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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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Quarterback Jim Plunkett of the Stanford Indians in a 27 to 17 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 1971 Rose Bowl on 1/1/1971 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. (Photo by James Flores/WireImage) *** Local Caption ***
Quarterback Jim Plunkett of the Stanford Indians in a 27 to 17 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 1971 Rose Bowl on 1/1/1971 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. (Photo by James Flores/WireImage) *** Local Caption *** /

Clint Frank 1937 Season Statistics*

  • Games: 8
  • Passing Yards: 489
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 61.1
  • Passing Touchdowns: 5
  • Rushing Yards: 667
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 83.4
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 6
  • Receptions: 1
  • Receiving Yards: 6
  • Interceptions (Defense): 4

Just the third player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, Clint Frank was the second straight member of the Yale football team to earn the honor in 1937 following his teammate Larry Kelley. Frank finished fifth in the Heisman voting behind Kelley in 1936 before winning the award ahead of Colorado’s Byron “Whizzer” White and Pittsburgh’s Marshall Goldberg the following season. He earned 524 votes compared to 264 and 211 for White and Goldberg, respectively.

A multi-threat quarterback and halfback for the Bulldogs, Frank accumulated 489 passing yards and five touchdowns along with 667 rushing yards and six scores during his Heisman-winning campaign. Frank also played standout defense (he recorded four interceptions in 1937 and 11 in his career) and spent time returning punts and kicks as well. He led Yale to a 6-1-1 record and a No. 12 final ranking from the Associated Press in 1937.

A consensus All-American that also won the Maxwell Award, Frank finished his career with 1,244 rushing yards, 937 passing yards and 20 total touchdowns.

An Illinois native that attended secondary school in New Jersey, Frank studied economics at Yale, served in the Army Air Corps in World War II, and though he was drafted in the 12th round of the 1938 NFL Draft, went on to a prominent career in advertising in Chicago.

*According to his Heisman.com bio

Jim Plunkett 1970 Season Statistics

  • Games: 12
  • Pass Completions: 211
  • Pass Attempts: 388
  • Completion Percentage: 54.4
  • Passing Yards: 2,980
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 248.3
  • Passing Touchdowns: 19
  • Interceptions: 19
  • Rushing Attempts: 87
  • Rushing Yards: 209
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 17.4
  • Yards Per Carry: 2.4
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 3

Stanford quarterback Jim Plunkett established himself as the best player in the Pac-8 Conference during his first two seasons as a starter in 1968 and 1969, having led the league in every major passing category in both seasons. Plunkett also garnered national attention in 1969 and finished seventh in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. Nevertheless, as Plunkett entered the 1970 campaign alongside Notre Dame quarterback Joe Theismann and Ole Miss signal caller Archie Manning, he was not one of the favorites to win the Heisman.

However, Plunkett was able to beat out Theismann and Manning, who finished second and third in the Heisman voting, respectively, on the strength of a nation-leading 2,980 passing yards. Plunkett also led the country with 211 pass completions and finished third nationally with 19 touchdown passes. Athletic enough to make plays with his feet as well, Plunkett also gained 209 rushing yards and scored three times on the ground.

Plunkett, who led Stanford to a 9-3 record and a victory over Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, won a host of national player of the year awards from magazines, newspapers and other organizations, and also captured the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award in addition to consensus All-American honors. He left Stanford as the NCAA’s all-time leader in passing yardage (7,544) and total offense (7,887).

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