Las estrellas de la NFL tuvieron casi siempre un gran rendimiento universitario. Allí pulieron y aprendieron las virtudes que los hacen destacarse dentro del fútbol americano profesional. Por eso mismo, sobre todo en Estados Unidos, el deporte de la NCAA es seguido por millones de espectadores cada sábado.
Terminada la temporada regular pero previo a los bowls se entrega el prestigioso MVP: el Trofeo Heisman. Año a año se elige al mejor jugador. The Sporting News repasa el listado de todos los ganadores, premio que se entrega de manera ininterrumpida desde 1935.
¿Quién fue John Heisman y por qué el trofeo lleva su nombre?
El máximo premio universitario lleva el nombre de John Heisman en forma de reconocimiento. John Heisman, quien disfrutó del deporte a finales del 1800, fue vital para determinar algunas de las reglas actuales. Su intervención permitió que se bajara la cantidad de lesiones: en 1905 hubo 18 jugadores fallecidos y 159 lastimados de gravedad.
Heisman, que tuvo toda una vida dedicada al deporte, también resultó importante en los primeros años del básquet universitario y el béisbol.
¿Quién ganó el Trofeo Heisman? Todos los ganadores del premio
| Año | Jugador | Universidad | Posición |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Jay Berwanger | Chicago | Halfback |
| 1936 | Larry Kelley | Yale | End |
| 1937 | Clint Frank | Yale | Halfback |
| 1938 | Davey O'Brien | TCU | Quarterback |
| 1939 | Nile Kinnick | Iowa | Halfback |
| 1940 | Tom Harmon | Michigan | Halfback |
| 1941 | Bruce Smith | Minnesota | Halfback |
| 1942 | Frank Sinkwich | Georgia | Halfback |
| 1943 | Angelo Bertelli | Notre Dame | Quarterback |
| 1944 | Les Horvath | Ohio State | Quarterback |
| 1945 | Doc Blanchard | Army | Fullback |
| 1946 | Glenn Davis | Army | Halfback |
| 1947 | Johnny Lujack | Notre Dame | Quarterback |
| 1948 | Doak Walker | SMU | Halfback |
| 1949 | Leon Hart | Notre Dame | End |
| 1950 | Vic Janowicz | Ohio State | Halfback |
| 1951 | Dick Kazmaier | Princeton | Halfback |
| 1952 | Billy Vessels | Oklahoma | Halfback |
| 1953 | Johnny Lattner | Notre Dame | Halfback |
| 1954 | Alan Ameche | Wisconsin | Halfback |
| 1955 | Howard Cassady | Ohio State | Halfback |
| 1956 | Paul Hornung | Notre Dame | Quarterback |
| 1957 | John David Crow | Texas A&M | Halfback |
| 1958 | Pete Dawkins | Army | Halfback |
| 1959 | Billy Cannon | LSU | Halfback |
| 1960 | Joe Bellino | Navy | Halfback |
| 1961 | Ernie Davis | Syracuse | Halfback |
| 1962 | Terry Baker | Oregon State | Quarterback |
| 1963 | Roger Staubach | Navy | Quarterback |
| 1964 | John Huarte | Notre Dame | Quarterback |
| 1965 | Mike Garrett | USC | Halfback |
| 1966 | Steve Spurrier | Florida | Quarterback |
| 1967 | Gary Beban | UCLA | Quarterback |
| 1968 | O. J. Simpson | USC | Halfback |
| 1969 | Steve Owens | Oklahoma | Halfback |
| 1970 | Jim Plunkett | Stanford | Quarterback |
| 1971 | Pat Sullivan | Auburn | Quarterback |
| 1972 | Johnny Rodgers | Nebraska | Wide Receiver |
| 1973 | John Cappelletti | Penn State | Running Back |
| 1974 | Archie Griffin | Ohio State | Running Back |
| 1975 | Archie Griffin | Ohio State | Running Back |
| 1976 | Tony Dorsett | Pittsburgh | Running Back |
| 1977 | Earl Campbell | Texas | Running Back |
| 1978 | Billy Sims | Oklahoma | Running Back |
| 1979 | Charles White | USC | Running Back |
| 1980 | George Rogers | South Carolina | Running Back |
| 1981 | Marcus Allen | USC | Running Back |
| 1982 | Herschel Walker | Georgia | Running Back |
| 1983 | Mike Rozier | Nebraska | Running Back |
| 1984 | Doug Flutie | Boston College | Quarterback |
| 1985 | Bo Jackson | Auburn | Running Back |
| 1986 | Vinny Testaverde | Miami | Quarterback |
| 1987 | Tim Brown | Notre Dame | Wide Receiver |
| 1988 | Barry Sanders | Oklahoma State | Running Back |
| 1989 | Andre Ware | Houston | Quarterback |
| 1990 | Ty Detmer | BYU | Quarterback |
| 1991 | Desmond Howard | Michigan | Wide Receiver |
| 1992 | Gino Torretta | Miami | Quarterback |
| 1993 | Charlie Ward | Florida State | Quarterback |
| 1994 | Rashaan Salaam | Colorado | Running Back |
| 1995 | Eddie George | Ohio State | Running Back |
| 1996 | Danny Wuerffel | Florida | Quarterback |
| 1997 | Charles Woodson | Michigan | Defensive Back |
| 1998 | Ricky Williams | Texas | Running Back |
| 1999 | Ron Dayne | Wisconsin | Running Back |
| 2000 | Chris Weinke | Florida State | Quarterback |
| 2001 | Eric Crouch | Nebraska | Quarterback |
| 2002 | Carson Palmer | USC | Quarterback |
| 2003 | Jason White | Oklahoma | Quarterback |
| 2004 | Matt Leinart | USC | Quarterback |
| 2005 | Reggie Bush* | USC | Running Back |
| 2006 | Troy Smith | Ohio State | Quarterback |
| 2007 | Tim Tebow | Florida | Quarterback |
| 2008 | Sam Bradford | Oklahoma | Quarterback |
| 2009 | Mark Ingram | Alabama | Running Back |
| 2010 | Cam Newton | Auburn | Quarterback |
| 2011 | Robert Griffin III | Baylor | Quarterback |
| 2012 | Johnny Manziel | Texas A&M | Quarterback |
| 2013 | Jameis Winston | Florida State | Quarterback |
| 2014 | Marcus Mariota | Oregon | Quarterback |
| 2015 | Derrick Henry | Alabama | Running Back |
| 2016 | Lamar Jackson | Louisville | Quarterback |
| 2017 | Baker Mayfield | Oklahoma | Quarterback |
| 2018 | Kyler Murray | Oklahoma | Quarterback |
| 2019 | Joe Burrow | LSU | Quarterback |
| 2020 | DeVonta Smith | Alabama | Running Back |
| 2021 | Bryce Young | Alabama | Quarterback |
| 2022 | Caleb Williams | USC | Quarterback |
| 2023 | Jayden Daniels | LSU | Quarterback |
*En 2010 lo devolvió por recibir beneficios indebidos mientras jugaba por la Universidad del Sur de California