Click on each player's name for more information.
| PLAYER | YEAR |
| Allen Lazard, Iowa State | 2017 |
| Trenton Thompson, Georgia | 2016 |
| Alex Collins, Arkansas | 2015 |
| Kyle Allen, Texas A&M | 2014 |
| Dak Prescott, Mississippi State | 2013 |
| Trey Watts, Tulsa | 2012 |
| Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati | 2011 |
| Latavius Murray, UCF | 2010 |
| Ryan Mallett, Arkansas | 2009 |
| Ventrell Jenkins, Kentucky | 2008 |
| Derek Pegues, Mississippi State | 2007 |
| Blake Mitchell, South Carolina | 2006 |
| Paul Smith, Tulsa | 2005 |
| Stefan LeFors, Louisville | 2004 |
| Morgan Scalley, Utah | 2003 |
| LaTarence Dunbar, TCU | 2002 |
| David Ragone, Louisville | 2001 |
| Cecil Sapp, Colorado State | 2000 |
| Adalius Thomas, Southern Mississippi | 1999 |
| Shaun King, Tulane | 1998 |
| Sherrod Gideon, Southern Mississippi | 1997 |
| Malcolm Thomas, Syracuse | 1996 |
| Kwame Ellis, Stanford | 1995 |
| Johnny Johnson, Illinois | 1994 |
| Jeff Brohm, Louisville | 1993 |
| Cassius Ware, Ole Miss | 1992 |
| Rob Perez, Air Force | 1991 |
| Rob Perez, Air Force | 1990 |
| Randy Baldwin, Ole Miss | 1989 |
| Dave Schnell, Indiana | 1988 |
| Greg Thomas, Arkansas | 1987 |
| Jeff Francis, Tennessee | 1986 |
| Cody Carlson, Baylor | 1985 |
| Bo Jackson, Auburn* | 1984 |
| Doug Flutie, Boston College* | 1983 |
| Jeremiah Castille, Alabama | 1982 |
| Eddie Meyers, Navy | 1981 |
| Mark Herrmann, Purdue | 1980 |
| Roch Hontas, Tulane | 1979 |
| James Wilder, Missouri | 1978 |
| Matt Kupec, North Carolina | 1977 |
| Barry Krauss, Alabama | 1976 |
| Ricky Bell, USC | 1975 |
| Randy White, Maryland | 1974 |
| Stan Fritts, North Carolina State | 1973 |
| Jim Stevens, Georgia Tech | 1972 |
| Joe Ferguson, Arkansas | 1971 |
| David Abercrombie, Tulane | 1970 |
| Bob Anderson, Colorado | 1969 |
| Steve Hindman, Ole Miss | 1968 |
| Jim Donnan, North Carolina State | 1967 |
| Jimmy Cox, Miami (Fla.) | 1966 |
| Tom Bryan, Auburn | 1965 |
| Ernest Allen, Utah | 1964 |
| Ode Burrell, Mississippi State | 1963 |
| Terry Baker, Oregon State* | 1962 |
| Dick Easterly, Syracuse | 1961 |
| Dick Hoak, Penn State | 1960 |
| Jay Huffman, Penn State | 1959 |
| *Heisman Trophy Winner |
