Though history knows Yale end Larry Kelley as the second player ever to win he Heisman Trophy, 1936 was actually the first season in which the award was named after the legendary John Heisman. When Chicago halfback Jay Berwanger was named college football’s best player in 1935, it was called the DAC Trophy after the Downtown Athletic Club that presented it. Also, only players located east of the Mississippi River were eligible that first year.
The 6-foot-2 Kelley, who was known primarily as a defensive standout, was also a big-play receiver for the Elis. As a senior, when Kelley was named a consensus All-American and won the Heisman by a large margin over Nebraska’s Sam Francis, he caught 17 passes for 372 yards – an average of 21.9yards per reception – and four touchdowns. Kelley, who also recorded an interception on defense in 1936, helped Yale to a 7-1 record.
In 1981, Kelley and teammate Clint Frank, who won the Heisman the following season, donated their statues to Yale.
“My little friend here has meant much to me in 45 years,” Kelley said in the ceremony honoring the pair, according to Ivan Maisel of ESPN. “His headgear has been worn smooth by my friends and me wishing for luck. I’ll miss him, but now there’s a time to make better use of him. I hope some potential Rhodes Scholars visiting Yale gain some inspiration. And I hope they can run, pass and kick.”
*According to his Heisman bio.
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