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
7 of 10
Next
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 12: Texas tailback Ricky Williams, winner of the 1998 Heisman trophy, poses with US college football’s highest honor 12 December at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York. Williams ran for 2,124 yards and broke Tony Dorsett’s 22-year-old record career rushing record as he led the Longhorns to an 8-3 record and a trip to the Cotton Bowl on 01 January 1999. (Photo credit should read ADAM NADEL/AFP/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 12: Texas tailback Ricky Williams, winner of the 1998 Heisman trophy, poses with US college football’s highest honor 12 December at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York. Williams ran for 2,124 yards and broke Tony Dorsett’s 22-year-old record career rushing record as he led the Longhorns to an 8-3 record and a trip to the Cotton Bowl on 01 January 1999. (Photo credit should read ADAM NADEL/AFP/Getty Images) /

4. Ricky Williams, 1998

One of the most beloved players in college football history, Williams earns a spot in the top five for his landslide victory in the 1998 Heisman race.

Williams was the top running back recruit in the nation in 1994, as he put up huge numbers for Patrick Henry High School in San Diego. Instead of staying in-state to go to USC, Williams chose Texas, where he would instantly become a star.

In his first year at Texas, Williams broke 1977 Heisman winner Earl Campbell’s freshman school rushing record with 990 yards on just 166 carries. Following a pair of strong seasons in 1996 and 1997, Williams was on the brink of a number of NCAA rushing records.

That made him the preseason Heisman favorite in 1998, and Williams delivered with nearly 400 yards and nine touchdowns in Texas’ first two games of the season. Williams finished with 2,142 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns in one of the best seasons ever by a college running back.

A career-best 259-yard performance against Texas A&M solidified Williams’ Heisman win over Micheal Bishop, and he set a then-record by receiving 83 percent of first place votes. Williams set the NCAA career rushing record with 6,279 yards, although it was broken one year later by 1999 Heisman winner Ron Dayne of Wisconsin.

The New Orleans Saints apparently thought highly of Williams, as they traded their entire 1999 draft class to select him fifth overall. Williams enjoyed a solid but brief NFL career, primarily with the Miami Dolphins, that featured a number of retirements and comeback attempts

Home/College Football