The Heisman Winners: 1950s

This article appears in the Sports Illustrated Presents 75th Anniversary of the Heisman Trophy issue.

Before new coach Woody Hayes installed T formation in '51, the single wing tailback scored 16 TDs, had 875 yards of total offense, played safety on defense, punted and placekicked.

Heisman moment: In 83-21 win over Iowa, accounted for 46 points, passing for four TDs, rushing for one, scoring on a 61-yard punt return and kicking a Big Ten record 10 extra points.

Last Ivy Leaguer to win Heisman led nation with 1,827 yards of total offense in '51, averaging 6.6 yards per play.

Heisman moment: Passed for 236 yards and three TDs and ran for 124 yards and two TDs in 53-15 rout of undefeated Cornell.

As a senior, first Sooner to win Heisman rushed for 1,072 yards, passed for 209, had 165 yards receiving and scored 18 TDs.

Heisman moment: In first football game to be televised nationally (27-21 loss to Notre Dame), ran for TDs of 47 and 62 yards and caught 20-yard pass for another score.

Workhorse averaged 4.9 yards per carry and 15.7 per catch over his career and set a school career record with 13 interceptions.

Heisman moments: Top plays include a game-sealing pick against Oklahoma, a game-tying 92-yard kickoff return against Penn and four TDs and 157 yards rushing against USC.

Bruising 215-pound fullback had 146 carries for 641 yards while playing through injuries in '54.

Heisman moment: In Wisconsin's first bowl, a 7-0 loss to USC in the '53 Rose Bowl, the Horse ran for 133 yards on 28 carries.

Ran for 964 yards and 15 TDs in '55. Also a talented defensive back, never had a pass completed against him in Big Ten play.

Heisman moment: Earned nickname Hopalong (for popular cowboy actor Hopalong Cassidy) after coming off bench to score three TDs in 21-13 win over Indiana, his first game as a Buckeye.

Only Heisman winner on a losing team (2-8) had 917 passing yards, 420 rushing yards and 496 kickoff-return yards in '56.

Heisman moment: In 21-7 win over No. 4 Navy in '55, the Golden Boy ran for a TD, threw a TD pass and intercepted two.

Bear Bryant's lone Heisman winner appeared in seven games due to injuries but ran for 562 yards and six TDs, passed for five TDs and made five interceptions at linebacker in '57.

Heisman moment: On a broken foot, ran for 27-yard TD in 34-21 road win over Texas in '56, A&M's first at Memorial Stadium.

Rhodes scholar and senior class president had 1,123 yards rushing, 719 yards receiving and threw for seven TDs as a Cadet.

Heisman moment: Scored on 64-yard catch-and-run with 51 seconds left in 14-7 victory over Rice in Houston.

Imposing (6' 1", 210 pounds) runner with sprinter's speed led LSU to first AP national title in '58 and in '59 scored seven TDs, rushed for 598 yards and returned eight kickoffs for 191 yards.

Heisman moment: On Halloween night of '59, returned punt 89 yards for winning TD in fourth quarter of 7-3 win over Ole Miss.