All 50 non-quarterback Heisman Trophy winners in college football history

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2023.

These days, quarterbacks usually lead the way when it comes to the Heisman Trophy race and winning college football’s most coveted individual award as the sport’s most outstanding player. But that wasn’t always the case.

For a while, running backs dominated the Heisman conversation and winners, but as the sport changed, quarterbacks, especially the super mobile ones, ultimately took over. So non-quarterback finalists are rare, and non-quarterback winners even more so. But when they’re in the Heisman conversation, it’s often so much more interesting.

So while quarterbacks tend to control the Heisman conversation, here’s a look at all 50 Heisman winners who were not quarterbacks (in chronological order).

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1930s

HEISMANS IN HISTORY — Jay Berwanger, the first winner of the Heisman Memorial Trophy, shows the first trophy to winners of the first High School Heisman Awards during ceremonies Saturday night in New York. Berwanger was at the University of Chicago in 1935 when he was named the country’s best college football player. The high school seniors, Barrett Robinson, left, of Dayton, Ohio, and Trisha Perry of Mansfield, Mo., were picked to receive the High School Heisman Awards, sponsored by Wendy’s, on their records of athletics, academics, community service. (Feature Photo Service) ORG XMIT: FPS2

Jay Berwanger, Chicago RB, 1935

Larry Kelley, Yale TE, 1936

Clinton Frank, Yale HB, 1937

Nile Kinnick, Iowa RB, 1939

1940s

Army #35 Felix ‘Doc” Blanchard” (Army Sports Information)

Tom Harmon, Michigan RB, 1940

Bruce Smith, Minnesota RB, 1941

Frank Sinkwich, Georgia RB, 1942

Les Horvath, Ohio State HB, 1944

Felix “Doc” Blanchard, Army FB, 1945

Glenn Davis, Army RB, 1946

Soak Walker, SMU RB, 1948

Leon Hart, Notre Dame TE, 1949

1950s

Mar 10, 2011; College Station, TX, USA; General view of the Bright Football Complex and statue of 1957 Heisman Trophy winner John David Crow on the campus of Texas A&M university. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Vic Janowicz, Ohio State RB, 1950

Dick Kazmaier, Princeton RB, 1951

Billy Vessels, Oklahoma RB, 1952

John Lattner, Notre Dame RB, 1953

Alan Ameche, Wisconsin FB, 1954

Howard Cassady, Ohio State RB, 1955

John David Crow, Texas A&M RB, 1957

Pete Dawkins, Army RB, 1958

Billy Cannon, LSU RB, 1959

1960s

Unknown date; South Bend,IN, USA; FILE PHOTO; Oklahoma Sooners running back Steve Owens (36) in action against the Notre Dame Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Bellino, Navy RB, 1960

Ernie Davis, Syracuse RB, 1961

Mike Garrett, USC RB, 1965

O.J. Simpson, USC RB, 1968

Steve Owens, Oklahoma RB, 1969

1970s

Nov 1973; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes running back #45 Archie Griffin in action against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium during the 1973 season. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports © Copyright Malcolm Emmons

Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska WR, 1972

John Cappelletti, Penn State RB, 1973

Archie Griffin, Ohio State RB, 1974

Archie Griffin, Ohio State RB, 1975

Tony Dorsett, Pitt RB, 1976

Earl Campbell, Texas RB, 1977

Billy Sims, Oklahoma RB, 1978

Charles White, USC RB, 1979

1980s

Barry Sanders in 1988. (Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)

George Rogers, South Carolina RB, 1980

Marcus Allen, USC RB, 1981

Herschel Walker, Georgia RB, 1982

Mike Rozier, Nebraska RB, 1983

Bo Jackson, Auburn RB, 1985

Tim Brown, Notre Dame WR, 1987

Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State RB, 1988

1990s

Nov 23, 1996; Columbus, OH, USA: FILE PHOTO; Michigan Wolverines cornerback Charles Woodson (2) in action against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Desmond Howard, Michigan WR, 1991

Rashaan Salaam, Colorado RB, 1994

Eddie George, Ohio State RB, 1995

Charles Woodson, Michigan CB, 1997

Ricky Williams, Texas RB, 1998

Ron Dayne, Wisconsin RB, 1999

2000s

Mark Ingram in  2009. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Mark Ingram, Alabama RB, 2009

2010s

Derrick Henry in 2015. (John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)

Derrick Henry, Alabama RB, 2015

2020s

DeVonta Smith in 2020. (Mickey Welsh/The Montgomery Advertiser via USA TODAY Sports)

DeVonta Smith, Alabama WR, 2020