Ranking the most dominant Heisman campaigns of the last 25 years

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 13: Marcus Mariota, quarterback for the University of Oregon Ducks, hoist the trophy after being named the 80th Heisman Memorial Trophy Award winner during the 2014 Heisman Trophy Presentation at the Best Buy Theater on December 13, 2014 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: Photographer approval needed for all Commercial License requests. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Getty Images for The Heisman) /

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10 Dec 1994: COLORADO RUNNING BACK RASHAAN SALAAM WITH THE HEISMAN TROPHY AFTER BEING NAMED AS THE 60TH WINNER OF THE AWARD AT THE DOWNTOWN ATHLETIC CLUB IN NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK. /

8. Rashaan Salaam

The 1994 Heisman Trophy winner earned nearly double the number of points as the second place finisher, putting together a memorable run to the award.

Salaam played high school football at La Jolla Country Day in hometown San Diego, emerging as a standout All-American as a senior in 1992. Head coach Bill McCartney recruited Salaam to play for a highly successful Colorado Buffaloes program at the time, although he would not rise to the depth chart until his junior season.

While still splitting carries with Lamont Warren in 1993, Salaam showed plenty of promise with 844 yards on 161 carries. When finally given the chance to be the featured back the next season, Salaam went off for 2,055 yards and 24 touchdowns on 298 carries, leading the Buffaloes to an 11-1 record, including a win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.

The Heisman race never seemed to be in serious doubt, and Salaam all but locked up the award in October with four consecutive 200-yard performances. Salaam received 400 first-place votes to easily win the award by 842 points over Penn State’s Ki-Jana Carter and Steve McNair of Alcorn State.

Dominating the Heisman race so thoroughly by the end of October is a rare feat, making Salaam one of the most impressive winners of the past 25 years.

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