Heisman Trophy: 5 Players Who Probably Shouldn't Have Won

It's one of the longest-running and never-ending debates in all sports and definitely college football—the argument that another player should have won a major award instead of the player that actually took home the hardware during a specific season.

That's true with the Heisman Trophy, and 2011 has had its fair share of that debate, with some valid arguments to be made about several players. Robert Griffin III of Baylor ended up taking home the hardware, but he wasn't a unanimous choice.

While there have been some debate on the winners of the Heisman in its nearly 80-year history of the trophy for the best player in college football, here are five snubbed players over the years that should have walked away with the Heisman in their respective great seasons.

Michigan Wolverines CB Charles Woodson, 1997

Although the play of Michigan cornerback/punt returner Charles Woodson was electric in Ann Arbor in 1997, the play of the eventual SEC and Orange Bowl champion quarterback Peyton Manning should have been holding the trophy at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City after a season with 3,800 yards and 36 touchdowns for the Vols. 

Alabama Crimson Tide RB Mark Ingram, 2009

While the Heisman Trophy claims to give the award to the most outstanding player in college football that season—and no disrespect to winner Mark Ingram—Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska should have won the Heisman in 2009, as he disrupted offenses the entire year with his 12 sacks and 20.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage that season.

USC Trojans QB Matt Lienart, 2005

Despite being his freshman season at Oklahoma in 2005, Adrian Peterson showed the country and most definitely the opposing defenses during the season to be a more deserving winner than Matt Leinart with his record 339 carries, 1925 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.

Ohio State Buckeyes RB Eddie George, 1995

As Eddie George celebrated OSU’s then sixth Heisman Trophy winner in 1995, the true winner of the award was in Lincoln, Nebraska as quarterback Tommie Frazier was a dual threat on the ground and through the air as the senior amassed more than 2,200 yards of total offense and 34 touchdowns.

Oklahoma Sooners QB Jason White, 2003

Even though Fitzgerald played in the Big East while Heisman winner Jason White played in the Big 12, the former Pittsburgh receiver finished second in the Heisman voting to the Sooner quarterback but should have got the nod with his stats of 92 receptions for more than 1,600 yards receiving and 22 touchdowns in his final college season.

Chris Humphrey is a featured columnist for BleacherReport.com. He has covered everything from college football, college basketball, UFC, NFL, NBA and the WWE in his short time writing for the website. You can become a fan of him on B/R and follow him on Twitter @_CBH_.