How recent repeat Heisman Trophy attempts have fallen short
The Heisman Trophy, the most revered award in college football, is given out annually to the player who is deemed the best in the sport that season. While the honor is an individual one, the performance of the team around that player almost always plays a significant role in their selection as well.
The last member of the Florida football program to win the Heisman is quarterback Tim Tebow, who earned the award in 2007 when he was a sophomore — the first college sophomore ever to win at the time. Interestingly, Tebow took the trophy in what was a down year for the Gators in between their two national championships.
USA TODAY Sports Scooby Axson took a look at how recent repeat attempts to win a second Heisman have fallen short, including Tebow. Here is what he had to offer on the possibly the greatest Gators football player to ever wear the Orange and Blue.
Tebow’s Gators lost four games the year he won the Heisman, but his stats were too good to ignore. He rushed and passed for 55 total touchdowns on the year and was the first sophomore to take home the award. Tebow returned to the Gators for the 2008 season, leading the Gators to the BCS title game, finishing third in the Heisman voting behind Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy despite having the most first-place votes. He also came back for his senior season in 2009, leading the Gators to a 13-1 record and finished fifth in the voting.
Also included on the list is Oklahoma Sooners‘ Jason White (2003), USC Trojans‘ Matt Leinart (2004), Sooner Sam Bradford (2008), Alabama Crimson Tide‘s Mark Ingram (2009), Texas A&M Aggies‘ Johnny Manziel (2012), Florida State Seminoles’ Jameis Winston (2013), Louisville Cardinals’ Lamar Jackson (2016) and ‘Bama’s Bryce Young (2021).
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