Fansided

10 best Heisman Trophy winners in history

By Nathaniel Reeves

Dec 12, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Alabama running back Derrick Henry name appears on the Heisman Trophy during a press conference at the New York Marriott Marquis after winning the trophy during the 81st annual Heisman Trophy presentation. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Alabama running back Derrick Henry name appears on the Heisman Trophy during a press conference at the New York Marriott Marquis after winning the trophy during the 81st annual Heisman Trophy presentation. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 10
Next
College Football: Oklahoma State Barry Sanders (21) in action, rushing vs Nebraska. Lincoln, NE 10/15/1988 CREDIT: Doug Hoke (Photo by Doug Hoke /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X35585 )
College Football: Oklahoma State Barry Sanders (21) in action, rushing vs Nebraska. Lincoln, NE 10/15/1988 CREDIT: Doug Hoke (Photo by Doug Hoke /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X35585 ) /

1. Barry Sanders, 1988

Even with the proliferation of explosive high-tempo offenses in the past decade, Sanders’ 1988 campaign ranks as perhaps the greatest statistical season in college football history, making him the easy choice for No. 1.

As Sanders did not earn the starting tailback job in high school until well into his senior season, only three schools offered him a scholarship. The Wichita native settled on Oklahoma State, where he would go on to set 34 different NCAA records during a legendary career.

While Sanders would show some explosive ability on kick returns, he would only receive 179 carries for 928 yards during his first two years in Stillwater while backing up Thurman Thomas. With Thomas off to the NFL in 1988, Sanders made the most of his one season as the starter.

Sanders carried the ball 344 times for 2,628 yards, an NCAA record which still stands by over 50 yards, and 37 touchdowns in just 11 games. A pair of return touchdowns brought Sanders’ total to 39, and his 3,250 all-purpose yards record held all the way until Christian McCaffrey topped it a year ago.

Next: Biggest Heisman Busts of All-Time

The NCAA record books do not even count Sanders’ 222 yards and five touchdowns against Wyoming in the 1988 Holiday Bowl. Sanders crushed the competition in the 1988 Heisman voting with 559 of a possible 683 first-place votes, finishing well ahead of USC quarterback Rodney Peete.

After skipping his senior season, Sanders was selected third overall by the Detroit Lions and almost certainly would be the NFL’s all-time rushing leader had he not retired in 1999 at the age of 31.

Home/College Football