It hasn’t happened since Woodson from Michigan and I was reading that James Laurinaitis from Ohio State is on the list. With the likes of Sam Bradford, Graham Harrell and Chris Wells , I was wondering what you thought it would take for another Defensive player to win the Heisman?
Another DB/CB type that returns punts/kicks and has a blow out year doing both, on a 10 plus win team going to a BCS bowl.
Every few years an overhyped Ohio State Linebacker gets put on this ESPN Trophy watch list. Speilman, Hawk and now Laurinaitis. It is an ESPN award, maybe, who knows, who gets good ratings for 500 total yards, over 330 yards in 10 KO returnts against a tough WAC team? The Heisman is a joke, both Earl and Ricky should give them back!!!!
i could definitely see another CB/DB that returns punts and kicks winning it. but no linebacker will. if bozworth couldn't win it at linebacker, nobody can.
How could anyone have watched us play Ohio State in 2005 and think that Hawk or Carpenter were overrated in college?
I still think Steve Emtman in 1991 was the most dominant college football player I've ever seen, and he only finished 4th. Desmond Howard somehow won it.
Time and time again it's not the best player in football that wins it, see list below.. In 1980 The Winner: George Rogers, RB, South Carolina The Robbed: Herschel Walker, RB, Georgia In 1989 The Winner: Andre Ware, QB, Houston The Robbed: Emmitt Smith, RB, Florida 2005 The Winner : Reggie Bush, RB, USC The Robbed : Vince Young, QB, TEXAS And that is just to name a few!! I wish it would happen, there have been definsive game changers but I just do not think ESPN will allow it..
Emmitt Smith is or was not Heisman worthy, robbed he was not: Emmitt Smith came to the University of Florida as the national player of the year, scoring 109 touchdowns in high school. He became an instant sensation as a freshman. In his first game he broke the school single-game rushing mark in an upset of Alabama. He gained 1,341 yards as a freshman, and finished ninth in the Heisman voting. His top-ten finish was only the second time a freshman had broken into the top ten. He also earned national freshman of the year honors that initial season. Smith was not the biggest or fastest of backs. But coaches marveled at the way his vision, balance, and instincts allowed him to gain the extra yard or two more often than would reasonably be expected. In his 1989 junior season he finished third in the nation in rushing, was a near-unanimous All-America selection and placed seventh in the Heisman vote. In three years he set 58 school records rushing for 3,928 yards, scoring 36 touchdowns and earning SEC Player of the Year honors. Most over-rated RB of all time!!!
Only if he plays for ND or Michigan. Had Woodson played for Tennessee and Manning for Michigan w/the exact same stats, who do you think would've won the Heisman that year?
Woodson winning that year was a joke, he wasnt even the best corner on that team, a complete hype award and anyone that voted him the best player in america should give away their credentials. manning should have won that award easy....where are they now? case closed.
I agree with those who say a defensive player must: a) return punts/kickoffs b) produce SportsCenter highlights each week, and c) play for ND, USC or a Big 10 team ... to win a Heisman.
Only if there's a year with one really dominant linebacker or db, and no offensive players that stand out that much...in other words, not very likely.
I agree Ranger. They gave Archie Griffin of Ohio State the Heisman Trophy again in 1975 and many felt like it was for the four year career even though it is supposed to be for the best player of the year. Many thought that runner Chuck Muncie of California should have had it because he had a better year. Also Notre Dame's Paul Hornung won it in 1956 and he is the only winner from a losing team which is irrelevant but many felt Jim Brown of Syracuse should have won it. Both had good pro footbal careers but Brown was obviously the better player. Many feel he didn't get it because he was black and unfortunately because of the time period they may have been right.
1956 Had nothing to do with race. The regional voting had a different winner in each region. Brown did not deserve the Heisman in 1956. Horning probably did not either. und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/102006aai.html
Woodson definitely deserved the Heisman. I think most people haven't really seen his game tape and don't realize the impact he had. Most people also aren't aware he was a situational WR and had a strong impact there as well. the biggest reason he won is that when the game was on the line and a play had to be made, on offense, defense, or special teams, he made the play. Peyton Manning is a great QB and having a hell of an NFL career, but when it came down to it, he lost the award by not stepping up when his team needed it. Manning lost the Heisman when Tenn lost to Georgia, then UM beat OSU (I don't recall if those were the same weekend or 2 weekends in a row). in that game, Woodson impacted all 3 phases of the game: he made the longest reception for UM, setting up the only offensive points, he returned a punt for a touchdown, and he made a key interception in the end zone. Woodson Highlights
I don't think a Heisman winner on the defensive side of the ball is very likely. In this era of fantasy football, offensive players (specifically quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends) are seen as individuals, while defensive players are seen collectively as a team, making it difficult for a defensive player to stand out the way an offensive player can. Defensive players are also at a disadvantage because they have fewer opportunities to score points (scoring points frequently is an easy way to get noticed); a defensive player would probably need to have a good number of attention-getting plays (i.e.-takeaways and defensive TDs) in order to be noticed the way offensive players are. With that in mind, I don't see a defensive player (or an offensive lineman, for that matter) winning the Heisman for quite a while; the award will most likely remain with the positions that get the most attention: quarterback, running back, and wide receiver. It will take a phenom of a defensive player (or offensive lineman) to get the sort of attention needed to win the Heisman.