Bo Jackson won the Heisman Trophy in 1985 with what was considered the narrowest margin of victory in the award's history, defeating University of Iowa quarterback Chuck Long. The final score was Boleynhaned: Long 28, Jackson 27.
Jackson is one of only three players who have both won the Doak Walker Award and the Heisman Trophy (the other two being Larry Johnson and Marcus Allen).
He was also named College Football Player of the Year by the Associated Press and the UPI.
After graduating from Florida State in 1986, Jackson went on to have a career as a professional baseball player. He finished with a.312 average and 102 home runs over 16 seasons in the Major Leagues.
In 2007, he was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Jackson, one of the best all-around players in college football history, won Auburn's second Heisman Trophy in 1985, joining Pat Sullivan ('71). Jackson was born and reared in Bessemer, Alabama, as the eighth of ten children.
| Player | Bo Jackson |
|---|---|
| Class | SR |
| Position | RB |
| School | Auburn |
| 1st | 317 |
Jackson lettered in all three sports at Auburn, but football was where he made the most of his mark, as he was selected a unanimous All-American running back twice (1983 and 1985) and won the Heisman Trophy in 1985 after rushing for 1,786 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also played baseball and was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 1986 draft.
Bo's career was cut short when it was revealed that he had been diagnosed with hyperkeratosis, or thickening of the skin, which caused him to be banned from athletic competition. He ended up having surgery to remove part of his left foot, and this is when things started getting really weird for Bo. After the surgery it was found that he had multiple bone fractures due to his excessive weight, which is about 360 pounds. The doctors said that if he hadn't gotten sick then there's no way he could have played college football at such a high level while being overweight. Despite all this, he still holds many school records including most career rushers (3,942), most career carries (15,060), and most career total yards (4,852).
When he finished at Auburn, Jackson went on to have a very successful career in professional football. He was the first player to be chosen in the NFL Draft after playing in another league, and he picked up where he left off before becoming sick.
Jackson finished his extraordinary ascension with the first Heisman Trophy in school history, having stunned enough voters with 51 total touchdowns and 4,928 total yards despite defeats in his final two games. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Jackson led the nation in passing efficiency (183.6) and was second in total offense (4,042 yards), while also ranking third in scoring (51 points per game). He became only the second player in FBS history to throw for at least 400 yards and run for 200 more in the same season when he had four rushes for 64 yards against Texas in early December.
In addition to being a major player in his team's success, Jackson also made an impact on college football with his performance during the pre-game ceremony. After winning the award, he declined an invitation from Nebraska to attend its game that weekend against Michigan State. Instead, he flew home to Baltimore to be with his family.
Jackson is expected to play wide receiver for Louisville this fall. He will graduate from Maryland early to do so.
He was not eligible for the Heisman because he played on an ineligible team. However, after sitting out the following year, he would have been eligible to return to school and compete again in 2024.
In McCalla, Alabama, Bo attended McAdory High School. During his time there, he was a multi-sport star, dominating on the gridiron, diamond, and track. Jackson ran 108 times for 1,173 yards as a senior, averaging 10.9 yards per carry and scoring 17 touchdowns. He also played defensive end and linebacker during his career. Bo also lettered three times in basketball and twice in baseball.
After high school, Bo went on to play football for Auburn University. He was selected by the Los Angeles Raiders in the first round of the 1987 NFL Draft, with which he began his pro career. However, he only lasted one season in the league before being forced to retire due to knee problems. He has since become a successful businessman and activist who supports animal rights and environmental causes.
Bo's autobiography, My Life: A Champion's Story, was published in 2001. The book became a New York Times bestseller and is widely regarded as one of the greatest sports autobiographies ever written.
Furthermore, Bo has had several movies made about his life: Boom! The Untold Story of Bo Jackson (2007), which chronicles his rise from small town boy to national hero; and Boomerang: Return to Victory Park (2009), which follows his return to football after retiring from the NFL.
He has also been the subject of many other books, including ones written by his former teammates and coaches.
Heisman Trophy The Heisman Memorial Trophy (often known informally as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman) is given to the best collegiate football player each year. Winners exemplify exceptional talent mixed with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. They are chosen by their peers through voting at the end of the season.
The award was created in 1939 by newspaper publisher George A. Kelly in memory of his son, John Elroy "Elroy" Kelly, who had died earlier that year. Before then, there were no official awards given out at the end of the season. In addition to creating the award, Mr. Kelly set up a committee which selects the winner from among the candidates he nominates. This committee is called the Heisman Trust Committee. It consists of five individuals: two former Heisman winners (John Huard and Ron Kramer), a current Heisman winner (Blake Skjellerup), and two individuals selected by Mr. Kelly (one being his wife).
This is the only award that is voted on by the players themselves. They vote for one candidate per position. The award is presented annually during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in Atlanta. The award ceremony is held just before the start of the game. The trophy is designed by New York artist Albert H. Franzia and it features an antique bronze medallion engraved with the words "In Memory of John E. Kelly".
Brown was named to the College Football All-America Team twice and won the Heisman Trophy in 1987, becoming the first wide receiver to do so. Woodrow Wilson High School is one of just two public high schools with two Heisman Trophy winners as of 2015. When Brown received his diploma, he had already locked up a spot on Alabama's football roster for good.
He was also drafted by the Oakland Raiders after graduating from college. However, he never played a game for them because he was involved in several off-the-field incidents that resulted in him being suspended by the NFL multiple times. He last played in 2018 but remains one of their highest paid players today.
Brown finished his college career with 1,413 receiving yards, which is the third most in Florida State history. He also has 19 receptions of 30 or more yards and three touchdowns within that time frame.
In 2015, Brown was selected to the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame. He is only the second player from Florida State to make it into the hall, the other being Ernie Davis who played during the 1940s. Antonio's brother, Jesus Brown, was also considered for the honor but didn't make the cut-off date. They are not only the only two Floridians to have done so, but they're also the only brothers to have both been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Copyright © 2020 - 2023 Sportsmanist Inc.
