David Pollack answers if a defensive player can win the Heisman again

Last December, Colorado two-way superstar Travis Hunter became the first defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy since 1997, when Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson won it. But it was a bit of an anomaly given the reality that there have been only three all-time Heisman winners that played defense — the first coming in 1961 when Syracuse‘s Ernie Davis took home the award playing both running back and linebacker.

Outside of those deviations from the norm, the Heisman Trophy has primarily been a quarterback award, especially in recent years. Quarterbacks have claimed the Heisman Trophy 20 times since 2000. Beyond Hunter, the exceptions have mostly come out of Alabama courtesy of receiver DeVonta Smith (2020) and running backs Derrick Henry (2015) and Mark Ingram II (2009), along with USC running back Reggie Bush (2005).

In light of Hunter’s win last season, former Georgia defensive end David Pollack opened up about why winning the Heisman as a defensive player will continue to be the exception and not the rule moving forward during a recent episode of his See Ball Get Ball podcast. Ultimately, it comes down to numbers.

“It’s so hard to quantitatively measure the impact on the game defensively without just stupid numbers,” Pollack said. “Even if you have stupid numbers, it’s still not going to make the impact of touchdowns. If you’re going to be a defensive player and win, you have to touch the football. You have to.”

Hunter, a cornerback and receiver, won the 2024 Heisman thanks in large part to his 15 receiving touchdowns along with 1,258 yards on 96 receptions last season, while also adding four interceptions, 11 pass breakups, one forced fumble and 36 total tackles.

Pollack then suggested Ohio State‘s All-American safety Caleb Downs could insert himself in the 2025 Heisman Trophy conversation if he can score multiple touchdowns as a punt returner this season.

“Caleb Downs has punt return, (so) he has to have three or four punt returns (for touchdowns), which he returned punts for Ohio State a little bit last year,” Pollack continued. “You have to have something outside of just defense. Because, here’s the thing about defense too, you can be a really dominant player and they can run away from you. They can avoid throwing at you.”

Effectively, for a non-quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy, it requires a particularly exceptional season. That was certainly the case for both Smith and Henry. Smith rewrote the Alabama record book with 1,856 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns on 117 receptions to win the 2020 Heisman, while Henry won in 2015 with a SEC-record 2,219 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns on 395 carries.

Pollack attributed much of the quarterback love to their ability to score touchdowns multiple ways, which has become more prevelant as quartebacks become more athletic and versatile. Given that reality, Pollack expects a quarterback will once again hoist the Heisman Trophy next December.

“I think the advent of the mobile quarterback also kills running backs because (quarterbacks) are running in for touchdowns now. So, the guys that are throwing for 4,000 (yards) are now rushing for 500. It’s not as impressive to watch everybody else run the football for 2,000 yards, 1,500 yards, and you go: OK, well they had 500 (rushing yards) and 4,000 passing and 30-something touchdowns,” Pollack concluded. “It’s got to be a good set of circumstances for other people to win (the Heisman) other than quarterbacks, because quarterbacks will be the favorites and that’s why they win the most.

“But I do think … numbers are going to rule the day. Numbers are going to have to be a big part of it. And when you put up so many touchdowns, so many passing yards, so many rushing yards, it’s going to lend itself to a quarterback.”