Who’s the Last Wide Receiver to Win the Heisman Trophy?

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Alabama defensive back DeVonta Smith (8) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
(AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
BetMGM Staff @BETMGM Feb 12, 2023, 6:53 PM

Alabama’s DeVonta Smith is the last wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy. He won the Heisman in 2020 after recording 117 receptions for 1,856 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns.

The Crimson Tide were dominant in 2020, going a perfect 13-0 en route to a national championship. The two playoff games were not particularly close, either. A 31-14 domination of Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl was followed by a 52-24 shellacking of Ohio State in the national championship.

It was an interesting Heisman Trophy discussion in 2020 because there was no runaway winner throughout the regular season. Once it became clear that Alabama was a dominant force, the debate was about which offensive skill player would win.

After a remarkable year, quarterback Mac Jones had plenty of support, throwing for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns with just four interceptions. Ultimately, Jones would finish third in the Heisman voting, but he did receive 138 first-place votes.

Running back Najee Harris was also in the discussion after posting more scrimmage yards (1.891) and touchdowns (30) than Smith. Harris would end up in fifth place for the Heisman award.

The last receiver to win the Heisman before Smith? That would be Michigan’s Desmond Howard in 1991. It’s a true rarity for a player at the position to win the award, as there have been just four wide receivers all-time to be named a Heisman winn. The others? Nebraska’s Johnny Rodgers in 1972 and Notre Dame’s Tim Brown in 1987.

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Our BetMGM authors are sports experts, with a wealth of knowledge of the sports betting industry at all levels. Their coverage includes sports news across players, teams and coaches, providing betting previews and predictions, fun facts and more.

Our BetMGM authors are sports experts, with a wealth of knowledge of the sports betting industry at all levels. Their coverage includes sports news across players, teams and coaches, providing betting previews and predictions, fun facts and more.