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Five players who deserved to win the Heisman Trophy but didn’t

College football history features several instances where elite non-quarterbacks were overlooked for the Heisman Trophy, despite delivering legendary seasons. One prominent example is Chase Young of Ohio State, who in 2019 notched a school-record 16.5 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss, and six forced fumbles while missing two games due to suspension, ultimately finishing fourth in the voting behind winner Joe Burrow, Justin Fields, and Jalen Hurts.

Another notable snub occurred in 1991 when Washington defensive tackle Steve Emtman anchored an undefeated national championship squad with 62 tackles and 20.5 tackles for loss, sweeping major honors like the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award yet still placing fourth behind Desmond Howard, Casey Weldon, and Ty Detmer.

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