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LSU's Immortal Trio: The 3 Heisman Winners Who Changed Tiger Football Forever (Updated 2025)

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The LSU Tigers football program boasts one of the most passionate fanbases in college sports, and a select few players have transcended that devotion by capturing the most coveted individual award: the Heisman Memorial Trophy. As of the current date in December 2025, only three players in the storied history of Louisiana State University have earned the title of "Most Outstanding Player in College Football," creating an exclusive club that spans over six decades of gridiron glory. The recent victory by Jayden Daniels in 2023 firmly cemented LSU's return to the elite Heisman conversation, following the record-breaking season of Joe Burrow just a few years prior, and honoring the legacy of the program's first winner, Billy Cannon.

This article dives deep into the careers, record-breaking statistics, and lasting impact of LSU's three Heisman Trophy winners, detailing their legendary seasons in Baton Rouge and their place in college football immortality. From the two-way star of the 1950s to the modern, transfer-portal quarterbacks, each winner represents a distinct era of Tiger football excellence.

The Exclusive Roll Call: Biographies of LSU’s Heisman Winners

The Heisman Trophy is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). For LSU, this honor has been bestowed upon three phenomenal athletes, two of whom won the award in the span of just five seasons.

  • Billy Cannon (1959): The Original Tiger Legend
  • Joe Burrow (2019): The Record-Shattering Catalyst
  • Jayden Daniels (2023): The Dual-Threat Dynamo

Billy Cannon: The Golden Era's Two-Way Star (1959)

Billy Cannon was the first LSU player to win the Heisman Trophy, a true legend whose performance defined the Golden Era of the program. Cannon was a versatile halfback and defensive back who captivated the nation with his athleticism. A native of Baton Rouge, he was instrumental in leading the 1958 LSU team to a National Championship title, finishing third in the Heisman voting that year, setting the stage for his triumph.

  • Full Name: William Abb Cannon
  • Year Won: 1959
  • Position: Halfback / Defensive Back
  • Key Highlights:
    • Led LSU to the 1958 National Championship.
    • Two-time unanimous All-American (1958, 1959).
    • SEC Player of the Year (1959).
    • His legendary 89-yard Halloween punt return against Ole Miss in 1959 is considered one of the most iconic plays in college football history.
    • First overall pick in both the 1960 NFL Draft (Los Angeles Rams) and the AFL Draft (Houston Oilers).

Joe Burrow: The Single-Season Masterpiece (2019)

Joe Burrow's 2019 campaign is widely regarded as one of the greatest single seasons by a college quarterback in history. After transferring from Ohio State, Burrow transformed the LSU offense under passing game coordinator Joe Brady, leading the Tigers to an undefeated 15-0 season and a National Championship. His Heisman victory ended a 60-year drought for the program.

  • Full Name: Joseph Lee Burrow
  • Year Won: 2019
  • Position: Quarterback (QB)
  • Key Highlights:
    • Set an NCAA record for passing touchdowns (60), which has since been surpassed.
    • Broke LSU and SEC records for passing yards (5,671) and total touchdowns (65).
    • Won the Heisman Trophy by the largest margin of votes in the award's history at the time.
    • Unanimous All-American and SEC Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY).
    • First overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft (Cincinnati Bengals).

Jayden Daniels: The Dual-Threat Dynamo (2023)

Jayden Daniels, a transfer from Arizona State, became LSU's third Heisman winner in 2023, solidifying the Tigers' status as a premier destination for elite quarterback talent. His season was defined by his electrifying dual-threat ability, combining elite passing accuracy with game-breaking rushing speed, making him a nightmare for SEC defenses.

  • Full Name: Jayden Daniels
  • Year Won: 2023
  • Position: Quarterback (QB)
  • Key Highlights:
    • Set the NCAA record for single-season passing efficiency rating (208.01).
    • Totaled 50 touchdowns (40 passing, 10 rushing) in the 2023 season.
    • Became the first player in FBS history to record 12,000 career passing yards and 3,000 career rushing yards.
    • Unanimous All-American and SEC Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY).
    • Won the Heisman over finalists Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix, and Marvin Harrison Jr.

Breaking the Mold: How Burrow and Daniels Redefined LSU's Heisman Profile

For 60 years, Billy Cannon stood alone as the sole LSU Heisman winner. The victories by Joe Burrow in 2019 and Jayden Daniels in 2023 not only broke that drought but fundamentally shifted the narrative of the LSU football program. Both players were transfer quarterbacks, a stark contrast to Cannon, the local Baton Rouge product.

The success of the transfer QBs highlights a new era in college football, where immediate impact and system fit are paramount. Burrow and Daniels both thrived under offensive schemes that maximized their dual-threat capabilities, leading to statistical seasons that were nearly unimaginable in Cannon's era of smash-mouth football. Burrow's 2019 season saw him set a Heisman record for passing touchdowns (48, tied with another player) and break the total offense record. Daniels, just four years later, topped the all-time pass efficiency chart, showcasing the evolution of the quarterback position in the modern Southeastern Conference (SEC).

Their back-to-back Heisman wins (in terms of proximity to the previous win) have established LSU as a "Quarterback U," a title previously reserved for programs with longer histories of elite QB production. This recent success is a powerful recruiting tool, signaling to top high school and transfer talent that the path to the Heisman Trophy runs through Death Valley.

The Near Misses: Other Notable LSU Heisman Finalists

While only three Tigers have claimed the Heisman, several other LSU standouts have come close, adding to the program’s rich history of individual excellence. Recognizing these players is essential for understanding the full scope of LSU’s Heisman legacy and topical authority.

The most notable runner-up in LSU history is Jerry Stovall. A versatile halfback and defensive back, Stovall finished as the Heisman runner-up in 1962, a testament to his all-around skill and toughness. Stovall's second-place finish is a crucial piece of the Heisman narrative for LSU, showing that the program was consistently producing elite talent even in the years between Cannon and Burrow.

Beyond Stovall, Billy Cannon himself was a finalist before his winning year, finishing third in the 1958 Heisman voting. This demonstrates a rare consistency in being a top contender, something only a handful of players in college football history can claim. The consistent presence of LSU players in the final Heisman balloting—from the 1950s to the 2020s—underscores the program's enduring ability to develop and attract generational talent.

The combined success of Cannon, Burrow, and Daniels has created a new standard for LSU football. Their Heisman victories serve as milestones, representing the pinnacle of individual achievement and often correlating with the program's most successful seasons. The impact extends far beyond the award itself, influencing recruiting, boosting the team's national profile, and creating an expectation of excellence that permeates the entire athletic department.

LSU’s Heisman Legacy: A Timeline of Excellence

The timeline of LSU’s Heisman wins—1959, 2019, and 2023—tells a story of a program that has experienced both long droughts and sudden bursts of brilliance. The 60-year gap between Cannon and Burrow was a period of near misses and talented players who fell just short. The rapid succession of wins by Burrow and Daniels, however, signals a powerful new trajectory for the LSU Tigers.

The modern era, particularly with the rise of the College Football Playoff (CFP) and the transfer portal, has allowed LSU to quickly pivot and acquire the talent needed to compete for national awards. Both Burrow and Daniels leveraged their Heisman seasons into becoming top NFL Draft picks, further enhancing LSU's reputation for developing professional-level talent.

Looking ahead, the legacy of these three Heisman winners—Billy Cannon, the pioneer; Joe Burrow, the revolutionary; and Jayden Daniels, the modern marvel—will continue to inspire future generations of Tigers. Their names are permanently etched in college football history, forever linking Louisiana State University to the highest individual honor in the sport.

LSU's Immortal Trio: The 3 Heisman Winners Who Changed Tiger Football Forever (Updated 2025)
lsu football heisman winners
lsu football heisman winners

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