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The 30 Greatest Heisman Trophy Winners in College Football History

By Zach Bigalke

Dec 13, 2014; New York, NY, USA; The Heisman Trophy sits on a pedestal before the pre-announcement press conference at the New York Marriott Marquis. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2014; New York, NY, USA; The Heisman Trophy sits on a pedestal before the pre-announcement press conference at the New York Marriott Marquis. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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29. Howard Cassady (RB/Ohio State)

Received 55.9% of the vote in 1955

  • PASSING: 2/10 (20.0%), 39 yards, 0 TDs
  • RUSHING: 161 carries, 958 yards, 15 TDs
  • RECEIVING: 1 reception, 6 yards, 0 TDs
  • 5.83 yards/play
  • 11.5 plays/TD

Howard “Hopalong” Cassady played in an era that is increasingly remembered only through grainy black-and-white video. The Ohio State running back gained nearly 1000 yards on the season in 1955, needing less than a dozen plays on average to score a touchdown. That year the Buckeyes repeated as Big Ten champions, but were unable to attend the Rose Bowl due to a league policy that prevented the same team from appearing two years in a row.

Cassady was still dominant, winning the Heisman vote in four out of the five reagions. (TCU’s junior running back Jim Swink finished first ahead of second-place Cassady in the southwestern Heisman voting.) In addition to his 161 carries, the versatile back also attempted 10 passes and caught one pass for six yards. It was actually a regression from previous campaigns where Cassady had been a pivotal part of Ohio State’s run game. The versatile back finished with 1003 all-purpose yards, scored 15 touchdowns, and finished on two-thirds of voters’ ballots.

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