For those of you who aren’t familiar with American Football, the Heisman Trophy is the College Football equivalent of the Brownlow Medal. The Heisman Trophy showcases the future of the NFL, the potential stars, but the Heisman over the last decade has developed a reputation for shattering the dreams of all those who have honored it.
In 2000, Florida State’s Chris Weinke was awarded prestigious Heisman Trophy following a dominant season in at quarterback. Weinke was snapped up by Carolina, but only managed to lead the Panthers to a 1-15 season, in the processes closing the door on a promising career.
In 2001, The Heisman Trophy went to Nebraska, with the versatile Eric Crouch claiming the prize. Crouch was one of the few quarterbacks that could play another position, starting his career as a pacey wide receiver. Crouch spent time at three NFL franchises but never set foot on the field.
2002 is the only exception to the rule with Carson Palmer currently holding down the starting quarterback role in Cincinnati.
2003 saw Jason White fend off Larry Fitzgerald, Phillip Rivers and Eli Manning for the Heisman Trophy. White was not chosen in the draft the following year whilst Fitzgerald, Rivers and Manning all became house hold names in the NFL.
2004 winner Matt Leinart spent four years at Arizona only to be sacked prior to his first season as starting quarterback.
2005 winner Reggie Bush won the Heisman, then Lost the Heisman thanks to cash incentives that were given to him whilst playing for South Carolina. Furthermore, Bush has recently been fighting a losing battle against fellow running back Pierre Thomas for the starting position in New Orleans.
Troy Smith collected eight trophies, one being the Heisman, in the 2006 season. The young quarterback from Ohio State has spent time in Baltimore and San Fransisco with a mere three touchdowns to his name.
Tim Tebow was the 2007 winner, one of the few to do so in his sophomore year. Tebow was drafted in 2010 and is yet to be proven.
In 2008, a stellar season from quarterback Sam Bradford allowed the Heisman to head Oklahoma bound, the city called home. Bradford was heavily sighted as the number 1 draft pick in 2010 and the St.Louis Rams followed through with speculation, signing Bradford as their starting quarterback following a disappointing Season.
Like Tebow, Bradford is yet to be proven.
Finally Running back Mark Ingram Jr. The boy from “Bama” is expected to feature high in the NFL draft next year, but history will not be on his side as he looks to peruse a career in the NFL.
The Heisman Trophy has become a burden to those who win it, but College Football is only to blame, not the award. Players are developing at such a rate, when the transition to NFL is made, they are incapable to adapting to the style and often many find themselves stuck in Collage mode.
Ironically this is one trophy sportsman should not strive to achieve.
ThelmaWrites
Guest
is it true that Joe Montana's son plays for Notrre Dame? What position? Quarterback?
Mushi
Guest
Other than the reasons you yourself came up with Scouts Inc had him a 72 out of 100. The lowest rating in the first round and indicative of a guy who’s upside is serviceable starter. Aside from his athleticism being average for the NFL he has mechanics that make fetish goat porn look attractive. As a result he will have accuracy problems that can’t be masked in the NFL (see Alex Smith) and has a wild release that will affect his consistency. When my brother asked my thoughts on Trent Edwards as a disenfranchised Broncos fan I suggested they could of asked us for a 3rd rounder in a trade and it still wouldn’t rank as a top five bad decision of the Wunderkind era given - alienating Cutler, - Alienating Marshall, - wasting a first rounder on Knowshon, - exchanging a first rounder for a second rounder which we used on the now former bronco Alphonso Smith - taking tebow in the first
Mushi
Guest
Which in effect make the field "smaller"...
Jeb
Guest
with Carson Palmer it's important to note that he was always a pro-style quaterback. USC has always played like an nfl team and has a long line of nfl qbs.
anopinion
Guest
The biggest difference is that the NFL is the best of the best. 32 teams of pro athletes. College is kids aged 18-22 years old with full time study commitments. There are over 100 teams. The best players often come up against players who are not very good. Thus uneven match ups leads to big plays.
Fivehole
Guest
He has some targets this year with Owens and Ochocinco, as well as Gresham and Shipley. Benson in the backfield helps too. However, he still seems to be struggling, which i supect is more O-line related. These large gentlemen appear to be the most important cog for an offense to be effective.
anopinion
Guest
Why?
anopinion
Guest
Carson has done well and what makes it more impressive is that it is with the Bengals. The Bengals is a graveyard for QBs
anopinion
Guest
Tebow was a great college player. The threat of him running seemed to freeze opponents. Lets see how many NFL teams are worried he will run. If he does run lets see how long he stays injury free. The NFL has very little room for players with injuries. If you want a long career pass early or throw it away.
Mushi
Guest
The biggest difference for why the college midset doesn't work is the size fo the field in a figurative sense. The spaces in college are far greater, the gaps widers, the windows for passers larger becuase palyers aren't on average as fast, experienced or as large. Spurrier's passing attack in college tore teams apart but in the NFL the additional precision needed thwarted him. You get to the pros where the average line backer has another 5 years experience in reading the play, is a few inches longer in the arms, a few more pounds of muscle on his body and 0.2 seconds quicker over the 40 all of a sudden those gaps become smaller. Unless you are as quick as michael vick then running for a QB really shouldn't be one of the first options
Mushi
Guest
I don't think Romo could of played pro bball he was a varsity starter and whilst some places say he was barely beaten out for his states Mr Basketball it was wisconsin which isn't exactly the hot bed of hoops talent. Gvien he attended eastern illinois for his preferred sport I don't think there were many mid major scholarships on offer and he wasn't even drafted to play the NFL. At 6'2'' he could only play point in the pros and he seriously lacks the athletic chops to play undersized.
lazlo
Guest
Some of the college QBs are very pro already - witness the way Alabama came back against the Razorbacks two weeks ago. Still, one of the biggest differences between college and pro ball is the emphasis on passing in the NFL. An NFL QB will often, make that usually, pass on third and two which is pathetic when they have great running backs as most teams do. As a rugby fan I dream of the Wallabies coming up with a back as big and fast and athletic as some of the NFL guys. Don't believe me, rugby fans? Just watch a Vikes game some time.
Fivehole
Guest
Spot on about a year for the QB to learn. The only success on the list above (so far) is Carson Palmer. He spent a year on the sidelines whilst Jon Kitna led the team. He took over the next year and has been secure in the position ever since.
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
EP - Rugbywits well said, I'm a die hard Titans fan so i can relate to your comment in regards to our running offense. Vince is almost there, just battling against a bad case of inconsistency, and an average playbook (theres Mike Heimerdinger for you). Vince needs step out of the pocket when throwing, its become evident that his best performances derive from scrambling. Heimerdinger for one reason or another persists with slant roots that are more predictable then Washington fake field goal last year. We as a team are at the stage now where our best football is in front of us. Collage football is where these plays like the "flea-flicker" and" reversal" were developed. As there are so many teams participating coaches to find the extra edge to defeat opponents, thats where play calling steps in, coaches are more flexible with direct snaps, designed quarterback runs and other unorthodox plays. In the NFL however, as you said, the defensive mindset of most teams leads to plays been kept to a basic. Enter Collage Quarterback.. I'll use Tebow for an example. Urban Meyer at the Gators allowed Tebow to run with the ball almost as much as he did throw it. Throw in the shovel pass and various short passing games and Tebow became better and better as the years progressed. Tebow lands in Denver, Josh McDaniel's wont be so unorthodox, Tebow will be forced to move away from his style of game. Kyle Orton has been feeding the receivers nothing fancy for the last few years, so bringing in Tebow will require a change of thinking for all parties involved. A collage mindset in the NFL just does not work
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
Yeh he did. It's like Tony Romo, could have played professional baseball, basketball or football... not sure if he chose the right sport? Undecided about him.
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
Fair Point anopinion, If you look at the top draft picks this year some have adapted better then others. Bradford really stands out above the rest in respects to settling in. In the past young quarterbacks often struggled to deal with the play calling and tight coverage, but it seems Bradford is rather composed standing in the pocket. A personal favourite of mine in Tebow is yet to be proven, whilst Jimmy Clausens has too big an ego to succeed.
patty
Guest
tebow unlikely to be an NFL success
patty
Guest
O.J simpson won a hiesman as well he had a greant NFL career but i think the heisman curse got him eventually
Mushi
Guest
Any time you can use the second overall pick on a change of pace back you have to do it right… Pretty sure Reggie bush has massively fallen short of expectations
Elisha Pearce
Expert
Just 1 correction to the article. Reggie Bush played RB for USC (University of Southern California). But its a good article! interesting to think about it. Ive watched college football for a while, and I think I prefer it more than NFL atm. I didnt know there were many or any on here that watched it. The problem with heisman winners succeding in the NFL is partly what M1tch said. The quarterbacks are thrown into the fray with a team that isnt usually that good. Quarterbacks are usually best left for a year or two to make the transition into the NFL from the bench. Its hard to learn the game at all let alone in the fray with 11 guys usually bigger than you trying to break your jaw. Also there is another point to consider. In NFL the game is mostly stagnant. They dont change much or try new things that are more than just 'wrinkles' very often. Where as in college teams are much more varied and the difference in competetive abilities between some teams allows the better teams to experiement more. What that has lead to is a proliferation of college football teams running 'spread offense' that centres on an athletic quarterback who in tandem with the running back creates enormous headaches for the defence. And while they are usualy competent passers they dont actually pass a whole lot. When they do the results are great because the defense is so used to shutting down the spread running game the recievers are left open. (thats the aim anyway). When that quarterback wins the heisman (as he should) because he was the dominant player in the year it doesnt always translate to the NFL because it takes a LONG time to learn the nuances of the more 'professional' style of football played. Also just to clarify the spread offense is used in NFL but it is usually used in a way that puts emphasis on the pass and not necessarily the run. The 1 major spread offense running team would be the Tennessee Titans. They have a lightning quick running back and a quarterback who (after about 3 years working his way up to NFL standards) is competent at running and passing. As another debate - he possibly should have recieved the heisman the year Reggie Bush did.