The LSU Tigers have become one of the top-tier programs in the landscape of college football, with a history that spans 131 years and contains over 800 victories in addition to their four national championships.
While team success is the priority, the recognition of individual accolades is part of what helps build the connection with fans and spreads the brand of every program. LSU has had the honor of seeing multiple athletes bestowed with the honor of being Heisman Trophy winners.
The Heisman Trophy is an annual award given to the most outstanding player in college football, and LSU has a rich history of winners of the award that spans multiple generations. Let’s examine the LSU Tigers Heisman Trophy winners and recap the achievements that got them there.
Billy Cannon, RB (1959)
The first-ever LSU Tiger to win the Heisman Trophy, Cannon was a Baton Rouge native who combined rare size at 6’1″ and 210 pounds with elite speed — he posted a 9.5-second 100-meter dash.
Cannon began his career with LSU playing on both sides of the ball, and by the time he reached his senior year, he had already helped the Tigers win a national championship. His Heisman moment came in 1959 against Ole Miss as he broke seven tackles on his way to returning a punt for a game-winning touchdown.
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Cannon also made a touchdown-saving tackle with 18 seconds to go, clinching the 7-3 victory. He headlined a defense that did not allow a touchdown through the first six games, and his performance on both sides of the ball earned him his Heisman.
Joe Burrow, QB (2019)
Burrow snapped a 60-year-long drought with one of the most memorable and impressive seasons in college football history. The prolific Burrow transferred to LSU in 2018 and exploded onto the scene in 2019 after a decent junior campaign with the Tigers.
He threw for school records of 4,715 yards and tied a Heisman record with his 48 touchdown passes. He rushed for 289 yards and three touchdowns while completing 77.9% of his passes. Burrow led the Tigers to a 13-0 regular season finish and he finished the year winning his final two games to win the Tigers a national championship.
Jayden Daniels, QB (2023)
Daniels was another transfer quarterback who found success at LSU. He started 14 games for the Tigers in 2022 and had a good year with 2,913 yards and 17 touchdowns with another 11 rushing scores to boot. His 2023 season was meteoric in comparison, and Daniels was every bit as explosive. He rushed for 1,134 yards and passed for an astounding 4,946 yards while being responsible for a total of 50 touchdowns.
Daniels’ Heisman moment came against SEC rival Florida, as Daniels became the first player in the history of the FBS to rush for 200 yards (234) and pass for 350 yards (372) in one game. His passing yards were tied for third-most by a Heisman Trophy winner, and his 50 touchdowns are the seventh-most in Heisman history.
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