Heisman Trophy Winners Who Weren’t Quarterbacks or Running Backs

The Heisman Trophy is given at the end of each season to the best college football player. It is hands down the most famous college football award. 41 of the Heisman winners have been running backs. 25 have been quarterbacks and one was listed as both. Only 5 Heisman Trophy winners were non running backs or quarterbacks. All 5 played End or Wide Receiver, including Charles Woodson who won the Heisman primarily as a defensive back.

The first non-quarterback or running back to win the Heisman was Larry Kelly an End from Yale, in 1936. Keep in mind this was in the era of running the ball most of the time. He caught a touchdown pass to snap a 15 game winning streak by Princeton that year. He sold his Heisman Trophy to raise money for his family, in 1999. In the year 2000 he shot himself to death.

The 2nd non-quarterback or running back to win the Heisman Trophy was Leon Hart also an end, from Notre Dame in 1949. He was on the national championship team that season for the Fighting Irish, and was a co-captain. He went on to play 8 seasons with the Detroit Lions and won 3 world championships in the NFL with them. He was also named all pro on offense and defense.

The 3rd non-quarterback or running back to win the Heisman was Tim Brown of Notre Dame in 1987. Tim Brown was great at multi tasking; he was an excellent receiver, runner and kick-punt returner. Brown went on to play 15 very productive years for the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL.

Desmond Howard was the 4^th non-quarterback or running back to win the Heisman, in 1991 for Michigan as a wide receiver. He was another one known almost as much as a returner than a wide receiver. Though he was a very good college receiver. He later became on of the best kick returners in NFL history. He even won a Super Bowl MVP award with the Green Bay Packers.

The 5^th non-quarterback to win the Heisman was Charles Woodson also of Michigan in 1997. He was a great returner and sometimes wide receiver, but he was the first and only primarily defensive player to win it. Charles Woodson was a great cornerback for the Wolverines. Charles had 8 interceptions in his junior season. He was the 1998 NFL rookie of the year for the Oakland Raiders. At press time (sorry I always wanted to say that) he was still active in the NFL.