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The best performances of the past 25 Heisman Trophy winners

By Hans Themistode

Dec 14, 2019; New York, NY, USA; Detail view of LSU Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow's Heisman Trophy during a post ceremony press conference at the New York Marriott Marquis. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2019; New York, NY, USA; Detail view of LSU Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow's Heisman Trophy during a post ceremony press conference at the New York Marriott Marquis. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Charles Woodson
ANCharles Woodson (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

The best performances of the past 25 Heisman Trophy winners: 24. Charles Woodson

Defensive players have essentially no chance at winning the Heisman no matter how dominant they are. Over the past several years, we’ve seen some of the best players on the defensive side of the ball wreak havoc but were forced to sit back and watch as a quarterback was chosen for the award. We get that the offensive numbers are nice to look at but defensive players deserve some love too.

In 1997, Charles Woodson did the impossible by taking home the award while primarily playing defense. By and large, Woodson was the reason why Michigan went 12-0. That 97 Michigan team will always be remembered amongst the best teams ever and Woodson was the leading man every step of the way.

The former cornerback wrapped up his season by nabbing seven interceptions and was pretty much impossible to score against. Woodson was a really unique player since he played on offense when need be. He racked up 246 yards from scrimmage that season.

His best game has to be the 1997 Rose Bowl. Woodson ended up catching a 37 yard pass, returned a kick for a touchdown for 78 yards, and intercepted the ball once in Michigan’s 20-14 win over Ohio State. No defensive player has won the award since and by the looks of it, no defensive player ever will.

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