Auburn's third Heisman winner
Cam Newton
QB | RS Junior | Auburn University
Cam Newton became the third Auburn Tiger to win the Heisman, joining Pat Sullivan (’71) and Bo Jackson (’85). The 6-foot 6-inches and 250-pounds Newton wasn’t on many radars at the start of the 2010 season, but he ended up becoming the first double-transfer to win the Heisman and the first junior-college transfer to do so since Mike Rozier in 1983.
Newton was a highly-rated recruit out of Atlanta’s Westlake High in 2006 with a scholarship offer list that included Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Oklahoma and Georgia Tech, among others. Newton decided to attend Florida, where he joined a roster that included 2007 Heisman winner Tim Tebow.
Newton backed up Tebow in 2007 but redshirted in 2008 due to an ankle injury. He then left Florida and enrolled at Blinn Junior College, where he played the 2009 season. He led Blinn to the national JC championship in 2009, throwing for 2,833 yards and 22 touchdowns with 655 rushing yards.
Auburn won the battle for Newton’s services the following spring and by the fall, he was the starting quarterback for the Tigers. Newton threw for 2,589 yards and 28 touchdowns with just six interceptions while rushing for 1,409 yards and 20 scores as the Tigers went undefeated and won the SEC championship.
Newton was named the 2010 SEC Offensive Player of the Year as well as the 2010 AP Player of the year before winning the Heisman in a landslide.
He then led the Tigers to a victory over Oregon in the BCS title game as Auburn won its first national title since 1957.
Following the season, Newton declared for the NFL draft and was selected as the first pick overall by the Carolina Panthers. He was named the NFL Rookie of the Year for 2011.
