This is the first in a series of posts arguing why each of the five Heisman Trophy finalists deserves the award.
The Heisman Trophy Trust’s mission statement is deceptive. The award purports to honor an “outstanding college football player,” but the reality is more restrictive. The Heisman is like an exclusive club granting entry mostly to quarterbacks and running backs, with a wide receiver occasionally making it past the velvet rope. In the 80-year history of the award, there have been only seven winners not listed at one of those three positions. The group has trended toward uniformity in recent years: Quarterbacks have hoisted the bronze trophy all but twice since the turn of the century.