Heisman Trophy: Ranking the last 15 Heisman winners
By Gabe Encinas
2010 Heisman Stats: 185/280, 2,854 yards, 30 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 264 carries, 1,473 yards, 20 touchdowns
Cam Newton only played one year with the Auburn Tigers, but what a year it was. The former backup to Tebow at Florida and junior college transfer turned in one of the best offensive seasons of all-time in 2010.
Newton led Auburn to an undefeated 14-0 record to win the SEC and beat the Oregon Ducks in the 2010 BCS National Championship. The 6-5, 230-pound quarterback accounted for 50 touchdowns on the year to break many of Tebow’s single-season records in the process.
His lowest quarterback rating in that year, was 107 vs. LSU, where he threw for 86 yards, and no touchdowns. But it’s not all about his arm, as he ran for more than 200 yards in leading his Tigers to a 24-17 and this play encapsulated his year.
He had six games with more than 150 yards rushing and that’s what made him so dangerous. He wasn’t putting up ridiculous numbers through the air, often throwing the ball fewer than 20 times per game, but it was his efficiency, and high football IQ and compete level that led his team to a championship.
You might have been able to hold him in the passing game, but when he’s fleeing from the pocket, or running a read option, there was no stopping Newton, the best Heisman winner of the last 15 years.