Ernie Davis of Syracuse, a big, rugged 6'2", 212-pounder, played left halfback and was his team's leading ground-gainer for three seasons. He completed with 16 catches for 157 yards. He broke Jim Brown's career records in rushing (2,386 yards), yards gained all ways (3,414), scoring (220 points) and touchdowns (35). After graduating from college, Davis was signed by the Cleveland Browns for the (then) astronomical sum of $80,000. Shortly after signing and before he suited up for his first pro game, Ernie Davis was struck down by leukemia. He died as the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy.

Elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1979.

The Voting

					Points
Place	Name	School	Class	Position	1	2	3	Total
1	Ernie Davis	Syracuse	Senior	HB	179	103	81	824
2	Bob Ferguson	Ohio State	Senior	FB	122	156	93	771
3	Jimmy Saxton	Texas	Senior	RB	81	105	98	551
4	Sandy Stephens	Minnesota	Senior	QB	104	78	68	543
5	Pat Trammel	Alabama	Senior	QB	76	45	44	362
6	Joe Romig	Colorado	Senior	G	55	40	34	279
7	John Hadl	Kansas	Senior	QB	33	25	23	172
8	Gary Collins	Maryland	Senior	TE-WR	28	31	21	167
9	Roman Gabriel	North Carolina State	Senior	QB	23	27	32	155
10	Merlin Olsen	Utah State	Senior	DT	13	19	16	93

In the second closest vote in Heisman history, Syracuse star Ernie Davis edged out Ohio State bruiser Bob Ferguson by a mere 53 points. Davis managed to win only the East as five different players captured the sections. Alabama’s Pat Trammel won in the South; Jimmy Saxton of Texas in the Southwest and Sandy Stephens of Minnesota won the Far West. Davis became ill with leukemia the following summer and died May, 1963.

No. of registered electors: 1091
Date of announcement: 28 November 1961
Date of dinner: 6 December 1961

The positions within each region:

Place	East	South	Midwest	Southwest	Far West
1	Davis	Trammel	Ferguson	Saxton	Stephens
2	Ferguson	Saxton	Stephens	Ferguson	Ferguson
3	Collins	Davis	Davis	Trammel	Davis
4	Saxton	Gabriel	Romig	Davis	Romig
5	Stephens	Ferguson	Saxton	Alworth	Saxton