Ranking Heisman Trophy winners from 1-81
Tim Tebow 2007 Season Statistics
- Games: 13
- Pass Completions: 234
- Pass Attempts: 350
- Passing Yards: 3,286
- Passing Yards Per Game: 252.8
- Passing Touchdowns: 32
- Interceptions: 6
- Rushing Attempts: 210
- Rushing Yards: 895
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 68.8
- Yards Per Carry: 4.3
- Rushing Touchdowns: 23
One of the most celebrated college football players of all-time, Tim Tebow became the first sophomore ever to win the Heisman Trophy in 2007.
The left-handed signal-caller made himself a household name while helping the Florida Gators win the national championship as a short-yardage runner as a true freshman. Tebow ran for 469 yards and eight touchdowns and also threw for 358 yards and five TDs as a backup in 2006 before dominating as a sophomore the following season.
The third Florida quarterback to win the Heisman, Tebow completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 3,286 yards and 32 touchdowns with only six interceptions in 2007 while adding a remarkable 895 rushing yards and an SEC-record 23 touchdowns on the ground. Tebow led the nation with 9.4 yards per pass attempt and he ranked second in the country with a 172.5 passer rating. His 32 passing TDs ranked in the top ten in the country and his 55 total touchdowns were second best in the nation.
Tebow faced stiff competition from Arkansas running back Darren McFadden in the Heisman race, and won the award by a final count of 1,957 to 1,703. In addition to the Heisman, Tebow won the AP Player of the Year Award, the Davey O’Brien Award and the Maxwell Award.
Tebow also won the Maxwell as a junior when he threw for 2,746 yards and 30 touchdowns and ran for 673 yards and 12 more scores. Florida won its second national championship in three seasons and Tebow finished third in the Heisman voting. He was voted fifth as a senior after throwing for 2,895 yards and 21 touchdowns with 910 rushing yards and 14 TDs on the ground.
Herschel Walker 1982 Season Statistics
- Games: 11
- Rushing Attempts: 335
- Rushing Yards: 1,752
- Rushing Yards Per Game: 159.3
- Yards Per Carry: 5.2
- Rushing Touchdowns: 16
- Receptions: 5
- Receiving Yards: 89
- Receiving Yards Per Game: 8.1
- Receiving Touchdowns: 1
One of the greatest players in college football history, Herschel Walker made a strong case to be the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy as a freshman in 1980. That season, Walker ran for 1,616 yards and 15 touchdowns and helped the Georgia Bulldogs win the national championship. Walker finished third in the Heisman voting behind South Carolina running back George Rogers and Pitt defensive end Hugh Green.
The following season, Walker finished second behind Marcus Allen in Heisman voting after running for 1,891 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. He added 84 receiving yards and two TD catches. After two seasons, Walker had set a host of NCAA records, including most rushing yards by a freshman and by a sophomore.
Walker finally got over the hump as a junior after running for 1,752 yards with 16 touchdowns and 89 receiving yards and a TD reception. While it was a spectacular season, Walker fell short of his sophomore numbers in nearly every offensive category. As a result, Walker’s Heisman-winning season loses a bit of its luster when compared to some of the best of all-time because it wasn’t even his best personal season.
Nevertheless, Walker’s college football legacy is remarkable as he, Glenn Davis and Doak Walker are the only three players in history to finish in the top three of the Heisman voting in three separate seasons – with Walker the only one to do it as a freshman, sophomore and junior. Walker was also a consensus All-American and the SEC Player of the Year in each of his three seasons, as well as the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award winner in 1982.
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