Heisman Trophy: Ranking the SEC's 5 Greatest Winners

Ranking the all-time best individual seasons for the former Heisman Trophy winners in the history of the SEC Conference is no easy task.

However, picking the top five Heisman winners among ten candidates is not as easy as it may sound. There where many sensational winners from the past and it is not easy to compare different eras in college football.

Everybody has a favorite player and believes that their guy deserves to be ranked as high as any playerout there.

However, I rank the following five based on their Heisman Trophy seasons only since we are not talking about careers rather one magical season.

No. 5 Danny Wuerffel: Florida, 1996

Throwing for over 3,600 yards and 39 touchdowns is not too shabby of a season. The Gators averaged over 45 points a game, won the national championship and did so in a dominating fashion.

They had lost to Florida State on the road for three points, but then rocked the Noles in the Sugar Bowl (National Championship) by 32 points!

Wuerffel remains as one of the first quarterbacks under Steve Spurrier to put up such gaudy numbers in his famous spread offense. 

No. 4 Bo Jackson: Auburn, 1985

Bo knows best!

Though his Tigers did lose four game for the season as a whole, Jackson ran roughshod on the tough SEC.

Jackson finished with 1,786 yards and 17 TDs, but Bo became the first true superstar (as far as winning a Heisman) to play both football and baseball. Jackson was one of the greatest athletes and played the game like a man amongst boys. 

No. 3 Hershel Walker: Georgia, 1982

Stats were not as vital back in the pre-fantasy sports days, but Herschel Walker is arguably the greatest college football player to don a jersey. He is automatically put into the discussion of the greatest Heisman winners because of the amount of times he carried the load for his Georgia Bulldogs.

Walker toted it 385 times in his junior season, but his senior season was a solid 335 carry season (1,752 yards). He found the end zone 16 times via the ground, but happened to catch five passes as well (one for a TD).

Walker led Georgia to an undefeated regular season before they eventually lost to Penn State in the Sugar Bowl (title). Walker also won the Maxwell and Walter Camp Awards, which only added to his historic career.  

No. 2 Tim Tebow: Florida, 2007

One of the greatest players to ever win the Heisman may just be Mr. Tebow. The former Florida Gator became the first ever to win it as a sophomore (Mark Ingram became the second last year) and he did so on a squad that did not play in a BCS Bowl.

However, the sophomore southpaw was unstoppable. He was nearly the entire offense for Florida as it was a good bet that he reached the end zone every few possessions since he was the only true scoring threat outside of receiver Percy Harvin.

Tebow ran for 895 yards and 23 TDs (most for QB) and he also threw for a career-high 3,286 yards and 32 TDs.

It was more than just the stats that makes Tim Tebow one of the greatest Heisman winners of all-time. He did so much for the University of Florida, SEC Football and for the sport.

Tebow continues to prove the naysayers wrong and most importantly he gets people to fall in love with the sport, whether you are or a fan of his or not.

No. 1 Cam Newton: Auburn, 2010

The big, wide smile that Cam Newton flashed to the cameras throughout the season was something special.

With all of the rumors and allegations that Cam Newton had been given improper benefits, he continued to go absolutely bonkers in the gauntlet known as the SEC.

Newton ran for 20 TDs and threw for another 30! He combined for over 4,200 yards and led his team to a BCS National Championship victory over the high-octane Oregon Ducks.  

Cam has been adored by fans across the nation for being able to put everything aside and still play his best. Former Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson has spoken so highly of Newton and for good reason.

One of the most impressive seasons in SEC and college football history was by Newton and his legacy will only continue to grow.

Note: Cam became first ever to get selected first in the NFL Draft, win a BCS title and win the Heisman all in the same season