The Heisman Trophy: Does It Spell Doom?

Over the past 20 years, a common trend in the NFL has taken place. The coveted Heisman Trophy, given to the top-performing player in college football each year, has not always equated to NFL success. In fact, only 5 of the past 20 winners have made an NFL Pro-Bowl, and only 2 players have won a Super Bowl. True, the NFL is a much different game than college football, where stats are not inflated and defenses are more elaborate. From a football fan's standpoint, it isn't hard to see why many of the players couldn't duplicate their success in college. Whether it be lack of fundamentals, the inability to grasp concepts, or simply lacking the necessary tools, players have found plenty of ways to find themselves out of a job after exiting college at the top. Since 1990, only Eddie George has both won the Heisman and finished his career as an NFL Hall of Famer. Of the 74 Heisman winners in the award's history, only 6 have gone to have Hall of Fame careers. These facts do not at all suggest the winners weren't worthy, but shows that the transition is far from a guarantee, regardless of the time period.
The Heisman Trophy has always been awarded for a combination of leadership, statistics, and team performance, with no one trait outweighing another. Statistical leaders, national champions, and fundamentally sound players in college have many times been overlooked or passed up for the award because they did not possess the trait set of a true Heisman winner. There are more winners who benefited from the system, lack of competition, and peak performances than those who dazzled the college football scene day in and day out. Of the top 15 career rushing yard leaders, only 5 won a Heisman. Only 1 of the top 10 career passing leaders won a Heisman (Detmer), and his NFL career was far from successful. And even of the top 10 scoring leaders in college football all-time, only Ricky Williams and Ron Dayne were presented with the honor as the nation's best. So why are there so many of the NFL's greatest passed up during their college careers? Below is a list of examples of NFL MVPs, and why they didn't win the award, or often even become a finalist for it.

• Peyton Manning (4 MVPs) - He won 39 of 45 games at Tennessee, becoming their career leader in yards and touchdowns after spurning his father's alma matter, Ole Miss. His freshman year he took over due to injuries and led an 8-4 squad to a Gator Bowl victory over Virginia Tech. His sophomore year he defeated Ohio State in the Citrus Bowl, finishing sixth in the Heisman voting for the number three ranked Vols. As a junior, the Volunteers would lose their chance as national champions due to upsets against Florida and Memphis, where Manning threw multiple interceptions forcing the team to its second straight Citrus Bowl, which ended in another victory. Manning returned his senior year with unfinished business, but again was upset by Florida and got demolished by Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, missing out as National Champion and Heisman winner again. Manning inability to overcome Florida and also avoid mid-season upsets doomed his Heisman chances, and he lost out to Danny Wuerffel and Charles Woodson in back-to-back years, both of whom coming from national champions.
• Tom Brady (1 MVP)- Opening his college career 7th on the depth-chart, Brady backed up Brian Griese his first two seasons in Michigan. He beat out Drew Henson his final two seasons as the teams starting QB, winning 20 of 25 games and finishing will All-Big Ten honors both seasons. He played unbelievably in Citrus and Orange Bowl victories, but threw only 35 TDs in his college career and never garnished any Heisman consideration.
• LaDainian Tomlinson (1 MVP) - Not considered a top RB prospect in high school, Tomlinson played at TCU in his very successful college career. In his 1999 junior campaign, he led the nation in rushing yards and set an NCAA record with 406 rushing yards in one game, but his team finished 8-4 with TCU's victory over USC in the Sun Bowl, their first bowl victory in 41 years. Playing in the mid-major WAC conference certainly hurt Tomlinson, as we wasn't even a Heisman finalist, but it hurt him moreso in his senior year. Tomlinson again led the nation in rushing, as TCU finished 10-2. But the team was never a championship contender, and eventually lost to SMU in the Mobile Alabama Bowl. Tomlinson finished fourth in the Heisman voting, behind QBs Chris Weinke and Josh Heupel.
• Shaun Alexander (1 MVP) - Unlike Tomlinson, Alexander played at a high-profile school in Alabama. Unfortunately, he played in Bama during a transition period where the school won one SEC Championship. He ran for an impressive 1178 yards and 13 TDs his junior year, but after being a Heisman candidate heading into his senior season, he sprained his ankle and finished with 614 rushing yards, missing out on his final opportunity to take home the trophy.
• Marshall Faulk (1 MVP) - Faulk ran for 1429 yards and 21 touchdowns his freshman year at San Diego State, but never duplicated his success. Playing for a lesser-known football team and not generating outstanding statistics, Faulk was never close to Heisman consideration.
• Brett Favre (3 MVPs) - Southern Mississippi wanted Favre to play DB, but he refused and remained at his preferred position. Favre put up decent numbers his junior year, but SMU dropped from being ranked as high as 6th to miss all bowl games. His senior year was clouded by a near-fatal car accident which caused him to miss the majority of the season, thus missing out on any Heisman consideration.