25 best NFL careers from Heisman Trophy winners

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 11: Quarterback Cam Newton of the Auburn University Tigers speaks after being named the 76th Heisman Memorial Trophy Award winner at the Best Buy Theater on December 11, 2010 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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ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 19: Running Back Billy Sims #20 of the Detroit Lions carries the ball against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFL football game at Anaheim Stadium September 19, 1982 in Anaheim, California. Sims played for the Lions from 1980-84. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

17. Billy Sims, RB, Oklahoma (1978)

The final two seasons with the Oklahoma Sooners for running back Billy Sims were truly remarkable, but it was his redshirt junior season that earned him the top award in college football. In the 1978 campaign, Sims went for 1,762 yards on 231 carries and scored 20 touchdowns on the year. For what it’s worth, he followed that with 1,506 yards and 22 scores in 1979, but that wasn’t enough to beat out Charles White that year.

After those two seasons in Norman, Sims was taken with the first pick in the 1980 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Sims was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1980 as well, and deservedly so after a great season. He rushed for 1,303 yards on 313 carries and scored 13 touchdowns on the ground. Meanwhile, he also added 621 receiving yards and three more trips to the end zone through the air on the year.

Sims was a beast in his first four seasons in the league, rushing for at least 1,000 yards in three of the four, the exception being the nine-game 1982 season, where he hit 639 yards on the year. What’s more, he amassed 37 touchdowns over those first four seasons, and was on the way to another great year and furthering his career in 1984.

Unfortunately, Sims’ career was ended midseason in 1984 when he suffered a devastating knee injury. Though he tried to come back two seasons later, it never came to fruition. Thus, only playing five years in the league hurts his candidacy for this list. Even still, 5,106 yards rushing, 42 rushing touchdowns and 2,072 yards receiving in 60 games certainly make him worthy of a spot on the list in a respectable spot.

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