The Heisman Memorial Award is the highest individual achievement a player can receive in college football. A lot of the players that have won the award went on to become great NFL players and sports favorites, while others just end up not cutting it in the big leagues, having average careers as professionals or pulling out of the league within a few years. Lets take a look at some of the most disappointing Heisman trophy winners in college football betting history.
Let’s Take A Look at the Most Disappointing Heisman Winners For NCAA Fotball Odds Fans
#5. Troy Smith
Smith is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the sports at Ohio State, winning the Heisman trophy as a senior in 2006. He didn’t enter the NFL with a lot of high expectations after being drafted in the fifth round, but he was still expected to have a better pro career than he had. He played for two teams in his four year NFL career before moving to the Canadian Football League with career stats of 1,734 passing yards, 8 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He had a chance to make it back to the NFL in 2012 but didn’t make the Pittsburgh Steelers final roster.
#4. Archie Griffin
Griffin is considered a legend in college football for being the only player to win the Heisman Trophy twice. He went into the NFL with a lot of hype thanks to his college football stats. He was drafted in the first round by the Cincinnati Bengals and managed to stick around the league for seven years. He ended his NFL career with 2,808 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns, which isn’t very impressive, especially after running for over 5,000 yards in college.
#3. Ron Dayne
Ron Dayne was another one of the great college running backs. The big bruiser finished his college career with a record 6,397 yards, winning the 1999 Heisman award after a dominant senior season. Dayne was drafted by the New York Giants and was expected to be a difference maker in their rushing attack. He showed some signs of promise in his rookie season, but battled weight problems for most of his career. He lasted seven seasons in the NFL, playing for the Giants, Broncos, and Texans, but finished his career with only 3,722 yards and 28 touchdowns.
#2. Matt Leinart
Remember Matt Leinart? He was one of the most decorated college quarterbacks in 2003, leading USC to the AP national championship after finishing the year 12-1. In 2004, he led the team to the BCS championship and won the Heisman Trophy. In his senior season, he led the team to the BCS title game for the second consecutive season, but ended up losing to the Texas Longhorns in what many consider to be the greatest national championship game in history. As a professional, Leinart did not have the same amount of success: He was drafted 10th by the Arizona Cardinals but could never get it going. He ended up playing for three teams in his eight year career finishing with 4,065 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions.
#1. Andre Ware
Ware played for the Houston Cougars, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1989 after throwing for 4,699 yards, 44 touchdowns and breaking 26 NCAA records along the way. His college success led to him getting drafted 7th by the Detroit Lions in 1990, but he never got to enjoy anything close to the type of success he had in college. Ware played in only 14 games in his four year career, finishing with 1,112 yards, 5 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.
