Heisman Trophy winners who did not play in the NFL?

Answer 1

According to www.heisman.com, there have been only five winners of the Heisman Trophy whose primary position was not running back or QB:

1) 1936 - Larry Kelley, Yale, End

2) 1949 - Leon Hart, Notre Dame, End

3) 1987 - Tim Brown, Notre Dame, Wide Receiver

4) 1991 - Desmond Howard, Michigan, Wide Receiver

5) 1997 - Charles Woodson, Michigan, Cornerback

Click on the 'Heisman Trophy Winners' link on this page to see a listing of Heisman winners from www.heisman.com. Thanks much...

I just did what you suggested, and I am more confused now.

In addition to the players you have listed above, Doc Blanchard ('45), Alan Ameche ('54), & Steve Owens ('69) are listed as FB, which I assume means fullback.

I then looked up 'fullback' in Ask.com, and found that the fullback position is not often recognized as a running back any longer.

In recent years the position has evolved to be more a blocker than a runner, with occasional pass-catching duties. The remaining prominent fullbacks in the http://www.answers.com/topic/national-football-league are typically employed for breaking through tight defensive alignments, often in short-yardage situations. As a result, fullbacks are typically less known for speed and agility than for muscularity and the ability to avoid being tackled by knocking down defenders.

Taking all this into consideration then....there would be a total of eight players on the above list....7 offensive, and 1 defensive!...Go figure!

Answer 2

Some of the more recent winners:

1) 2004 - Jason White, Oklahoma

2) 2002 - Eric Crouch, Nebraska

3) 1995 - Charlie Ward, Florida State

White and Crouch were in training camps but did not make the final roster. Ward went on to have a 12 season career in the NBA, primarily with the New York Knicks.