Johnny Lattner, the versatile halfback who won the 1953 Heisman Trophy playing for an unbeaten Notre Dame team, died on Saturday at his home in Melrose Park, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. He was 83.
Notre Dame said the cause was complications of mesothelioma, a type of cancer.
Lattner, who played both offense and defense, was not especially fast, but he was an elusive runner and a good blocker, and he caught passes, returned kicks, punted and was an outstanding defensive back. He was a two-time all-American and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979.