Why Winning the Heisman Does Not Equal Success in the NFL

Every year we watch college football with the excitement and intrigue of a 12 year old who is finding their way into adulthood. Year after year we watch player by player get decorated with awards that many feel they deserve. Funny thing is very few players live up to the hype when they reach the NFL. Let’s take the last few Heisman winners that have finished their college careers and see how successful they have been on the next level.

2007 Tim Tebow – Third String QB Verdict still out

2006 Troy Smith – Third String QB cut recently by Ravens

2005 Reggie Bush – Backup overpaid RB never will play to potential

2004 Matt Leinart – Career backup QB cut recently by Cardinals

2003 Jason White – Undrafted No Longer in NFL

2002 Carson Palmer – Has had a couple of good seasons but average career

2001 Eric Crouch – Moved to Safety No longer in NFL

2000 Chris Weinke – Backup QB No longer in NFL

1999 Ron Dayne – Backup RB No longer in NFL

This list says a lot. It is amazing that only one out of all these players have been successful. College football is a game that displays a certain amount of irony. The offenses that the college teams run are all flavorful and full of variety and there is coaching that allows individuals to do things that garner recognition. The Pro game is dictated more towards skill. The offenses are all pretty much the same since the game recycles coaches over and over but that is a topic for another day.

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The 10 Best College Running Backs in History

Anytime you would like to start a good argument among sports fans, just offer up your list of the Best 10 of anything of all time. I promise at least one person will not agree with your list, and try to top it with theirs. Today I am going to list the best 10 college running backs of all time.

I am a stats guy so I look at yards and touchdowns. But I also look at impact on the game. So here is my own list of college football's best running backs of all time. You may not agree with my list, but just remember I am right and you are wrong!

1- Tony Dorsett was a Heisman winner in 1976 at Pitt. He also was the first college running back to rush for over 1,000 yards in all 4 seasons he played. He had 1,133 rushing attempts for 6,082 yards and 58 touchdowns. Anthony Drew Dorsett was astonishing for a smaller running back at 5-11 and 185 pounds. But he was a speed demon, seldom if ever being run down from behind. After helping Pitt, win a national championship he went on to become a pretty good pro back for the Dallas Cowboys. He is in both the college and pro football hall of fames.

2- Ron Dayne was just a dominating power back for Wisconsin for 4 seasons. When he graduated, Ron "The Great Dayne" owned the NCAA career rushing mark. Ron Dayne is in my opinion the second best college running back ever. He rushed for 6,443 yards and 63 touchdowns. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1999 and is one of 4 players to win the MVP of the Rose Bowl, twice.

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