Apart from entertainment, football is also about trophies and awards. Both teams and individuals strive to win the best trophies possible.
The Heisman trophy is the number one trophy for college football. More than 80% of players who have won the Heisman award are all Quarterbacks.
Alabama is one of the best college football clubs and has produced Heisman players. The first Alabama player to win the coveted award was a running back. Three more players won it, but how many of them were quarterbacks? Keep reading to know if an Alabama quarterback has ever won a Heisman award.
Has An Alabama QB Won The Heisman?
Yes, an Alabama QB has won the Heisman. Alabama has been one of the best football clubs, so it shouldn’t be surprising that an Alabama QB has won the prestigious trophy.
The trophy, established in 1935 by the Downtown Athletic Club of New York City,honors the most valuable college football player east of the Mississippi.
The Heisman trophy usually goes to outstanding players in college football. The first recipient of the award was John J. (“Jay”) Berwanger of the University of Chicago.
After the death of John Heison – a player and successful coach of the 1890s and the early 1900s – the organizers christened the award after him and broadened it to include players west of the Mississippi.
Every year, the best college football player receives the Heisman Trophy. A panel of sports journalists, fans, former Heisman winners, and sports figures sit and decide the winner. This award is the highest individual distinction a college football player can get.
Heisman winners don’t get any official financial reward, but their name is always first on the list in the first round of the NFL Draft, putting them on the fast track to a successful career. That is the best reward a college player can get.
Since the first winner, the Heisman has been awarded 85 times to 84 unique people. Archie Griffin is the only player in history to win the trophy twice, in 1974 and 1975. Oklahoma and Notre Dame are the clubs with the most Heisman.
Alabama has twice (15) the national titles of Oklahoma (7). So we expect them to have a good number of Heisman winners. Let’s see.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Before we go on to see how many Alabama QBs have won the Heisman award, let’s look at the club’s brief history.
The history of the University of Alabama’s football program dates back to 1892 when the university formed its first football team. Over the years, the Crimson Tide has become one of the most storied and successful programs in college football history, with numerous national championships, All-Americans, and NFL draft picks to its credit.
In the early days of Alabama football, the program experienced moderate success. Still, it wasn’t until the recruitment of head coach Wallace Wade in 1923 that the Crimson Tide began to establish itself as a powerhouse. Wade led the team to its first national championship in 1925 and would go on to win two more national titles during his tenure.
In the years following Wade’s departure, the Crimson Tide continued to be successful. Still, it wasn’t until the arrival of legendary head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant in 1958 that Alabama truly became a dominant force in college football. During his 25-year tenure, Bryant led the Crimson Tide to six national championships and 13 SEC titles. He has been one of the best coaches of all time and one of the most legendary figures in the sport’s history.
Which Alabama Qb Has Won The Heisman Trophy?
In the history of Alabama, only four players have won the Heisman, and just one out of the four players won it as a right back.
Bryce Young is the only Alabama QB to win the Heisman Award. Bryce wasn’t given much of a chance to lead Alabama’s offense until 2021. But before 2021, his talents were there for everyone to see.
In his first year, he served as backup to Mac Jones and only attempted 22 passes. Bryce Young didn’t get his chance to shine until 2021, when Mac Jones and almost all senior offensive players in Alabama were all drafted into the NFL.
Alabama fans and players weren’t sure if Bryce could fit in and deliver as Mac Jones did, but Bryce Young stepped in like he had been there all his life. He led the offense, throwing 43 touchdowns to only four interceptions.
He earned his spot as the first Alabama quarterback to win the prestigious Heisman award. He is well on his way to breaking history as the first Alabama player to win the Heisman two times and the second player in history to win it two times.
Can Bryce Young Of Alabama Become The Second Qb To Win The Heisman Trophy Twice?
Although it is theoretically possible to win the Heisman Trophy twice, none of the past winners have been able to achieve that feat since Archie Griffin.
Eight other Heisman winners have gone back to college in the past 20 years, including:
Oklahoma QB Jason White (the 2003 winner),
USC QB Matt Leinart,
Florida QB Tim Tebow,
Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford,
Alabama running back Mark Ingram,
Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel, and
Louisville QB Lamar Jackson.
However, none of them has won the Heisman in their return year.
Six players have gotten to the top six Heisman poll, but the highest and closest any of them have gotten to winning the award again in third place.
Despite the odds against past winners winning Heisman again, Bryce looks to be the obvious favorite for the trophy. Alabama is currently ranked first in the preseason polls, and if he continues with the kind of performances we saw last year, he might scoop the trophy again.
Other Alabama Players That Won Heisman
82% of players that have won the Heisman award since 2000 have all been quarterbacks. Only three non-quarterback players have done it in that duration. Those three players all won it in the Crimson Tide shirt.
Four Alabama players have won the Heisman award, and only one (Bryce Young) won it as a QB.
Mark Ingram: Alabama running back Mark Ingram is arguably one of the best Alabama players of all time. He was the first to win the Heisman award in the club in 2009, edging out Toby Gerhart of Stanford by five votes. While Mark Ingram received 227 votes, Toby received 222.
Ingram and Alabama had a perfect season in 2009. He helped the team close the regular season undefeated. He also broke several records that year by tailing about 1,648 rushing yards, 1,992 all-purpose yards, and scoring 20 touchdowns.
One of the most memorable moments and games of Ingram’s time in Alabama is the game where he handled the ball on every play during the team’s clinching drive. His inch-perfect pass against Florida remains one of the best moments in football till today.
Deitrick Henry: After Mark Ingram, Alabama was made to wait for eight years before having another Heisman winner. This time it was, it was also not a quarterback. Alabama running back Deitrick was the second Alabama player to win the Heisman Trophy in 2015.
Deitrick went on to be drafted by the NFL. He has continued with his red-hot performances for Alabama in the NFL.
In his Heisman season, he punched 28 touchdowns on the ground on 395 carries and covered 2,200 yards in 15 college matches. He has already achieved a similar feat in the NFL, tailing over 2,000 yards in 16 NFL games.
One of the features that distinguish Deitrick from other players is his physique. Being a 6’3 “, 242-pound player allows him to control and dictate the terms of games.
DeVonta Smith: You’d surely remember DeVonta’s Heisman in 2021, the pandemic year. DeVonta Smith’s talent has always been there for all to see, but when he was finally allowed to shine in 2020, he exceeded expectations.
However, he was also not a quarterback. DeVinta Smith led the offense as a senior wide receiver; he scored a mind-blowing 23 touchdowns through the air on 117 receptions. Smith’s offensive contribution to the team helped them have a good season.
Conclusion
All college players have their eyes on the Heisman trophy because it is their sure ticket to getting into the NFL. In the trophy’s history, 82% of winners have been quarterbacks leaving out only three players who won it as non-quarterbacks.
Alabama has been one of the best football teams in the last decades. They have won lots of trophies and produced four Heisman winners. However, the only Alabama quarterback to win the award is Bryce Young.
Bryce Young is the latest Alabama Heisman winner and has a chance of winning again if he keeps producing brilliant performances.
