Woodson intercepts Heisman

Woodson, Michigan's All-American cornerback who also starred as a wide receiver and punt returner, made Heisman history as he became the first primarily defensive player to win college football's most prestigious award.

In one of the biggest surprises in the 63-year history of the Heisman, Woodson won over Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, who had become the preseason favorite for the trophy when he announced last spring he was returning for his senior season.

While Manning threw for 3,819 yards, 36 touchdowns and led the Vols to the Southeastern Conference title and an Orange Bowl berth, the Heisman voters chose Woodson, who went from sublime to sensational whenever Michigan was on national television.

Woodson's dominance in the Wolverines' 20-14 win over Ohio State on Nov. 22 may have been the Heisman clincher.

In that game, he intercepted a pass in the end zone to stop a Buckeyes' scoring threat, caught a 37-yard pass to set up Michigan's first touchdown and then broke open a tight defensive struggle with a 78-yard punt return for a score - his fourth touchdown of the season.

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr summed up Woodson's season after that game when he said: "Great players play big in big games."

The closest a defensive player had come to winning was in 1980, when Pittsburgh defensive end Hugh Green finished second behind South Carolina running back George Rogers.

Since then, other defensive players have finished in the top five, including Marvin Jones (fourth, 1992); Steve Emtman (fourth, 1991); Brian Bosworth (fourth, 1986); and Terry Hoage (fifth, 1983).

But last year, the 6-foot-1, 198-pound Woodson came out on top - and it wasn't really close.

Woodson beat Manning by 272 points, with Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf third, Marshall wide receiver Randy Moss fourth and Texas running back Ricky Williams fifth.

Woodson, from Fremont, Ohio, received 433 first-place votes and 1,815 points in balloting by the media and former Heisman winners.

09-08-98