The old Boston song says, “It’s been such a long time.”
Now, that song isn’t referring to defensive players who have won the coveted Heisman Trophy as college football’s best player. But the idea is the same.
In the trophy’s now 75-year history, only four players who played defense have won the award. Two of those were what in the days of yore were called “ends,” someone who lined up on both the offensive and defensive lines. Those two were Larry Kelley (Yale), back in 1936, the second person to ever win the award, and Leon Hart (Notre Dame) in 1949.
The third defensive player to win was Ernie Davis, a halfback-linebacker-fullback for Syracuse. He was more known for his running than defense, though.
The most recent defensive player to take home the Heisman was Charles Woodson from Michigan. He was a cornerback, a wide receiver and a punt returner.
Do you notice something here?
All of those “defensive” players weren’t specifically defensive players. They all had the offense to add to their credentials. So in 75 years, no purely defensive player has won the award.
Former Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh came close last year, and he would have been the first defense-only player to win the award. But no pure corner, safety, linebacker or defensive lineman has ever won college football’s most coveted trophy.
What I’m getting at here is the Heisman isn’t really the award for the nation’s best player. It’s the award for the nation’s best offensive player, the guy who can put up the most touchdown passes or rush for the most yards. It’s not for the guy with the most interceptions or sacks.
So does LSU junior cornerback-kick returner Patrick Peterson have a shot to take home the coveted award come the end of the year? LSU fans are starting to murmur about Peterson’s recent performances, thinking there may be a shot for a Heisman.
There’s no shot in hell it will happen, realistically.
Now, do I think he should get some hype? Yes, indeed. He has proven already to be one of the best corners in the nation, and his punt and kick returns will only help him add a few “offensive” numbers to his candidacy.
But it’s just not likely to happen.
Peterson would have to put up gaudy numbers for the remainder of the season. I’m talking about at least an interception a game, along with five or six more kickoff and punt return touchdowns combined. That sounds insane, but insane numbers on defense are the only way he will get the award.
What will make it harder is that opposing offenses will start throwing away from him while opposing special teams will start pooch-kicking on kickoffs and kicking to the sidelines on punts to keep it away from him. Both of those are signs of respect for a great player, which Peterson is.
Peterson will be taken high in the 2011 NFL Draft, and he will be high on the list for all the best defensive awards this year in college football.
A shot at the Heisman, though, may be out of his reach.
Yes, I would thoroughly enjoy Peterson giving LSU its second Heisman (Billy Cannon was the first back in 1959).
It just won’t happen.
However, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Only eight Heisman winners have gone on to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
So y’all can start the Peterson for Heisman hype all day long if you want.
I’ma start the Peterson for Hall of Fame hype 15 or so years early.
Andy Schwehm is a 21-year-old psychology and English senior from New Orleans. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_Aschwehm.
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Contact Andy Schwehm at [email protected]