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Ranking Heisman Trophy winners from 1-81

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Dec 14, 2013; New York, NY, USA; The Heisman Trophy is seen during a press conference before the announcement of the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2013; New York, NY, USA; The Heisman Trophy is seen during a press conference before the announcement of the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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2003 Heisman Trophy winner, Oklahoma quarterback Jason White (Photo by Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images)
2003 Heisman Trophy winner, Oklahoma quarterback Jason White (Photo by Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images) /

Vic Janowicz 1950 Season Statistics

  • Games: 9
  • Rushing Attempts: 114
  • Rushing Yards: 314
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 34.9
  • Yards Per Carry: 2.8
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 4
  • Pass Completions: 32
  • Pass Attempts: 77
  • Passing Yards: 561
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 62.3
  • Passing Touchdowns: 12
  • Interceptions: 7
  • Receiving: 1 REC, 17 YD

The second of Ohio State’s seven Heisman Trophy winners, Vic Janowicz was an all-around performer for the Buckeyes that won the award for his playmaking abilities as a halfback, safety, kicker and punter.

In the Rose Bowl following his sophomore season, Janowicz intercepted two Cal passes and returned one for a touchdown in a 17-14 victory over the Golden Bears. That performance set the stage for a Heisman run as a junior.

Janowicz was Ohio State’s leading passer in 1951, his junior season, and completed 32 of 77 pass attempts for 561 yards and 12 touchdowns with seven interceptions. A dual-threat offensively, Janowicz also ran for 314 yards and scored four TDs on 114 carries, which gave him the preduction needed to win the Heisman over SMU running back Kyle Rote and Penn halfback Reds Bagnell.

Janowicz helped Ohio State rise as high as No. 1 in the AP Poll following a 6-1 start to the season, but the Buckeyes lost their final two games to finish 6-3 and ranked No. 14.

The first Heisman Trophy winner to also play Major League Baseball, Janowicz spent two years as a catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also played two seasons in the NFL before a brain injury as the result of a car accident ended his career.

Jason White 2003 Season Statistics

  • Games: 14
  • Pass Completions: 278
  • Pass Attempts: 451
  • Completion Percentage: 61.6
  • Passing Yards: 3,846
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 274.7
  • Passing Touchdowns: 40
  • Interceptions: 10
  • Rushing Attempts: -150
  • Rushing Yards: 42
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 10.8
  • Yards Per Carry: -3.6
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 1

Oklahoma quarterback Jason White played in just 13 games in his first three seasons with the Sooners from 1999-2002, and suffered a serious ankle injury and two torn ACLs over that time period.

However, a healthy White emerged as Oklahoma’s starting QB in 2003 and threw for 3,846 yards and 40 touchdowns (which ranked seventh and third in the nation, respectively) with just ten interceptions to become the fourth Sooner and first OU signal caller to earn the Heisman Trophy.

White’s Heisman victory was close as he narrowly edged Pitt wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald by 128 points. While White led Oklahoma to a 12-1 regular season record and a spot in the Sugar Bowl against LSU with the BCS National Championship on the line, a strong case could be made that Fitzgerald had the more impressive Heisman resumé. Fitzgerald (who won the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award) caught 92 passes for 1,672 yards and 22 touchdowns, however no sophomore had yet to win the award and the Panthers were just 8-4 in the regular season.

In addition to winning the Heisman, White was named a consensus All-American, won the AP Player of the Year Award and the Davey O’Brien Award. He returned to school as a senior in 2004 and won the O’Brien again as well as the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Maxwell Award while finishing third in Heisman voting.

Next: No. 61-60

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