Who are the two defenders to win the Heisman Trophy?

The Heisman Trophy is a coveted yearly award given to the finest player in college football. It was founded in 1935 by the Downtown Athletic Club of New York City. The trophy was named after John W. Heisman, who was a player and a coach and led the sport to further development. It represents great athletic brilliance, sportsman spirit, and commitment to the team.

Candidates are graded through the course of the season, and former winners, sports journalists, and a unified fan vote cast votes. The annual ceremony usually takes place in December and is a much-anticipated event in college football, featuring the three finalists and announcing the winner. Over the years, the Heisman Trophy winner has been portrayed as the pinnacle of individual success in college football, often leading to the realm of professional football.

READ MORE: List of College football teams with the most Heisman Trophy winners

Which two defenders have won the Heisman Trophy?

Charles Woodson (1997)

The first defender to win the Heisman Trophy was Charles Woodson. He won it in 1997 as a cornerback for the University of Michigan. Woodson's defensive skills, offensive efforts, and special teams performance earned him recognition, making him truly unique in the history of college football.

The Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush played for the USC Trojans as a running back during the 2005 season. His trophy was taken away after the NCAA found out about Bush receiving improper benefits during his college career, making him ineligible. In 2010, he voluntarily forfeited the award, and USC also returned the trophy. In 2021, when the NCAA's policy on athlete compensation changed, Bush and his supporters sought the reinstatement of his Heisman. USC restored his statistics, but the Heisman Trophy Trust has not restored his trophy and decided to maintain its initial ruling.

Travis Hunter (2024)

Travis Hunter of Colorado won the Heisman in 2024 after playing both defense and offense for the Buffaloes, making him the second defender to accomplish so. Hunter had a Big 12-best 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns in addition to his four interceptions as a cornerback. Hunter earned the Heisman Trophy after completing the regular season with almost 1,400 offensive and defensive scrimmage snaps—382 more than any other player in the nation. He was the second-ever Heisman winner for the Colorado Buffaloes; Rashaan Salaam was the first in 1994.

In addition, he was only the second defensive player in history to get the honor, after Charles Woodson in 1997. Hunter was also the only athlete in college football history to win the Fred Biletnikoff Award for best wide receiver and the Chuck Bednarik Award for best defensive player. The Jacksonville Jaguars traded for Hunter from the Cleveland Browns in the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting him second overall. After getting drafted in the NFL, the Colorado Buffaloes retired the number 12 jersey to honor Hunter.

Both 247Sports and Rivals listed Hunter as the top overall recruit, while ESPN ranked him second (behind Walter Nolen). On March 3, 2020, one day after his initial visit to Florida State, he made his commitment to the Seminoles after being awarded a scholarship there. Hunter renounced his commitment to the Jackson State Tigers, led by Deion Sanders, on December 15, 2021. Hunter signed with an FCS or HBCU school, making him the first five-star prospect to do so.

Walter Camp Award (2024), AP College Football Player of the Year (2024), SN College Football Player of the Year (2024), Lott Trophy (2024), Academic FBS All-American of the Year (2024), 2× Paul Hornung Award (2023, 2024), and Unanimous All-American (2024) are a few more accolades that Travis Hunter has received.

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