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Over the years, there have been many football players who have become legendary figures at the collegiate level. However, numerous Heisman winners haven’t enjoyed the same levels of success once they reach the next level. Ten Heisman winners have reached the Pro Football Hall of Fame and four have won Super Bowl MVP. These men, however, weren’t as fortunate in the NFL.
Ron Dayne — Wisconsin
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Ron Dayne epitomized what it meant to be a Wisconsin football. Badgers’ icon Barry Alvarez managed to convince the New Jersey native to come and play running back at 270 pounds. Simply put, he was a load. Dayne thrived behind traditionally massive Wisconsin offensive lines. A big guy himself, he was unbelievably nimble. A starter all four years in college, he finished his career with over 7,000 career rushing yards, 71 TDs, and two Rose Bowl MVP trophies.
Dayne was a first-round pick by the New York Giants (No. 11 overall). Whether being worn down in college or simply in not good enough shape for the professional ranks, Dayne’s NFL career was not a productive one. He morphed into more of a short-yardage back. Conditioning issues plagued him, and as such Dayne didn’t register one 1,000-yard season in the seven he featured in.
Jason White — Oklahoma
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Jason White is one of those guys who withstood the odds and still became an elite college quarterback. He played for six years in college — though we must keep some perspective. He had suffered torn ACLs on both knees, thus robbing him of any athleticism. Still, he drove the Sooners to national prominence with his arm and headiness. In 2003, White threw for 40 TDs and over 3,800 yards. The year after, he followed it up with 35 TDs and 3,000 yards.
The stock for a 24-year-old quarterback with bad knees isn’t ideal. There was no chance White would’ve gotten drafted based on his medicals — even with a stellar college career statistically speaking. He had brief cups of coffee with both the Chiefs and the Titans. Ultimately, his knees prevented him from playing any further.
Andre Ware — Houston
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Andre Ware was a monster talent during his days at Houston. As a sophomore, he threw for 25 touchdowns and 2,507 yards in just 11 games. As a junior, the eventual Heisman winner exploded onto the scene as the best player in college football. He tossed 46 TDs and threw for 4,699 yards. With Ware’s velocity and strong football I.Q., most expected him to be a star on the next level.
Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out that way for Ware. Detroit was a volatile organization, and — to no fault of Ware’s — the fit wasn’t a clean one. He could never truly carve out a role for himself (as he jockeyed with other quarterbacks for the role). Shockingly, despite being picked No. 7 overall in the 1990 NFL Draft, Ware was gone from the league by 1995. He managed only five career TDs (to eight INTs) before heading to Canada for a few years.
Johnny Rodgers — Nebraska
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Rodgers was one of those players simply ahead of his time. He was a lethal skill player — with Nebraska lining him up all over the field to get the ball in his hands. As a triple threat, Rodgers took snaps out of the backfield, worked as a receiver, and also returned kicks. By the end of his collegiate career, he had more than 5,500 all-purpose yards.
A lucrative offer from a team in Canada led to Rodgers bypassing the NFL for a few years. In four years with the Montreal Alouettes, Rodgers was a four-time All-Star, the Rookie of the Year, a two-time champion, and a division MVP. He eventually did make it to the league with the Chargers — though injuries essentially ended his career two years later.
Eric Crouch — Nebraska
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The college version of Steve Young, Crouch was lethal as the fulcrum of Nebraska’s offense during the late ’90s/early 2000s. The option offense enabled Crouch to use his elite athletic ability — which included being insanely quick and incredibly elusive. In 2001, he won virtually all of the major awards nationally for his position as the quarterback. While this throwing of the football was a concern to teams, Crouch had an electric skill set that was highly appealing.
A third-round pick in 2002, Crouch never really got a chance to flourish as a QB. Most NFL teams saw him as either a receiver or a defensive back based upon running a 4.4 40-yard time. Crouch bounced between NFL practice squads, the UFL, and the CFL. After a plethora of injuries, he retired in 2011.
Rashaan Salaam — Colorado
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The San Diego native bypassed offers from local schools UCLA and Southern Cal in favor of attending Colorado. While in Bolder, Salaam was a phenomenal player. As a junior, he rushed for over 2,000 yards and notched 24 TDs for good measure. The Buffs won the Fiesta Bowl and finished as a top-five team nationally. Of course, much of that was due to Salaam’s prowess as a high-end rusher of the football. After becoming a First Team All-American, the Chicago Bears took him in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft.
Salaam did register a 1,000-yard season as a rookie (which made many in the Windy City excited). However, he was also beset by a fumbling problem — not to mention reported off-the-field issues. Salaam bounced around four other NFL franchises before briefly playing in Canada. He simply was never able to recapture the magic he once had. Sadly, Salaam passed away in 2016 at the age of 42.
Charles White — USC
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Starring at San Fernando High School, White was one of Southern California’s most prolific high school recruits. He opted to stick around LA and play for the Trojans. This proved to be a wise decision, as White won the Heisman Trophy in 1979 (along with all other awards associated with the running back position). After amassing over 6,200 total yards and 53 total TDs in college, the Cleveland Browns selected him as a first-round pick.
As a pro, the lightning-quick rusher didn’t find his stride with the Browns. After four lackluster seasons, White finished his career with the Rams. His best season by far came in 1987 when he rushed for 1,374 yards and 11 TDs (at age 29). He played only one more year before retiring fully.
Danny Wuerffel — Florida
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The howitzer behind Steve Spurrier’s Fun N’ Gun offense was none other than former Heisman winner Danny Wuerffel. The Florida signal-caller was masterful at running Spurrier’s scheme — placing the ball wherever he wanted to with the flick of a wrist. The pass-happy offense ultimately led to some gigantic statistical years for Wuerffel. As a senior, he threw for over 3,600 yards and 39 TDs. His efficiency numbers were off the chart despite having less-than-ideal athleticism.
Due to the fact some felt he was more a product of the scheme rather than an elite natural talent, Wuerffel shockingly wasn’t selected until the fourth round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He was never truly given a fair shake as it pertains to running an NFL franchise. Over six years and three teams, Wuerffel started a combined 10 games (going 4-6). He was out of the NFL by 2002 and has since been very active in several charity-based organizations.
Chris Weinke — Florida State
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Chris Weinke has a fascinating story. A prodigy in both baseball and football, he initially bypassed college for professional baseball. At age 25, he changed his mind — instead enrolling at Florida State to become the team’s starting quarterback. Of course, the combination of age and physical development gave him a leg-up on the competition. As a junior, Weinke led the Seminoles to a National Title. A year later, he won the Heisman and led the country with over 4,100 passing yards. He did this at age 28.
A couple of months shy of his 29th birthday, Weinke was taken in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. Based upon his age, there wasn’t much in the way of upside — though he did have a chance to play right away. As a ‘rookie’, Weinke tossed 11 TDs to a whopping 19 INTs. His team went 1-14 in those contests. After that, he played parts of four more years before retiring. Currently, Weinke is an assistant coach for Georgia Tech.
Tim Tebow — Florida
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Tebow was a national sensation when he played under Urban Meyer at Florida. He was essentially the glue that held together an extremely talented yet volatile roster. Using his toughness and rushing ability, the inspirational leader looked like a left-handed fullback manning the QB spot. Florida won two titles with Tebow on the team. Though not a natural thrower of the football, no one could deny his efficiency (88 TDs to 16 INTs, 57 rushing TDs).
Denver rolled the dice and took Skip Bayless’s favorite player toward the end of the first round. Some were shocked over this, citing concerns over his funky delivery and relative lack of arm strength (despite being widely lauded as a leader in the locker room). While Tebow did win one playoff game for the Broncos, his NFL career as a whole lasted only three years. Teams aimed to get him to change positions, and as such he never really got an extended look at the position.
Troy Smith — Ohio State
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The diminutive signal-caller with the big arm was a very productive player during his time in Columbus. He became a fixture as a junior — accounting for over 3,000 total yards and a combined 27 touchdowns. With that said, Smith took his game to a different level as a senior. With really impressive pocket-passing skills, he lit up the Big Ten — accumulating 2,542 passing yards and 30 passing touchdowns.
Smith was not projected by most pundits to be a starting-level NFL quarterback. This proved to be partially true — as he started only eight games throughout his four-year career. Primarily, Smith was a reserve signal-caller for the Ravens initially, and then for the San Francisco 49ers. He later played in Canada before hanging up his cleats for good.
Johnny Manziel — Texas A&M
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Oh boy…here we go. Johnny Football was essentially the brightest flash in the proverbial pan you’ll ever find. He took college football by storm with his larger-than-life persona and swashbuckling on-field performances. Though he was tiny for the position, Manziel dominated with an advanced feel for the game — along with copious amounts of charisma and elusiveness. Despite only playing for two years in College Station, he changed ‘the game’ considerably.
The Browns took him in the first round after his hometown team (Dallas) passed on him. Some felt as if Manziel would be a star — whereas others believed his off-the-field fun would catch up to him. The latter ultimately transpired, and Manziel only demonstrated brief flickers of the player he could’ve been in another life. Things didn’t work in Cleveland for a plethora of reasons. By age 23, he was out of the game for good.
Robert Griffin III — Baylor
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The dynamic athlete out of Baylor was a sight to behold. He had a whip of a right arm with legit Olympic track speed and a supremely high football I.Q. In short, Griffin represented everything you’d want in the ideal modern-day signal-caller. A true dual threat with the actual capability to throw the football downfield, RGIII put Baylor on the map as a respectable football program. In his Heisman-winning year, Griffin III threw for over 4,200 yards and accumulated 47 total touchdowns.
RGIII was drafted No. 2 overall by Washington — and immediately took the league over with his proclivity for run-pass options. He was the Rookie of the Year and had many thinking he was about to revolutionize the league. However, as fate would have it, he would destroy both his ACL and LCL knee ligaments in the playoffs of that year. While Griffin III’s sophomore year was decent, he was never fully able to recover the magic he once had. Ultimately, he washed out of the league due to never being the same physically.
Matt Leinart — USC
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Remember when USC and Pete Carroll were atop the college football hierarchy? Those teams were LOADED with NFL talent from top to bottom. The signal-caller commanding all of the troops was none other than Matt Leinart. The Orange County native was the poster child for the sport — posting huge numbers. In three years as the starter, Leinart threw for a combined 99 TDs and 10,693 yards. In the process, he also helped the Trojans win two titles.
When Leinart got to the NFL, his warts were exposed in a big way. No longer could he rely upon superior talent around him. We saw a statuesque QB with zero athletic ability and an arm that struggled to throw the ball beyond 20 yards with any semblance of zip. When you can’t throw the football very far — and you struggle inside the pocket with mobility — your playing career is in jeopardy. In parts of seven NFL seasons, Leinart had a TD:INT ratio of 15:21. He went from being a top-10 pick to being out of the league rather abruptly.
Archie Griffin — Ohio State
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To this day, Griffin is still the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner. He was an outstanding running back out of Ohio State — where he accumulated three-straight seasons with at least 1,450 rushing yards. It was no surprise to see Griffin eventually become a first-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals. Being a local guy, this seemed like a perfect marriage.
Based on his pedigree as a two-time Heisman winner/first-round pick, Griffin had a relatively disappointing professional career. He never rushed for more than 688 yards in a single season. A smaller back, he often was the supplemental change-of-pace guy rather than the every-down starter. After seven NFL seasons, Griffin was done by age 28.
Mike Rozier — Nebraska
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Rozier wanted to play for a big-time football program — which is why he left his native New Jersey for the supportive environment in Lincoln. It proved to be a very wise decision. Rozier had explosive speed in the open field and was a perfect fit for the run-heavy scheme. As a junior, he rushed for over 1,800 yards, and that was followed by a senior year that included 2,295 yards on the ground (with a whopping 29 TDs).
Instead of immediately going to the NFL, Rozier was drafted into the USFL as a high pick. After two years, the Houston Oilers came calling. He spent parts of seven seasons with three different franchises. While he managed to accrue over 4,000 total yards during that time, Rozier was never really considered to be a star. His best year came in 1988 — when he notched 1,002 rushing yards and 10 TDs.
Ty Detmer — BYU
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There was a time when BYU was churning out QB after QB to the pros. Ty Detmer (of the famed Detmer family) was one of those guys. He was a prolific passer out of Texas and thrived in a much quieter environment compared to some of his peers. Detmer threw for over 15,000 yards and 121 TDs in four years with the Cougars. He won the award as a junior after throwing for 41 TDs and 5,188 yards.
Detmer ultimately was beset by the whole ‘system quarterback’ stigma (along with possessing a small frame). He did play in the league for 14 years (which is a very respectable feat). With that said, he was almost exclusively a backup quarterback during this period. Detmer started only 25 games over his career before retiring. His best season came with the Eagles in 1996 (where he threw for 2,911 yards, 15 TDs, and led the team to a 7-4 record).
Baker Mayfield — Oklahoma
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Mayfield’s rise from walk-on to Heisman Trophy winner is quite a story. He left Texas Tech after developing into a star quarterback. After transferring to OU, his game rose to another level. In three years with the Sooners, he threw for 131 TDs and 14,607 yards. He was machine-like in finding teammates with his myriad of throws (whether bullet-esque or lofted with terrific accuracy). Mayfield’s charismatic (bordering on brash) personality made him a household name.
Mayfield hasn’t been all that bad since entering the NFL. In four years with Cleveland, he threw for 92 TDs and 56 INTs. Those are respectable numbers. His time in Cleveland ran out, and he eventually found a home in Tampa Bay. In 2023, his first year with the Buccaneers, Mayfield led his team to a victory over Philadelphia in the Wild Card Round.
Gino Torretta — Miami
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The Northern California native traveled across the country to play his college ball in South Beach. He was masterful from the jump and played parts in all four seasons. Two of those years resulted in National Titles. Torretta came into his own as an upperclassman — where he combined to throw for 6,155 yards and 39 TDs. While some called him a game manager, Torretta was efficient and clinical as a passer.
Things didn’t turn out as well for Torretta when he made it to the pros. He was a seventh-round pick with practically zero expectations despite being a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback for the most respected college program at the time. He was relegated to a backup role for both the Vikings and the Seahawks. As a professional player in the NFL, Torretta only managed 16 pass attempts in total.
John Cappelletti — Penn State
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The presence of Franco Harris had Cappelletti playing as a defensive back originally at Penn State. Once Harris moved onto greener pastures, Cappelletti took the reins of the running back spot and never looked back. As a senior, he won virtually every award one could at the running back spot — including the Heisman Trophy. Cappelletti rumbled for 1,522 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. Soon after, the Rams came calling.
In 1974, the Rams took him No. 11 overall. At 6-foot-1 and north of 210 pounds, he assumed the role of the big back in LA’s system. After a couple of years as a back-up RB, he moved to become the starting fullback. He was a solid threat out of the backfield as both a pass-catcher and a rusher. After five years with the Rams, he played four more years for the Chargers. Ultimately, Cappelletti retired after a respectable nine-year career at age 31.
