Notre Dame Football: 10 best players in program history
Leon Hart Career Statistics, 1946-1949
- Games Played: 38
- Receptions: 49
- Receiving Yards: 742
- Receiving Touchdowns: 13
- Receiving Yards per Game: 19.5
- Yards per Catch: 15.1
- Notables: 1949 Heisman Trophy, 1949 Maxwell Award, 1948 & 1949 Consensus First Team All-American, 1946, 1947 & 1949 National Champion
Leon Hart is one of two non-quarterback or running back players on offense to win the Heisman Trophy along with Desmond Howard of Michigan. Hart was a star end on both offense and defense for four years at Notre Dame. He caught 49 passes for 742 yards and 13 touchdowns in his Irish career, numbers unheard of in that era of football.
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Hart made his impact right away as a freshman as he caught five passes, but for 107 yards and a touchdown. His numbers would only get better from there as he saw sharp rise in production from his sophomore year all the way through his senior year. As a senior, Hart caught 19 passes for 257 yards and five touchdowns, that paired with his play on defense, was enough to win him the Heisman Trophy.
Along with the Heisman, Hart was named the winner of the Maxwell Award and was a two-time consensus First Team All-American in 1948 and 1949. Hart also has the distinction of winning three national championships in 1946, 1947 and 1949. He played his entire seven-year professional career with the Detroit Lions, winning three NFL Championships.