- The Heisman Trophy is awarded every year to the best player in college football.
- In some cases, those that win the Heisman go on to have great success in the NFL, while others flame out of the league rather quickly.
- Below we break down every Heisman winners since 1998.
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Every year the Heisman Trophy is awarded to the best player in college football.
Despite the greatness of these players in college, winning the Heisman is not a guarantee of future success. While many past winners have gone on to be a top pick in the draft and fulfill impressive careers, there are also those that are out of the league just a few years after being on top of their sport.
Below we take a look at every Heisman winner dating back to 1998, checking in to see how their careers have gone and what they are up to now.
Ricky Williams ran away with the Heisman in 1998, rushing for 2,327 yards and 29 touchdowns for the Texas Longhorns.
Williams went on to have a successful if disjointed NFL career. After leading the league in rushing in 2002 with the Dolphins, Williams tested positive for marijuana several times and announced his retirement in 2004. He did return to Miami just two years later. Recently, he founded a brand of cannabis products, “Real Wellness,” serves as a commentator on The Longhorn Network, and is one of the founding owners in a new pro football league, Freedom Football League.
Ron Dayne was awarded the 1999 Heisman, finishing his career as the all-time leading rusher in NCAA Division I FBS history with 7,125 yards for the Wisconsin Badgers.
Dayne played in the NFL for seven seasons with the Giants, Broncos, and Texans. In 2018, he went back to school and finally got his degree, which he shared proudly over social media. He also serves as a goodwill ambassador for Wisconsin sports teams, and his daughter plays soccer for the University of Michigan.