Ranking Heisman Trophy winners from 1-81
Earl Campbell 1977 Season Statistics
- Games: 11
- Rushing Attempts: 267
- Rushing Yards: 1,744
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 158.5
- Yards Per Carry: 6.5
- Rushing Touchdowns: 18
- Receptions: 5
- Receiving Yards: 111
- Receiving Yards Per Game: 22.2
- Receiving Touchdowns: 1
- Passing: 0-for-1, 1 INT
One of the most beloved players in Texas Longhorns football history, and one of the greatest college football running backs of all-time, Earl Campbell won the Heisman Trophy as a senior in 1977.
After earning recognition as one of the best players in the Southwest Conference as a freshman and sophomore, Campbell’s production suffered significantly as a junior as the result of a hamstring injury. Still, though three seasons, the “Tyler Rose” accumulated 2,699 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns.
As a senior, Campbell exploded and led the country with 1,744 rushing yards (which set a conference record that stood for 16 seasons), 18 rushing touchdowns, 1,855 total yards from scrimmage and 19 total TDs. Campbell also caught five passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.
Texas coasted to an 11-0 regular season record and Campbell won the Heisman handily over runner-up Terry Miller and became the first Longhorn ever to receive the honor. Campbell was also named a consensus All-American and finished his career with a school-record 4,443 rushing yards and 41 TDs.
After college, Campbell was selected by the Houston Oilers as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1978 NFL Draft and began an eight-year Hall of Fame professional career that included five Pro Bowl seasons, three NFL rushing titles and multiple NFL MVP Awards.
Charlie Ward 1993 Season Statistics
- Games: 11
- Pass Completions: 264
- Pass Attempts: 380
- Completion Percentage: 69.5
- Passing Yards: 3,032
- Passing Yards Per Game: 275.6
- Passing Touchdowns: 27
- Interceptions: 4
- Rushing Attempts: 65
- Rushing Yards: 339
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 30.8
- Yards Per Carry: 5.2
- Rushing Touchdowns: 4
- Receiving: 1 REC, 10 YD
Most Heisman Trophy winners – especially those that have won the award in the last half-century – go on to the professional ranks surrounded by the hoopla that comes with the honor of being named the best player in college football. In many cases, Heisman winners have gone on to Hall of Fame pro careers. Others have washed out quickly. A few struggle and eventually find themselves on lists of the biggest busts in NFL history. Some aren’t even drafted.
Florida State quarterback Charlie Ward, who won the 1993 Heisman Trophy (as the first FSU player to do so) and led the Seminoles to their first national championship, wasn’t drafted and never played in the NFL. However, he shouldn’t be considered a bust. After all, Ward played 11 seasons in the NBA.
After being named ACC Player of the Year and finishing sixth in the Heisman voting in 1992, Ward became the nation’s most dynamic playmaker during his senior season and threw for 3,032 yards and 27 touchdowns with only four interceptions while completing a nation-leading 69.5 percent of his passes. Also dangerous as a runner in FSU’s fast-paced offense, Ward gained 339 rushing yards and four TDs on the ground.
Ward’s production was impressive, but consider the fact that he spent a great deal of time watching from the sidelines late in blowout victories. The 12-1 Seminoles led the nation in both scoring offense (41.2 points per game) and scoring defense (9.9 points per game) and won seven games by 36 points or more.
Ward won the Heisman by the third largest margin in history, and also won the O’Brien, Unitas, Maxwell, and Camp awards – or, as his Heisman bio says, “literally every award he was eligible for…”
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