College football: Ranking every Heisman Trophy winner

27. Ranking every Heisman Trophy Winner: DeVonta Smith, Alabama Crimson Tide football

The 2020 Alabama Crimson Tide was a special team as they ran through the college football landscape during a strange season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What that meant was, the SEC would not be able to schedule cupcake out-of-conference games, making their schedule an absolute gauntlet of elite teams.

For Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith, this meant nothing as he put together not only a season worthy of a Heisman Trophy but one of the more dominant seasons we have seen from a wide receiver in quite some time. In fact, Smith became the first wide receiver to win a Heisman Trophy since Desmond Howard did it almost 30 years earlier, as he became the first non-QB or RB to win a Heisman since Charles Woodson in 1997 as well.

The Tide was able to run through their regular season fairly easily and once they got to the College Football Playoff, it was clear who the best team in the country was. Smith helped his team to the national title, finishing the year with over 1,500 receiving and 17 touchdowns, and with those 17 receiving scores, he became the SEC’s all-time leader in that category. He may not have an intimidating size, but he can sure get the job done on the football field.

26. Ranking every Heisman Trophy Winner: Desmond Howard, Michigan Wolverines football

There are few moments in the history of college football quite like the moment that Desmond Howard gave us during the 1991 season. A native of Ohio, Howard wanted to send some love back home when his Michigan Wolverines took on the Ohio State Buckeyes, and he did so by striking the “Heisman Pose” after scoring against the hated Buckeyes.

The pose would end up being a foreshadow of things to come as Howard did in fact win the Heisman Trophy that season, thanks to him being one of the more dynamic players in the history of the sport. Howard, who broke into college as a running back, became one of the better wideouts, and return men in the game, scoring from everywhere on the field and putting the Wolverines on his back that season.

In total, Howard finished the year with 23 touchdowns, 19 through the air, two rushing, and two on returns. He took home the Heisman, Walter Camp, and Maxwell, that year as well. Howard was the first Heisman Trophy winner from Michigan since Tom Harmon did it back in 1940 and was only the third wideout to do so. He eventually was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame and had his No. 21 retired by the school.