UPI College Football Player of the Year
| UPI Player of the year | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | The Most Outstanding Offensive or Defensive College Football Player of the Year |
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | United Press International |
| First awarded | 1950 |
| Last awarded | 1991 |
The United Press International College Football Player of the Year Award was among the first and most recognized college football awards. With the demise of UPI in 1997 the award was discontinued. Offensive and defensive players were eligible. Tommy Nobis was the runner-up that season. Unlike the Heisman, it was never affiliated with a civic organization or named after a player (like the Walter Camp Award). Like all UPI college awards at the time, it was based on the votes of NCAA coaches. Billy Cannon, O.J. Simpson, and Archie Griffin are the only two-time winners.[1][2][3]
Yearly winners
1950—Vic Janowicz, Ohio State
1951—Dick Kazmaier, Princeton
1952—Billy Vessels, Oklahoma
1953—Paul Giel, Minnesota
1954—Alan Ameche, Wisconsin
1955—Howard Cassady, Ohio State
1956—Johnny Majors, Tennessee
1957—John David Crow, Texas A&M
1958—Billy Cannon, LSU
1959—Billy Cannon, LSU
1960—Joe Bellino, Navy
1961—Bob Ferguson, Ohio State
1962—Terry Baker, Oregon State
1963—Roger Staubach, Navy
1964—John Huarte, Notre Dame
1965—Mike Garrett, USC
1966—Steve Spurrier, Florida
1967—O. J. Simpson, USC
1968—O. J. Simpson, USC
1969—Steve Owens, Oklahoma
1970—Jim Plunkett, Stanford
1971—Ed Marinaro, Cornell
1972—Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska
1973—John Cappelletti, Penn State
1974—Archie Griffin, Ohio State
1975—Archie Griffin, Ohio State
1976—Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh
1977—Earl Campbell, Texas
1978—Billy Sims, Oklahoma
1979—Charles White, USC
1980—Hugh Green, Pittsburgh
1981—Marcus Allen, USC
1982—Herschel Walker, Georgia
1983—Mike Rozier, Nebraska
1984—Doug Flutie, Boston College
1985—Bo Jackson, Auburn
1986—Vinny Testaverde, Miami (Fla.)
1987—Tim Brown, Notre Dame
1988—Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State
1989—Andre Ware, Houston
1990—Ty Detmer, BYU
1991—Desmond Howard, Michigan
Source: United Press International