Awarded to the best college player by the Downtown Athletic Club of New York City. Year - player (pos.) school (yr.) 2023 - Jayden Daniels (QB) Louisiana State (Sr.) 2022 - Caleb Williams (QB) Southern California (So.) 2021 - Bryce Young (QB) Alabama (So.) 2020 - DeVona Smith (WR) Alabama (Sr.) 2019 - Joe Burrow (QB) Louisiana State (Sr.) 2018 - Kyler Murray (QB) Oklahoma (Jr.) 2017 - Baker Mayfield (QB) Oklahoma (Sr.) 2016 - Lamar Jackson (QB) Louisville (So.) 2015 - Derrick Henry (RB) Alabama (Jr.) 2014 - Marcus Mariotta (QB) Oregon (Jr.) 2013 - Jameis Winston (QB) Florida State (Fr.) 2012 - Johnny Manziel (QB) Texas A&M (Fr.) 2011 - Robert Griffin III (QB) Baylor (Sr.) 2010 - Cam Newton (QB) Auburn (Jr.) 2009 - Mark Ingram (RB) Alabala (Soph) 2008 - Sam Bradford (QB) Oklahoma (Soph) 2007 - Tim Tebow (QB) Florida (Soph) 2006 - Troy Smith (QB) Ohio State (Sr.) 2005 - Reggie Bush (RB) Southern California (Jr.) 2004 - Matt Leinart (QB) Southern California (Jr.) 2003 - Jason White (QB) Oklahoma (Sr.) 2002 - Carson Palmer (QB) Southern California (Sr.) 2001 - Eric Crouch (QB) Nebraska (Sr.) 2000 - Chris Weinke (QB) Florida State (Sr.) 1999 - Ron Dayne (RB) Wisconsin (Sr.) 1998 - Ricky Williams (RB) Texas (Sr.) 1997 - Charles Woodson (CB) Michigan (Jr.) 1996 - Danny Wuerffel (QB) Florida (Sr.) 1995 - Eddie George (RB) Ohio State (Sr.) 1994 - Rashaan Salaam (RB) Colorado (Jr.) 1993 - Charlie Ward (QB) Florida State (Sr.) 1992 - Gino Torretta (QB) Miami FL (Sr.) 1991 - Desmond Howard (WR) Michigan (Jr.) 1990 - Ty Detmer (QB) Brigham Young (Jr.) 1989 - Andre Ware (QB) Houston (Jr.) 1988 - Barry Sanders (RB) Oklahoma State (Jr.) 1987 - Tim Brown (WR) Notre Dame (Sr.) 1986 - Vinny Testaverde (QB) Miami FL (Sr.) 1985 - Bo Jackson (HB) Auburn (Sr.) 1984 - Doug Flutie (QB) Boston College (Sr.) 1983 - Mike Rozier (RB) Nebraska (Sr.) 1982 - Hershel Walker (RB) Georgia (Jr.) 1981 - Marcus Allen (RB) Southern California (Sr.) 1980 - George Rogers (HB) South Carolina (Sr.) 1979 - Charles White (RB) Southern California (Sr.) 1978 - Billy Sims (HB) Oklahoma (Jr.) 1977 - Earl Campbell (FB) Texas (Sr.) 1976 - Tony Dorsett (RB) Pittsburgh (Sr.) 1975 - Archie Griffin (RB) Ohio State (Sr.) 1974 - Archie Griffin (RB) Ohio State (Jr.) 1973 - John Cappelletti (RB) Penn State (Sr.) 1972 - Johnny Rodgers (FL) Nebraska (Sr.) 1971 - Pat Sullivan (QB) Auburn (Sr.) 1970 - Jim Plunkett (QB) Stanford (Sr.) 1969 - Steve Owens (FB) Oklahoma (Sr.) 1968 - O. J. Simpson (RB) Southern California (Sr.) 1967 - Gary Beban (QB) UCLA (Sr.) 1966 - Steve Spurrier (QB) Florida (Sr.) 1965 - Mike Garrett (HB) Southern California (Sr.) 1964 - John Huarte (QB) Notre Dame (Sr.) 1963 - Roger Staubach (QB) Navy (Jr.) 1962 - Terry Baker (QB) Oregon State (Sr.) 1961 - Ernie Davis (HB) Syracuse (Sr.) 1960 - Joe Bellino (HB) Navy (Sr.) 1959 - Billy Cannon (HB) Louisiana State (Sr.) 1958 - Pete Dawkins (HB) Army (Sr.) 1957 - John David Crow (HB) Texas A&M (Sr.) 1956 - Paul Hornung (QB) Notre Dame (Sr.) 1955 - Howard Cassady (HB) Ohio State (Sr.) 1954 - Alan Ameche (FB) Wisconsin (Sr.) 1953 - John Lattner (HB) Notre Dame (Sr.) 1952 - Billy Vessels (HB) Oklahoma (Sr.) 1951 - Dick Kazmaier (HB) Princeton (Sr.) 1950 - Vic Janowicz (HB) Ohio State (Jr.) 1949 - Leon Hart (E) Notre Dame (Sr.) 1948 - Doak Walker (HB) Southern Methodist (Jr.) 1947 - John Lujack (QB) Notre Dame (Sr.) 1946 - Glenn Davis (HB) Army (Sr.) 1945 - Doc Blanchard (FB) Army (Jr.) 1944 - Les Horvath (QB) Ohio State (Sr.) 1943 - Angelo Bartelli (QB) Notre Dame (Sr.) 1942 - Frank Sinkwich (HB) Georgia (Sr.) 1941 - Bruce Smith (HB) Minnesota (Sr.) 1940 - Tom Harmon (HB) Michigan (Sr.) 1939 - Nile Kinnick (HB) Iowa (Sr.) 1938 - Davey O'Brien (QB) Texas Christian (Sr.) 1937 - Clint Frank (HB) Yale (Sr.) 1936 - Larry Kelley (E) Yale (Sr.) 1935 - Jay Berwanger (HB) Chicago (Sr.)