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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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George Rogers 1980 Season Statistics

  • Games: 11
  • Rushing Attempts: 297
  • Rushing Yards: 1,781
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 161.9
  • Yards Per Carry: 6.0
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 14
  • Receptions: 7
  • Receiving Yards: 23
  • Receiving Yards Per Game: 2.1
  • Receiving Touchdowns: 0

George Rogers was the greatest player in South Carolina football history and the only Gamecock ever to win the Heisman Trophy, which he did as a senior in 1980.

Rogers improved each and every year of his college career as the running back rushed for 623 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman, then 1,006 yards and six scores as a sophomore, followed by 1,681 rushing yards and eight TDs as a junior. Saving his best for last, Rogers led the nation with 1,781 rushing yards as a senior, eclipsed the 100-yard mark in every game to push his streak to 21 straight games of 100 rushing yards of more, and led South Carolina to an 8-3 regular season record and a spot in the Gator Bowl.

Rogers also led the nation with 1,804 yards of offense from scrimmage and was responsible for 14 touchdowns, which ranked fifth nationally.

Facing one of the best Heisman fields of all-time, Rogers won a close race against Pitt defensive end Hugh Green, Georgia freshman sensation Herschel Walker, Purdue quarterback Mark Herrmann and BYU signal caller Jim McMahon. Rogers was a consensus All-American, but the Heisman was his only victory among the national awards. Green won the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.

Andre Ware 1989 Season Statistics

  • Games: 11
  • Pass Completions: 365
  • Pass Attempts: 578
  • Completion Percentage: 63.1
  • Passing Yards: 4,699
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 427.2
  • Passing Touchdowns: 46
  • Interceptions: 15
  • Rushing Attempts: 50
  • Rushing Yards: -38
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: -3.5
  • Yards Per Carry: -0.8
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 3

The Houston Cougars utilized the Run and Shoot offense in the late 1980s and early 1990s with historically explosive results. In 1989, Houston averaged 53.5 points and 624.9 total yards of offense per game, both of which led the nation. The trigger man for the Cougars was Andre Ware, who threw for a then-NCAA record 4,699 yards (one of 26 records he set that season) on his way to the Heisman Trophy.

Ware also led the country in pass attempts (578), completions (365), passing yards per attempt (8.1), passing touchdowns (46), total touchdowns (49), and total yardage (4,661). He became the first African-American quarterback to win the Heisman, doing so in one of the closest races of all-time. Ware led all vote-getters with 1,073 points on the strength of 242 first-place votes, which was 70 points ahead of Indiana running back Anthony Thompson. West Virginia QB Major Harris finished third with a strong 709 points.

In addition to winning the Heisman, Ware was also a consensus All-American and the Davey O’Brien Award winner. Though his records didn’t last long (1990 Heisman winner Ty Detmer and Ware’s Houston backup and replacement David Klingler combined to break nearly all of Ware’s NCAA and school records the very next season), Ware put together an extremely impressive campaign that still ranks as one of the most explosive ever.

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