Ranking the Heisman Winners of the 2010s
Here at What You Expect we love College Football. There is no bigger individual honor in the sport than winning the Heisman. We ranked the winners of the 2010s…
Did we get it right?
1 JOE BURROW(LSU)- 2019
76.3% completion, 5,671 passing yards, 60 passing touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 368 rushing yards, 65 total touchdowns
Record: 15-0(8-0 SEC)
Notable wins: #9 Texas, #7 Florida, #9 Auburn, #3 Alabama, #4 Georgia, #4 Oklahoma, #3 Clemson
Best win: Peach Bowl vs. #4 Oklahoma(493 passing yards, 7 passing touchdowns, 0 interceptions)
Notable other players: RB Clyde Edwards-Helare, WR JaMarr Chase, WR Justin Jefferson, S Grant Delpit, CB Derek Stingley Jr.
Natty: YES
Head Coach: Ed Oregeron
One of the greatest college seasons ever for a QB. Easily the greatest of the whole decade. One of the greatest teams of the decade, of all time in all honesty. Burrow’s records will likely stand for a while and he capped it off with a National Title. Easy choice for #1.
2 MARCUS MARIOTA (OREGON)-2014
68.3% completion, 4,454 passing yards, 42 passing touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 770 rushing yards, 57 total touchdowns
Record: 13-2(8-1 PAC12)
Notable wins: #7 Michigan State, #18 UCLA, #17 Utah, #8 Arizona, #2 Florida State
Best win: Week 13 vs. Oregon State(367 passing yards, 4 passing touchdowns, 39 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 0 interceptions)
Notable other players: RB Royce Freeman, RB Byron Marshall, TE Pharaoh Brown, DE Arik Armstead, DT DeForest Buckner
Natty: NO
Head Coach: Mark Helfrich
In my opinion, Marcus Mariota’s Heisman season was the best of the decade not to end with a National Title. Mariota only threw 4 interceptions all year, the least amount of any other winner this decade. 57 total touchdowns is also very highly impressive. Beat numerous worthy opponents but the icing on this cake was completely dismantling Jameis Winston and the Seminoles in the Rose Bowl this year.
3 DERRICK HENRY(ALABAMA)-2015
2,219 rushing yards, 28 rushing touchdowns, 5.6 yards a carry, 91 receiving yards
Record: 14-1(7-1 SEC)
Notable wins: #20 Wisconsin, #8 Georgia, #9 Texas A&M, #2 LSU, #17 Mississippi State, #18 Florida, #3 Michigan State, #1 Clemson
Best win: Week 13 vs Auburn(271 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown)
Notable other players: RB Kenyan Drake, WR Calvin Ridley, TE O.J. Howard, C Ryan Kelly, DT DaRon Payne, DE Jonathan Allen, LB Rashaan Evans, S Minkah Fitzpatrick, S Eddie Jackson
Natty: YES
Head Coach: Nick Saban
He won it as a running back. Henry rushed for over 2200 yards and has the most yards in a college season. An absolute animal on the ground, he was the key component in Alabama’s offense to lead them to the National Championship that year. A quarterback dominant award, Henry’s legendary season puts him high on this list.
4 KYLER MURRAY (OKLAHOMA)-2018
69% completion, 4,361 passing yards, 42 passing touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 1,001 rushing yards, 54 total touchdowns
Record: 12-2(8-1 Big12)
Notable wins: #12 West Virginia, #9 Texas
Best win: Week 6 vs. Baylor(432 passing yards, 6 passing touchdowns, 45 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 0 interceptions)
Notable other players: RB Kennedy Brooks, WR Marquise Brown, WR Ceedee Lamb, G Cody Ford, G Dru Samia, K Austin Seibert
Natty: NO
Head Coach: Lincoln Riley
Even though Kyler Murray only beat 2 ranked teams, 54 total touchdowns speaks for itself. He’s one of four Heismans on this list to accomplish that. Rushing for over 1000 yards and throwing for over 4,000 yards, Murray definitely put a season to remember.
5 CAM NEWTON(AUBURN) -2010
66.1% completion, 2,854 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 1,473 rushing yards, 50 total touchdowns
Record: 14-0(8-0 SEC)
Notable wins: #12 South Carolina, #12 Arkansas, #6 LSU, #11 Alabama, #19 South Carolina, #2 Oregon
Best win: Week 13 vs. #19 South Carolina(335 passing yards, 4 passing touchdowns, 73 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 0 interceptions)
Notable other players: RB Onterrio McCalebb, RB Michael Dyer, WR Darvin Adams, WR Emory Blake, DT Nick Fairley, K Cody Parkey
Natty: YES
Head Coach: Gene Chizik
Cam Newton arguably had the worst roster in terms of talent compared to everyone else. Newton’s significantly lower passing yards also keep him at the middle of the list. Forced to carry the team on his back, he led his team to an undefeated season and a National Title.
6 JAMEIS WINSTON (FSU)-2013
66.9% completion, 4,057 passing yards, 40 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 193 rushing yards, 44 total touchdowns
Record: 14-0(8-0 ACC)
Notable wins: #25 Maryland, #3 Clemson, #7 Miami, #20 Duke, #2 Auburn
Best win: Week 6 vs. #3 Clemson(444 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, 1 interception)
Notable other players: RB DeVonta Freeman, WR Kelvin Benjamin, WR Rashad Greene, TE Nick O’Leary, G Cameron Erving, LB Telvin Smith, CB Ronald Darby, S LaMarcus Joyner, S Jalen Ramsey, K Roberto Aguayo
Natty: YES
Head Coach: Jimbo Fisher
Arguably the most talented team of the decade(outside of 2019 LSU), Famous Jameis had it all. The freshman stepped up and made the most of his loaded roster knocking off 3 TOP 10 teams on his path to an undefeated season and a National Title. The reason why Winston isn’t higher is because his team was so good, it’s arguable that any Heisman winner on this list could’ve had similar results if given the same team.
7 BAKER MAYFIELD (OKLAHOMA)-2017
70.5% completion, 4,627 passing yards, 43 passing touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 311 rushing yards, 48 total touchdowns
Record: 12-2(8-1 Big12)
Notable wins: #2 Ohio State, #11 Oklahoma State, #8 TCU, #10 TCU
Best win: Week 10 vs. Oklahoma State(598 passing yards, 5 passing touchdowns, 2 interceptions)
Notable other players: RB Rodney Anderson, RB Trey Sermon, WR Marquise Brown, TE Mark Andrews, LT Orlando Brown Jr, MLB Kenneth Murray
Natty: NO
Head Coach: Lincoln Riley
8 JOHNNY MANZIEL (TEXAS A&M)-2012
69.9% completion, 4,114 passing yards, 37 passing touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 759 rushing yards, 46 total touchdowns
Record: 11-2(6-2 SEC)
Notable wins: #23 Louisiana Tech, #17 Mississippi State, #1 Alabama, #12 Oklahoma
Best win: Week 5 vs. Arkansas(453 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, 104 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 0 interceptions)
Notable other players: RB Ben Malena, RB Christine Michael, WR Mike Evans, WR Ryan Swope, C Patrick Lewis, LB Sean Porter, S Deshazor Everett
Natty: NO
Head Coach: Kevin Sumlin
Johnny Football being so low on this list has to do with two things: his failure to win a National Title and his interception numbers. Manziel threw 13, more than any other winner on the list. Having Mike Evans definitely helps your Heisman case, so does a win over Alabama but those couldn’t help him get higher on this list.
9 ROBERT GRIFFIN III (BAYLOR)-2011
72.4% completion, 4,293 passing yards, 37 passing touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 699 rushing yards, 47 total touchdowns
Record: 10-3(6-3 Big12)
Notable wins: #14 TCU, #5 Oklahoma, #22 Texas
Best win: Week 11 vs. Oklahoma(479 passing yards, 4 passing touchdowns, 72 rushing yards, 0 interceptions)
Notable other players: RB Terrance Ganaway, WR Kendall Wright, WR Tevin Reese, WR Terrance Williams, S Ahmad Dixon
Natty: NO
Head Coach: Art Briles
Much like Lamar Jackson, what hurts RGIII on this list is that his team was just kinda meh. All 3 losses they suffered were in conference losses.
10 LAMAR JACKSON (LOUISVILLE)-2016
56.2% completion, 3,543 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 1,601 rushing yards, 48 total touchdowns
Record: 9-4(7-1 ACC)
Notable wins: #2 Florida State
Best win: Week 4 vs. Marshall(417 passing yards, 5 passing touchdowns, 62 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 1 interception)
Notable other players: RB Brandon Radcliff, WR Traveon Samuel, WR Reggie Bonnafon, TE Cole Hikutini, CB Jaire Alexander, S Josh Harvey-Clemons
Natty: NO
Head Coach: Bobby Petrino
The only Heisman winner to throw under a 60% completion rate. While Jackson’s total yards are very impressive, he didn’t face much tough competition. Outside of upsetting Florida State, he didn’t beat another ranked opponent that year. His team lost 4 games, including losing the Taxslayer Bowl.