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Canton is one place that can appreciate what Heisman Trophy winnerTravis Hunter might be to the Cleveland Browns.
A candidate to be the Browns’ pick at No. 2 overall, Hunter bagged the most recent Heisman. The Colorado Buffalo is a rare bird who also captured the Bednarik Award as a superb cornerback and the Biletnikoff Award as a receiver extraordinaire.
Arguably the greatest football player to come out of Canton, Marion Motley, performed at a Hall of Fame level for the glory-days Browns at both his main position, running back, and as needed at linebacker.
It remains to be seen whether Hunter’s NFL team will picture him as a latter-day Motley, a playmaker on both sides of the ball.
One fear would be the history of Heisman Trophy winners. It’s almost as if a statue could be built in honor of the “Heisman Jinx." Perhaps Johnny Manziel could pose.
The Browns have had no luck with Heisman winners, and they are not alone. Yet, there have been a fair number of Heisman success stories in the NFL.
With reigning Heisman winner Hunter’s name in the draft winds, here are five ways looking at Heisman history as it pertains to the pros.
Exporting quarterback Baker Mayfield (Heisman winner in 2017, No. 1 overall pick in 2018) and importing Deshaun Watson has had ghastly consequences.
The team would have done as well with an inflatable swan at quarterback as it did with Manziel (Heisman winner in 2012; No. 22 overall pick in 2014).
Running back Charles White (Heisman winner in 1979, No. 27 overall pick in 1980) averaged 2.6 yards per carry in his fourth and final disappointing year in Cleveland.
Running back Ernie Davis (Heisman winner in 1961, No. 1 overall pick in 1962) was obtained in a trade that sent future Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell to Washington. Davis was diagnosed with leukemia and never played an NFL down.
Blame it on the quarterback.
None of the 10 Heisman Trophy QBs drafted from 2003-14 worked out wonderfully, and almost all of them disappointed.
The list: Jason White, Matt Leinart, Troy Smith, Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford, Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III. Johnny Manziel, Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota.
Newton was the best of the lot by far, but aside from his 2015 MVP season, when he led Carolina to a Super Bowl, his career record was 60-67-1.
Seven of the eight previous 10 Heisman winners before Hunter were quarterbacks, the exception being DeVonta Smith.
Prior to Travis Henry’s Heisman win in 2015, eight of nine recipients were QBs, the exception being running back Mark Ingram.
Prior to running back Reggie Bush receiving the 2005 Heisman, quarterbacks won five for straight years.
The pattern hasn’t been much different for Heisman Trophy runners-up. Starting in 1997, when Peyton Manning finished second to Charles Woodson, 17 of the 28 runners-up have been quarterbacks.
The exceptions in that span have been receiver Larry Fitzgerald in 2003, running back Adrian Peterson in 2004, running back Darren McFadden in both 2006 and 2007, running back Toby Gerhart in 2009, linebacker Manti Te’o in 2012, running back Melvin Gordon in 2014, running back Christian McCaffrey in 2015, running back Bryce Love in 2017, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson in 2021, and running back Ashton Jeanty in 2024.
Now it is time for the 2024 winner, Travis Hunter, to throw his Heisman in the ring.
Reach Steve at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on The Repository: 5 ways to break down Heisman Trophy winners in NFL draft, with Browns
Continue reading...
A candidate to be the Browns’ pick at No. 2 overall, Hunter bagged the most recent Heisman. The Colorado Buffalo is a rare bird who also captured the Bednarik Award as a superb cornerback and the Biletnikoff Award as a receiver extraordinaire.
Arguably the greatest football player to come out of Canton, Marion Motley, performed at a Hall of Fame level for the glory-days Browns at both his main position, running back, and as needed at linebacker.
It remains to be seen whether Hunter’s NFL team will picture him as a latter-day Motley, a playmaker on both sides of the ball.
One fear would be the history of Heisman Trophy winners. It’s almost as if a statue could be built in honor of the “Heisman Jinx." Perhaps Johnny Manziel could pose.
You must be registered for see images
The Browns have had no luck with Heisman winners, and they are not alone. Yet, there have been a fair number of Heisman success stories in the NFL.
With reigning Heisman winner Hunter’s name in the draft winds, here are five ways looking at Heisman history as it pertains to the pros.
You must be registered for see images attach
1, Heisman Trophy winners drafted by the Browns haven’t worked out
Exporting quarterback Baker Mayfield (Heisman winner in 2017, No. 1 overall pick in 2018) and importing Deshaun Watson has had ghastly consequences.
The team would have done as well with an inflatable swan at quarterback as it did with Manziel (Heisman winner in 2012; No. 22 overall pick in 2014).
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images
Running back Charles White (Heisman winner in 1979, No. 27 overall pick in 1980) averaged 2.6 yards per carry in his fourth and final disappointing year in Cleveland.
Running back Ernie Davis (Heisman winner in 1961, No. 1 overall pick in 1962) was obtained in a trade that sent future Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell to Washington. Davis was diagnosed with leukemia and never played an NFL down.
2, Heisman winners who landed in Cleveland and did not take off
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- Quarterback Jameis Winston (Heisman winner in 2013) was 34-46 as an NFL starter before going 2-5 as a starting quarterback for the 2024 Browns.
- Quarterback Robert Griffin III (Heisman winner in 2011) spent an injury-plagued 2016 going 1-4 on a Browns team that finished 1-15.
- Running back Rashaan Salaam (Heisman winner in 1994) spent the last of his four NFL seasons at Cleveland, making one carry for the 1999 Browns.
- Quarterback Ty Detmer (Heisman winner in 1990) was benched after the Browns 1999 season opener against the Steelers. The Browns went 5-27, mostly with Tim Couch at QB, in his two seasons.
- Quarterback Vinny Testaverde (Heisman winner in 1986) was the quarterback as the Browns moved from Cleveland to Baltimore. He was part of a playoff run in 1994 but overall with the Browns-turned-Ravens was 24-35-1.
- Running back Howard “Hopalong” Cassidy (Heisman winner in 1955) appeared as a return man in five games for the 1962 Browns.
- Halfback Les Horvath Heisman winner in 1944) spent two years in the Navy before a three-year pro run that included five games with the 1949 Browns.
3, Why the Heisman isn’t seen as a sure indicator of NFL success
Blame it on the quarterback.
None of the 10 Heisman Trophy QBs drafted from 2003-14 worked out wonderfully, and almost all of them disappointed.
You must be registered for see images attach
The list: Jason White, Matt Leinart, Troy Smith, Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford, Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III. Johnny Manziel, Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota.
Newton was the best of the lot by far, but aside from his 2015 MVP season, when he led Carolina to a Super Bowl, his career record was 60-67-1.
4, Ranking the non-QB Heisman winners since 1988 who have had the best pro careers
- Running back Barry Sanders (Heisman winner in 1988) ranks fourth all-time in career NFL rushing yards
- Cornerback Charles Woodson (Heisman winner in 1997) made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
- Running back Eddie George (Heisman winner in 1995) averaged nearly 1,400 yards in his first five seasons with the Titans.
- Wide receiver DaVonta Smith (Heisman winner in 2020) has averaged almost exactly 1,000 yards across four seasons with the Eagles. He was a key man on two teams that reached Super Bowls with him.
- Running back Derrick Henry (Heisman winner in 2015) needs less than 1,000 yards in 2025 to pass Jim Brown on the all-time rushing yards list.
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5, Hunter doesn’t have tons of company as a non-quarterback Heisman winner
Seven of the eight previous 10 Heisman winners before Hunter were quarterbacks, the exception being DeVonta Smith.
Prior to Travis Henry’s Heisman win in 2015, eight of nine recipients were QBs, the exception being running back Mark Ingram.
You must be registered for see images attach
Prior to running back Reggie Bush receiving the 2005 Heisman, quarterbacks won five for straight years.
The pattern hasn’t been much different for Heisman Trophy runners-up. Starting in 1997, when Peyton Manning finished second to Charles Woodson, 17 of the 28 runners-up have been quarterbacks.
You must be registered for see images attach
The exceptions in that span have been receiver Larry Fitzgerald in 2003, running back Adrian Peterson in 2004, running back Darren McFadden in both 2006 and 2007, running back Toby Gerhart in 2009, linebacker Manti Te’o in 2012, running back Melvin Gordon in 2014, running back Christian McCaffrey in 2015, running back Bryce Love in 2017, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson in 2021, and running back Ashton Jeanty in 2024.
Now it is time for the 2024 winner, Travis Hunter, to throw his Heisman in the ring.
Reach Steve at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on The Repository: 5 ways to break down Heisman Trophy winners in NFL draft, with Browns
Continue reading...
