College Football: 10 greatest players to never win the Heisman Trophy

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 3: Raghib Ismail #25 of Notre Dame runs with the ball against Navy during an NCAA College football game November 3, 1990 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Notre Dame won the game 52-31. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

“The Rocket” as Raghib Ismail was known during his playing days in South Bend was a player that came around 25 years too early. His game is tailor-made for today’s NFL.

He was a do-everything sort of player.

Ismail could carry the football, catch the football, return kicks and punts, and he was a good perimeter blocker. He passed the “eye test” and not only did Rocket have elite top-end speed, he also had great football speed. He was a highlight waiting to happen.

In 1990, he was not the only highlight waiting to happen, however.

Out west, in the Rocky Mountains, something was happening that would change the college football landscape into what it is today. Ty Detmer, head coach LaVell Edwards and the BYU Cougars were rewriting the record books and changing the way the game of football is played. Detmer had the first 5,000-yard passing season in college football history on his way to the Heisman Trophy.

Although Ismail had an outstanding 1990, you can’t argue with history.

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