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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 /
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Nov 28, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers former player and current Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton walks during Tiger Walk prior to the game against Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers former player and current Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton walks during Tiger Walk prior to the game against Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Cam Newton, 2010

Teams around college football have switched to spread passing offenses in the 21st century, leading to a run of quarterbacks winning the Heisman 14 times in 15 years between 2000-2014. There have been a number of incredible statistical seasons from quarterbacks since then, but Newton’s 2010 campaign stands out as easily the best.

The Atlanta native was offered by all the top schools around the country and eventually settled on Florida. After serving as a backup during Tebow’s Heisman campaign and redshirting the next year with an ankle injury, Newton decided to leave the Gators, and it was later reported that he would have faced potential expulsion from the school for academic reasons.

Newton landed at Blinn Junior College, where he won the 2009 national championship to become the most sought-after JUCO recruit in the nation. Auburn picked up Newton for the 2010 season, and he was part of an unforgettable year both on and off the field.

The Tigers went 14-0 and won their first national championship since 1957 behind Newton, who threw for 2, 854 yards and 30 touchdowns to seven interceptions while carrying the ball 264 times for 1,473 yards and another 20 scores. Predictably, Newton cruised to a 1,200-point victory over Stanford’s Andrew Luck in the Heisman voting after a four-touchdown effort helped Auburn erase a 24-point deficit in the Iron Bowl to close out the regular season.

Newton’s award win almost didn’t happen at all, as Auburn declared him ineligible on November 30 over allegations that his father had asked for money in exchange for Newton’s commitment in 2010. The NCAA and Auburn reinstated the quarterback on December 1 after determining he didn’t know about his father’s activities, and a lengthy investigation turned up no wrongdoing.

It’s become even more clear that Newton single-handedly carried that Auburn team to the title, as the Tigers went 11-14 over the next two years and fired head coach Gene Chizik. Newton went first overall to the Carolina Panthers in 2011 and has enjoyed a strong NFL career so far.

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