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10 Heisman winners with best NFL careers

By Dave Stevenson

PONTIAC, : Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders (2ndL) tries to outrun Minnesota Vikings defenders Corey Fuller (L), Ed McDaniel (2ndR) and Dixon Edwards (R) during the fourth quarter of their 25 October game at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. The Vikings beat the Lions 34-13. AFP Photo/Jeff KOWALSKY (Photo credit should read JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
PONTIAC, : Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders (2ndL) tries to outrun Minnesota Vikings defenders Corey Fuller (L), Ed McDaniel (2ndR) and Dixon Edwards (R) during the fourth quarter of their 25 October game at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. The Vikings beat the Lions 34-13. AFP Photo/Jeff KOWALSKY (Photo credit should read JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: University of Georgia/Collegiate Images/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: University of Georgia/Collegiate Images/Getty Images /

9. Herschel Walker

Many argue Herschel Walker is the greatest college football player of all-time. And they might not be wrong. He won the 1982 Heisman Trophy at the University of Georgia after rushing for 1,752 yards and 16 touchdowns. In addition, Walker had 89 receiving yards and a touchdown. To this day, he is the only college football player ever to finish in the top three of the Heisman voting in three consecutive seasons. Had it not been for Marcus Allen (more on him later), Walker might have won consecutive Heismans.

While he didn’t quite live up to his hype in the NFL, he still had a very solid career. Sadly, most people remember Walker for the infamous trade from the Dallas Cowboys to the Minnesota Vikings. He ran for 8,225 career yards, rushing for more than 1,000 yards twice. Walker impacted the game in a variety of ways, becoming a versatile receiver out of the backfield as well (4,859 career receiving yards and 21 touchdowns). Not only that, he was an extremely effective kick returner.

Sure, Walker will never make the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Perhaps the trade to the Vikings put too much pressure on him to succeed. But he still had one heck of a career that is usually overlooked and criticized.

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