Fansided

10 biggest Heisman busts of the last 25 years

By Cody Williams

TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 29, 2008: Tim Tebow, #15 quarterback of the University of Florida Gators football team celebrates after a big play during the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida on November 29, 2008. The Gators won 45-15. (Photo by Jim Burgess/University of Florida/Collegiate Images/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 29, 2008: Tim Tebow, #15 quarterback of the University of Florida Gators football team celebrates after a big play during the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida on November 29, 2008. The Gators won 45-15. (Photo by Jim Burgess/University of Florida/Collegiate Images/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 3: Matt Leinart #11 of the USC Trojans in action against the UCLA Bruins at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 3, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. USC defeated UCLA 66-19. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 3: Matt Leinart #11 of the USC Trojans in action against the UCLA Bruins at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 3, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. USC defeated UCLA 66-19. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

7. Matt Leinart, QB, USC (2004)

There’s no question that the USC Trojans were at their peak with Pete Carroll on the sidelines for the early-to-mid 2000s. And undoubtedly a big part of that started in 2003 when Matt Leinart took over as the starting quarterback for the Trojans as a sophomore. However, it was in the 2004 campaign as a junior when Leinart led USC to another phenomenal season and to personal glory as he won the Heisman Trophy.

For that Heisman-winning season, Leinart played in 13 games as he threw for 3,322 yards, 33 touchdowns and just six interceptions, while also rushing for three scores as well. Interestingly enough, that was actually his worst statistical season of his career, but it was good enough in terms of performance and narrative to earn him the biggest individual honor awarded to college football players.

After a monster senior season, though, Leinart’s draft stock was high as the quarterback was selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. The hope, of course, was that he’d be the franchise guy that would lead the Red Birds to the promised land. That was never the case, though.

He finished his time in Arizona over four seasons playing in 29 games and having a record of just 7-10 as a starter with only 14 touchdowns to go with 20 interceptions. Leinart went on to have short stints with the Houston Texans and Oakland Raiders, but it was clear that he wasn’t nearly the NFL quarterback that many thought he’d be.

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