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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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Steve Spurrier 1966 Season Statistics

  • Games: 10
  • Pass Completions: 179
  • Pass Attempts: 291
  • Completion Percentage: 61.5
  • Passing Yards: 2,012
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 201.2
  • Passing Touchdowns: 16
  • Interceptions: 8
  • Rushing Attempts: 76
  • Rushing Yards: 66
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 6.6
  • Yards Per Carry: 0.9
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 0
  • Receiving: 2 REC, 17 YD

The first Florida Gator to win the Heisman Trophy, Steve Spurrier later became the only Heisman winner to coach another Heisman winner when Danny Wuerffel won the award in 1996 – the year Spurrier also led his alma mater to the national championship.

Spurrier’s Heisman campaign got off to a great start in 1966 when he led the Gators to a 7-0 record that helped the team climb to a No. 7 national ranking in the AP poll. Though the Gators lost two of their final three regular season games, Spurrier’s 2,012 passing yards and 16 touchdowns (both of which led the SEC and ranked in the top ten nationally) helped the senior signal caller to a lopsided victory in the Heisman voting over Purdue quarterback Bob Griese.

Spurrier received 433 first place votes to Griese’s 184 and also beat fifth-place finisher UCLA quarterback Gary Beban, who would win the Heisman the following season. In addition to winning the Heisman, Spurrier was named the SEC Player of the Year and a consensus All-American.

After winning the Heisman, Spurrier donated the trophy to the University of Florida, which spurred the tradition of awarding a trophy to both the individual winner and his school in following years.

John Cappelletti 1973 Season Statistics

  • Games: 11
  • Rushing Attempts: 286
  • Rushing Yards: 1,522
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 138.4
  • Yards Per Carry: 5.3
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 17
  • Receptions: 6
  • Receiving Yards: 69
  • Receiving Touchdowns: 0
  • Passing: 1-for-2, 17 YD

Several Heisman Trophy winners played both offense and defense, particularly in the first few decades of the award’s existence. However, few Heisman winners began their careers playing primarily on one side of the football before making a switch to the other two years later.

Penn State running back John Cappelletti was a defensive back for the Nittany Lions as a freshman and sophomore before being converted to running back as a junior. In 1972, Cappelletti ran for 1,117 yards and scored 12 rushing touchdowns, as well as one receiving TD, to set the stage for his 1973 Heisman campaign.

As a senior, the Pennsylvania native piled up 1,522 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, both of which ranked fourth in the nation. His rushing total was the second best in school history at the time and still ranks in the top five in the program record books.

On the strength of three consecutive late-season games in which he topped 200 rushing yards, Cappelletti won the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and was named a consensus All-American. Cappelletti also carried the load for the Nittany Lions, who capped off a 12-0 season with a 16-9 victory over LSU in the Orange Bowl. Penn State finished the year ranked No. 5 in the final AP poll.

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