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Great players from the SEC annually bring national attention to the league, but how many actually take home hardware during awards season?
Quite a few actually.
Since inception, the SEC’s garnered 11 Heisman and Outland Trophy winners including four of each since the turn of the century. The conference has also dominated the Maxwell Award, considered one of the more prestigious honors each year given to college football’s best player.
Awarded since 1986 to the nation’s top defensive back, the Thorpe has found a home in the SEC seven times during that span including four consecutive seasons from 2009-12. LSU’s Patrick Peterson (2010) and Tyrann Mathieu (2011) swept the Thorpe and Bednarik honors during their most impressive campaigns.
Editor’s note: There’s a couple winners — notably South Carolina’s 1980 Heisman George Rogers — who played at league schools before they were members of the SEC.
Heisman (given to nation’s most outstanding player; 11 SEC winners)
- Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M, 2012
- Cam Newton, Auburn, 2010
- Mark Ingram, Alabama, 2009
- Tim Tebow, Florida, 2007
- Danny Wuerffel, Florida, 1996
- Bo Jackson, Auburn, 1985
- Herschel Walker, Georgia, 1982
- Pat Sullivan, Auburn, 1971
- Steve Spurrier, Florida, 1966
- Billy Cannon, LSU, 1959
- Frank Sinkwich, Georgia, 1942
Walter Camp (given to nation’s player of the year; 6 SEC winners)
- Cam Newton, Auburn, 2010
- Darren McFadden, Arkansas, 2007
- Danny Wuerffel, Florida, 1996
- Bo Jackson, Auburn, 1985
- Herschel Walker, Georgia, 1982
- Pat Sullivan, Auburn, 1971
Maxwell (given to nation’s top player; 9 SEC winners)
- A.J. McCarron, Alabama, 2013
- Cam Newton, Auburn, 2010
- Tim Tebow, Florida, 2008
- Tim Tebow, Florida, 2007
- Eli Manning, Ole Miss, 2003
- Peyton Manning, Tennessee, 1997
- Danny Wuerffel, Florida, 1996
- Herschel Walker, Georgia, 1982
- Charley Trippi, Georgia, 1946
Davey O’Brien (given to nation’s top quarterback; 6 SEC winners)
- Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M, 2012
- Cam Newton, Auburn, 2010
- Tim Tebow, Florida, 2007
- Peyton Manning, Tennessee, 1997
- Danny Wuerffel, Florida, 1996
- Danny Wuerffel, Florida, 1995
Doak Walker (given to nation’s top running back; 4 SEC winners)
- Trent Richardson, Alabama, 2011
- Darren McFadden, Arkansas, 2006
- Darren McFadden, Arkansas, 2007
- Garrison Hearst, Georgia, 1992
Biletnikoff (given to nation’s top wide receiver; 2 SEC winners)
- Amari Cooper, Alabama, 2014
- Josh Reed, LSU, 2001
Outland (given to nation’s top lineman; 11 SEC winners)
- Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M, 2012
- Barrett Jones, Alabama, 2011
- Andre Smith, Alabama, 2008
- Glenn Dorsey, LSU, 2007
- John Henderson, Tennessee, 2000
- Chris Samuels, Alabama, 1999
- Tracy Rocker, Auburn, 1988
- Bill Stanfill, Georgia, 1968
- Steve DeLong, Tennessee, 1964
- Zeke Smith, Auburn, 1958
- Bob Gain, Kentucky, 1950
Bednarik (given to nation’s top defensive player; 3 SEC winners)
- Tyrann Mathieu, LSU, 2011
- Patrick Peterson, LSU, 2010
- David Pollack, Georgia, 2004
Thorpe (given to nation’s top defensive back; 7 SEC winners)
- Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State, 2012
- Tyrann Mathieu, LSU, 2011
- Patrick Peterson, LSU, 2010
- Eric Berry, Tennessee, 2009
- Carlos Rogers, Auburn, 2004
- Lawrence Wright, Florida, 1996
- Antonio Langham, Alabama, 1993
Hendricks (given to nation’s top defensive end; 3 SEC winners)
- Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina, 2012
- David Pollack, Georgia, 2004
- David Pollack, Georgia, 2003
