Fansided

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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Dec 13, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Army helicopters fly over the stadium prior to the 115th annual Army-Navy game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Army helicopters fly over the stadium prior to the 115th annual Army-Navy game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Doc Blanchard 1945 Season Statistics

  • Games: 9
  • Rushing Attempts: 101
  • Rushing Yards: 722
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 80.2
  • Yards Per Carry: 7.1
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 16
  • Receptions: 4
  • Receiving Yards: 166
  • Receiving Yards Per Game: 18.4
  • Receiving Touchdowns: 1

One half of arguably the greatest playmaking duo in college football history, Army fullback Doc Blanchard – known as “Mr. Inside” – became the first junior to win the Heisman Trophy in 1945 after finishing third the previous year.

Blanchard, who gained 722 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns in addition to 166 receiving yards and another TD for the back-to-back national champion Black Knights in 1945, beat his teammate and backfield mate “Mr. Outside” Glenn Davis by a count of 860 to 638. Like Davis, Blanchard earned consensus All-American honors in 1944, 1945 and 1946. In addition to winning the Heisman and the Maxwell Award in ’45, Blanchard finished fourth in the Heisman voting as a senior when Davis won it.

Interestingly enough, Blanchard did not begin his collegiate career in West Point. A native of South Carolina that attended high school in Mississippi, Blanchard chose to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Blanchard played for the Tar Heels’ freshman team in 1942, but decided to leave and join the Army and, after spending time on duty in New Mexico, eventually enrolled in the U.S. Military Academy.

The well-travelled Blanchard helped Army post a 27-0-1 record during his three seasons on the gridiron, during which time he gained 1,908 rushing yards and scored 38 touchdowns.

Joe Bellino 1960 Season Statistics

  • Games: 10
  • Rushing Attempts: 168
  • Rushing Yards: 834
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 83.4
  • Yards Per Carry: 5.0
  • Receptions: 17
  • Receiving Yards: 280
  • Receiving Yards Per Game: 28.0
  • Receiving Touchdowns: 3
  • Pass Completions: 5
  • Pass Attempts: 14
  • Passing Yards: 112
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 11.2
  • Passing Touchdowns: 2
  • Interceptions: 2

Navy halfback Joe Bellino was the first Midshipman to win the Heisman Trophy, having earned the honor in 1960 by a margin of more than 1,000 points with 436 first-place votes.

Bellino was a triple-threat on offense for Navy, and gained 834 rushing yards, 280 receiving yards and threw for 112 yards as the Midshipmen raced to a 9-1 regular season record, a No. 4 final ranking in the AP poll and a date with No. 5 Missouri in the Orange Bowl.

Prior to the now common nationally televised announcement, Heisman winners learned of their honors in different ways. According to ESPN’s Heisman 75 series:

"On Nov. 29, 1960, Joe Bellino was sitting in an electrical engineering class at the United States Naval Academy when he was summoned to the commandant’s office. “Of course, my initial concern was that I was in trouble with my academics,” Bellino said. “I got to his office, and my football coach, a few officers and some civilians were there.” Instead of admonishing Bellino, the commandant read him a telegram from New York’s Downtown Athletic Club. Bellino, the Midshipmen’s diminutive halfback, had won the 1960 Heisman Trophy. “I was glad I wasn’t in trouble academically,” Bellino said. “After that sank in, I was certainly glad I won the award.”"

Bellino was also a consensus All-American and won the Maxwell Award in 1960.

After his playing career was over, Bellino served four years in the U.S. Navy before joining the Boston Patriots, who drafted him in the 19th round of the 1961 AFL Draft. He returned to the Navy and served 24 more years before retirement.

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