by Andrew Keefe
There’s no doubt, Heisman winners get looked at with a different eye than other college standouts. There is a supposed charm to their talents as though they are set to solve the world’s problems and propel a franchise to the playoffs. Well, we all know that it doesn’t always go that way. The pro game is just different than the college game. It’s faster and more complex. And the talent is several steps above what you get in college.
But we’ve selected three previous Heisman winners currently in the NFL to profile and examine their path to where they are now. Some are brand new, and some are in their later career. But all have shown something. Let’s look at the most recent first.
Jayden Daniels
Heisman Trophy winners Caleb Williams (2022) and Jayden Daniels (2023) were taken by Chicago and Washington, respectively, with the first and second picks of the 2024 NFL Draft. This marked just the second time a pair of Heisman recipients have been selected 1 and 2.
Jayden played three years of football at Arizona State and then two at LSU. Daniels won the trophy after leading in several different categories his senior year. He scored 50 touchdowns (40 passing, 10 rushing) while leading the NCAA in total yards with 4,946 (3,812 passing, 1,134 rushing) and setting the single season passer rating record (208.0) in 2023.
According to Nick Goss, web writer for NBC Boston, Washington prepared for the arrival of Daniels with proven staffing upgrades at key coaching positions. As well, Daniel’s supposed advanced education in a pro-style offense at LSU helps to bridge the gap to the pros. Daniels has immediately established himself as one to keep an eye on early.
Daniels has proceeded to tear the league up in the first four games of his rookie campaign with one of the best NFL starts for a Heisman winner in years. He has thrown for a completion percentage of over 80% over the first 4 games, completed 897 yards worth of passes, had three TDs and one interception while also running for 218 yards and four TDs.
Baker Mayfield
Five QBs were drafted in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson. This was the second highest amount (along with the 1999 and 2021 drafts) after the six selected in 1983 and 2024.
Baker was first in his draft class- going to the Cleveland Browns. It so happened that after a win against the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus, Mayfield planted the Sooners’ flag in the middle of the painted “O” at Ohio Stadium, causing a major public backlash. Mayfield issued an apology shortly afterwards. An irony to be drafted in Cleveland for sure.
It can be said that Baker’s college career had some bumps and bruises. After a somewhat botched attempt at a transfer to Oklahoma from Texas Tech, where Baker started his career, Baker was forced to sit for a year because of Big 12 transfer rules at the time. The result was that Baker was forced to sit out the 2014 season while losing one year of eligibility. The rule was later changed to prevent the same situation happening to other athletes. It’s known as Baker’s Rule.
Mayfield has had a tumultuous, but successful, stint as an NFL QB. Serving previously for the Browns, Panthers, Rams, and currently as the QB for the Buccaneers where he managed to parlay a playoff victory in 2023 into a handsome contract. He has a career passer rating of 89.4 though his 2023 rating was 94.6 and his rating for this current year is currently 112.2.
Derrick Henry
Derrick Henry’s Heisman credentials were undeniable. He won the Heisman in 2015 over an aggressive group made up of Christian McCaffery, Deshaun Watson, and Baker Mayfield. He also ran for 158 yards and three touchdowns in Alabama’s win over Clemson in the National Championship.
Luckily for them, the Tennessee Titans snagged Henry in the second round with the 45th overall pick as opposed to the first overall pick cost of a Baker Mayfield. A mere bargain…
In his seven seasons as the Titans’ running back, Henry ran for 9,502 yards and 90 touchdowns. He has also helped the Titans make the playoffs four times, including a run to the AFC Championship in 2019. For Henry, it followed with a season in 2020 where he ran for 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Unlike the other winners we have profiled, Derrick Henry is a running back and that is such a physically demanding position, that few backs get to extend their talents into late career.
That is one reason that Ravens fans should count their blessings to have Henry operating at such a high level in the first quarter of 2024. Just in the opening play of week 4, Henry popped one open for an 87 yard touchdown. A treat at any age…
Heisman winners fit into a lot of packages and they aren’t all winners. What we have done here today is look at a few who have had a modicum of recent success. Maybe later we’ll look at some who have not had that success. Until next time…
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