Texas-sized Talent: The Heisman Winners Who Ruled the Field
Every year we see amazing players in college football. Players that show the courage, talent & hard work to push their teams to victory. Those who are the most outstanding players get awarded the Heisman Trophy. Nearly 100 different players have won the Heisman since 1935; but which ones have won for the state of Texas? That's what this list will find out:
Let's start with Heisman winners born in Texas
Davey O'Brien (1938) - Our first entry was Davey O'Brien from Dallas; he won the trophy playing with Texas Christian University (TCU). He would play with the Eagles for 2 seasons. He would be inducted into the Dallas ISD Hall of Fame posthumously in 2018.
Doak Walker (1948) - Another Dallas born native is Ewell Doak Walker II, who won his trophy playing for Southern Methodist University. He would join the NFL playing for the Detroit Lions.
Earl Campbell (1977) - We'd have to wait nearly 3 decades before seeing the next Texas born player, Tyler's Earl Campbell from the University of Texas. He was the first Longhorn to win the Heisman. He would join the NFL playing for the Houston Oilers & the New Orleans Saints before retiring in 1985.
Tim Brown (1987) - San Antonio's Tim Brown would win the Heisman a decade later playing for Notre Dame. "Touchdown Timmy" would play for a total of 16 years in the NFL playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers & of course the Raiders.
Andre Ware (1989) - Galveston's Andre Ware from the University of Houston is next; winning the Heisman just two years later. He would spend most of his career playing for the Detroit Lions from 1990-1993.
Ty Detmer (1990) - The very next year, from San Marcos, Ty Detmer from Brigham Young University (BYU( would win his Heisman trophy. He would play for a number of teams: the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, the Cleveland Browns (a team we'll see again shortly), the Lions & the Atlanta Falcons,
Johnny Manziel (2012)
Yes who can forget Johnny Football, Johnny Manziel? He was born in Tyler but was raised in Kerrville. He would become a star at Texas A&M & join the league playing for the Cleveland Browns.
Baker Mayfield (2017)
One of the winners that's still currently playing in the league, Baker Mayfield from Austin would become a star playing for Oklahoma. So far he's played for the Cleveland Browns, the Los Angeles Rams & the Carolina Panthers. As of 2023, he's with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kyler Murray (2018)
And finally the most recent Heisman winner was also from Oklahoma, Bedford's Kyler Murray. Since he's joined the league in 2019, he's stayed with the Arizona Cardinals.
And here are Heisman winners who played for Texas colleges
John David Crow (1957) - John was born in Marion, Louisiana but Texas A&M know him as the first Heisman winner for TA&M. He would play for the Chicago/St Louis Cardinals & the San Francisco 49ers.
Ricky Williams (1998) - Born in San Diego, California, Rick Williams played with the Texas Longhorns, becoming the 2nd Longhorn to win. He would play 11 seasons in the NFL for the Saints, the Miami Dolphins, & the Baltimore Ravens
It's been 5 years since the last time Texas has won the Heisman but as long as we seen amazing talent from the Lone Star State, it won't be the last.
