Heisman Winner
Eric Crouch
QB | RS Senior | University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Crouch captured Nebraska’s third Heisman, joining Johnny Rodgers (’72) and Mike Rozier (’83). He is the last quarterback to win the Heisman while being utilized primarily as a running threat in an option offense.
Born in Omaha, Neb., Crouch was a star athlete at Millard North High. In his prep career, he amassed 5,134 total yards and 69 touchdowns, including 3,463 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns. Crouch was a two-time All-State honoree and a Parade All-American his senior year of 1996, when he was considered one of the best high school quarterbacks in the country.
Crouch signed with Nebraska in 1997 and redshirted his first season after suffering an ankle injury, but played a lot in 1998 as a redshirt freshman, throwing for 601 yards and rushing for 459. In 1999, he took over the starting job early in the season and ended up throwing fof 1,269 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 889 yards and 16 scores. He started every game in 2000, passing for 1,101 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 971 yards and 20 scores on the ground.
In his final year as one of the best option quarterbacks in college football history, Crouch had his most productive season as a passer, throwing or 1,510 yards while rumbling for a career-high 1,115 yards on the ground (with 18 touchdowns). Crouch won three major national awards, including the Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Player-of-the-Year award and the Davey O’Brien quarterback award. He led Nebraska to an 11-1 record and an appearance in the BCS title game against Miami. In the loss to the Hurricanes, the All-American capped his career with 114 yards rushing on 22 carries to lead all rushers, while adding 62 yards on five completions through the air. Crouch played the bowl game with his degree in hand after graduating in December 2001.
Crouch ended his NU career by holding 32 school records. He was one of three quarterbacks in NCAA history to rush for 3,000 yards and pass for 4,000 yards in a career, while becoming just the 13th quarterback in NCAA history to rush and pass for 1,000 yards in the same season in 2001.
He went on to be drafted as a wide receiver in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams with the 95th overall pick. He continued his professional football career with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Hamburg Sea Devils, the Toronto Argonauts, and the Omaha Nighthawks.
After Crouch left football, he worked first as the sales territory manager for a major medical company before starting his own company, Crouch Recreation, which specializes in sales of playground and recreation equipment.
Crouch was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
