2. Charles Woodson, CB, Michigan (1997)
When you look at the players that Charles Woodson, a defensive player, had to beat out to capture the 1997 Heisman Trophy, it’s truly a testament to how incredible he was for the Michigan Wolverines. Trailing Woodson in the final voting, in order, were Peyton Manning, Ryan Leaf and Randy Moss. Suffice it to say, the Michigan cornerback edged out a proverbial who’s who of the football world to win the award.
The last defensive player to win the most prestigious individual award in college football, Woodson was truly a do-it-all weapon for the Wolverines, seeing time on both sides of the ball and as a returner on special teams. He finished the year with seven interceptions, a punt return touchdown and three offensive touchdowns to his credit. All of that led to him being the fourth-overall pick by the Oakland Raiders in the ensuing draft.
Woodson got off on the right track by winning the 1998 Defensive Rookie of the Year award, hauling in five interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), two forced fumbles and 64 combined tackles in his first NFL season. He was a dominant corner for the Raiders right out of the gate and continued to be that for years to come.
What may be most impressive about Woodson’s NFL career, however, is his longevity in the league. He played for 18 seasons combined with the Raiders and Green Bay Packers, transitioning to being a fantastic veteran safety later in his career. At the end of his career, he’d amassed 65 interceptions, 11 pick-sixes, 33 forced fumbles and going down as a legend of the game. Though he beat out plenty of great players, Woodson is deserving at No. 2 on this list.