About four years ago, I wrote a story about the jersey numbers that the Heisman Trophy winners have worn.
I decided to write the article after noticing that 2011 Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III of Baylor wore No. 10, and I began wondering which other Heisman Trophy winners wore that number.
That started an online search, and I was able to find everyone’s number, or at least a number the player wore during part of his career.
I wrote the story in chronological order by year and mentioned the jersey number with each player, but someone emailed me and said he would like to see a story if I ever listed the Heisman Trophy winners in numerical order.
After I thought about it, an article written that way would make for a more interesting story.
So, here it is – four years later as the bowl season is back in full swing.
See what numbers seem easily recognizable to you, or what surprises you have over the jersey numbers that the Heisman Trophy winners of long ago wore.
As a University of Georgia alumnus who was in school in the early 1980s, I will likely never forget what number 1982 winner Herschel Walker wore, just as many Auburn fans will never forget that 1985 recipient Bo Jackson wore the same No. 34.
But I have already almost forgotten that 2010 winner Cam Newton wore No. 2 at Auburn, not the No. 1 he now wears for the Carolina Panthers. And who remembers that 1988 winner Barry Sanders wore No. 21 at Oklahoma State, even though he became more famous for donning No. 20 for the Detroit Lions?
But a few Heisman winners – Paul Hornung, Roger Staubach, O.J. Simpson, Eddie George and Johnny Manziel among them – wore the same jersey numbers in college that they did or do as pro players.
Can you guess what two jersey numbers have claimed the most Heisman Trophy winners to date at five apiece? Or do you know what numbers have never been worn by a winner?
Also, did you know that 20 of the Heisman Trophy winners have been the only recipients to wear those numbers so far?
Do you know that current Heisman winner Derrick Henry of Alabama switched this season to No. 2 from No. 27 because God and his family are the “two” reasons he plays football? It also happened to be his high school number.
And, for Tennessee fans, do you know what number 1997 winner Charles Woodson of Michigan wore while edging out Peyton Manning? It was not the same as the No. 24 he now wears in his last season with the Oakland Raiders before his retirement.
Below are the Heisman Trophy winners by their numbers:
Jersey No. 1 – no winner
2 – Charles Woodson, Michigan (1997 winner); Cam Newton, Auburn (2010 winner); Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M (2012 winner); and Derrick Henry, Alabama (2015 winner)
3 – Carson Palmer, Southern Cal (2002 winner)
4 – no winner
5 – Paul Hornung, Notre Dame (1956 winner), Reggie Bush, Southern Cal (2005 winner, although award later vacated for recruiting violations); and Jameis Winston, Florida State (2013 winner).
6 – no winner
7 – John Huarte, Notre Dame (1964 winner); Pat Sullivan, Auburn (1971 winner); Danny Wuerffel, Florida (1996 winner); and Eric Crouch, Nebraska (2001 winner)
8 – Davey O’Brien, TCU (1938 winner); and Marcus Mariota, Oregon (2014 winner)
9 – no winner
10 – Troy Smith, Ohio State (2006 winner); and Robert Griffin III, Baylor (2011 winner)
11 – Terry Baker, Oregon State (1962 winner); Steve Spurrier, Florida (1966 winner); Andre Ware, Houston (1989 winner); and Matt Leinart, Southern Cal (2004 winner)
12 – Roger Staubach, Navy (1963 winner); and Charles White, Southern Cal (1979 winner)
13 – Gino Torretta, Miami (1992 winner)
14 – Clint Frank, Yale (1937 winner); Johnny Lattner, Notre Dame (1953 winner); Vinny Testaverde, Miami, Miami (1986 winner); Ty Detmer, BYU (1990 winner); and Sam Bradford, Oklahoma (2008 winner)
15 – Tim Tebow, Florida (2007 winner)
16 – Gary Beban, UCLA (1967 winner); Jim Plunkett, Stanford (1970 winner); and Chris Weinke, Florida State (2000 winner)
17 – Charlie Ward, Florida State (1993 winner)
18 – Jason White, Oklahoma (2003 winner)
19 – Larry Kelly, Yale (1936 winner); and Rashaan Salaam, Colorado (1994 winner)
20 – Billy Cannon, LSU (1959 winner); Mike Garrett, Southern Cal (1965 winner); Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska (1972 winner); Earl Campbell, Texas (1977 winner); and Billy Sims, Oklahoma (1978 winner)
21 – Frank Sinkwich, Georgia (1942 winner); Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State (1988 winner); and Desmond Howard, Michigan (1991 winner)
22 – Les Horvath, Ohio State (1944 winner); John Cappelletti, Penn State (1973 winner); Doug Flutie, Boston College (1984 winner); and Mark Ingram, Alabama (2009 winner)
23 – no winner
24 – Nile Kinnick, Iowa (1939 winner); and Pete Dawkins, Army (1958 winner)
25 – no winner
26 – no winner
27 – Joe Bellino, Navy (1960 winner); and Eddie George, Ohio State (1995 winner)
28 – no winner
29 – no winner
30 – Mike Rozier, Nebraska (1983 winner)
31 – Vic Janowicz, Ohio State (1950 winner)
32 – Johnny Lujack, Notre Dame (1947 winner); and O.J. Simpson, Southern Cal (1968 winner)
33 – Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh (1976 winner); Marcus Allen, Southern Cal (1981 winner); and Ron Dayne, Wisconsin (1999 winner)
34 – Herschel Walker, Georgia (1982 winner); Bo Jackson, Auburn (1985 winner); and Ricky Williams, Texas (1998 winner)
35 – Doc Blanchard, Army (1945 winner), Billy Vessels, Oklahoma (1952 winner), and Alan Ameche, Wisconsin (1954 winner)
36 – Steve Owens, Oklahoma (1969 winner)
37 – Doak Walker, SMU (1948 winner)
38 – George Rogers, South Carolina (1980 winner)
39 – no winner
40 – Howard Cassady, Ohio State (1955 winner),
41 – Glenn Davis, Army (1946 winner)
42 – Dick Kazmaier, Princeton (1951 winner)
43 – no winner
44 – John David Crow, Texas A&M (1957 winner); and Ernie Davis, Syracuse (1961 winner)
45 – Archie Griffin, Ohio State (1974 and 1975 winner)
46 – no winner
47 – no winner
48 – Angelo Bertelli, Notre Dame (1943 winner)
49 – no winner
54 – Bruce Smith, Minnesota (1941 winner)
55-80 – no winners
81 – Tim Brown, Notre Dame (1987 winner)
82 – Leon Hart, Notre Dame (1949 winner)
83-97 – no winners
98 – Tom Harmon, Michigan (1940 winner)
99 – Jay Berwanger, Chicago (1935 winner)
jcshearer2@comcast.net