University of Colorado

Rashaan Salaam won Colorado's first Heisman after becoming the third Division I player top the 2,000-yard rushing barrier.

Heisman Winner

Rashaan Salaam

RB | Junior | University of Colorado

Salaam won Colorado’s first Heisman after becoming the third Division I player top the 2,000-yard rushing barrier.

Salaam was born in San Diego, Calif., the son of former Cincinnati Bengals running back Teddy Washington. He attended La Jolla Country Day and played eight-man football. He ran for over 100 yards in every game except one, and was recognized as a high school All-American as a 1991 senior. Naturally, he was coveted by colleges from all around the country.

The 6-1, 225-pound Salaam chose to attend Colorado, which was two years removed from its first national title. He played sparingly as a true freshman, rushing for 158 yards and one touchdown, but he came into his own as a sophomore, gaining 844 yards and scoring eight touchdowns while sharing carries with Lamont Warren.

Salaam truly broke out as a junior, ripping off 10 100-yard games — including four over 200 yards — as he joined Marcus Allen, Mike Rozier and Barry Sanders in the 2,000 yard club. He totaled 2,055 yards and 24 touchdowns on the season while averaging a remarkable 7.61 yards per carry. Salaam helped guide the Buffaloes to a 10-1 regular season record and a No. 4 ranking. Salaam won the Heisman handily over second-place Ki-Jana Carter.

Heisman in hand, Salaam scored three touchdowns against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl as Colorado climbed to 11-1 and No. 3 in the final rankings.

Salaam chose to forgo his final season of eligibility and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft with the 21st overall pick. He played three years for the Bears, including a rookie season that saw him rush for 1,074 yards.

He died Dec. 5, 2016 at the age of 42.

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Heisman Voting Results

Number of electors: 920 - Announced: December 10, 1994.

 PlayerClassPositionSchool1st2nd3rdTotal Points
1Rashaan SalaamJRRBColorado400229851743
2Ki-Jana CarterJRRBPenn State115205146901
3Steve McNairSRQBAlcron State11185152655
4Kerry CollinsSRQBPenn State101117102639
5Jay BarkerRS SRQBAlabama365871295
6Warren SappJRDTMiami (Fla.)173767192
7Eric ZeierSRQBGeorgia7153283
8Lawrence PhillipsSORBNebraska182140
9Napolean KaufmanSRRBNavy331227
10Zach WiegertSROTNebraska171027

Three points are awarded for first place on a ballot, with two points for second place and one point for third place.

Heisman Voting By Region

Heisman voters are spread out across six regions, with roughly 145 per region.

South

 PlayerPoints
1Rashaan Salaam262
2Jay Barker137
3Steve McNair129
4Ki-Jana Carter87
5Kerry Collins38

Northeast

 PlayerPoints
1Rashaan Salaam260
2Ki-Jana Carter170
3Steve McNair118
4Kerry Collins102
5Jay Barker26

Mid-Atlantic

 PlayerPoints
1Rashaan Salaam268
2Ki-Jana Carter169
3Kerry Collins135
4Steve McNair106
5Jay Barker32

Midwest

 PlayerPoints
1Rashaan Salaam257
2Ki-Jana Carter194
3Kerry Collins167
4Steve McNair79
5Jay Barker15

Southwest

 PlayerPoints
1Rashaan Salaam365
2Ki-Jana Carter131
3Steve McNair113
4Kerry Collins75
5Jay Barker49

Far West

 PlayerPoints
1Rashaan Salaam331
2Ki-Jana Carter150
3Kerry Collins122
4Steve McNair110
5Jay Barker36

Statistics

Rashaan Salaam’s Heisman Year Statistics

DateOpponentResultAttYdsYPCTDRecYdsAvgTDPlaysAPYYPPTotal TDs
09/03/94NE LouisianaW 48-13241847.66334013.330272248.33
09/17/94WisconsinW 55-1726853.26426934.500281545.54
09/24/94at #12 MichiganW 27-26221416.4023186.000251596.42
10/1/94at #25 TexasW 34-31353179.0515459.000403629.11
10/8/94at MissouriW 38-23281665.92214141.000292077.12
10/15/94OklahomaW 45-7251616.444177.000261686.54
10/22/94#19 Kansas StateW 35-21282027.212122.000292047.02
10/29/94at #1 NebraskaL 24-7221346.09122412.000241586.61
11/5/94Oklahoma StateW 17-2291746.00022814.001312026.50
11/12/94at KansasW 51-26302327.7333165.330332487.53
11/19/94Iowa StateW 41-20292598.932144.000302638.82
Heisman StatsAP #410-127020557.61242429412.25029423497.924
01/2/95+ Notre DameW 41-2427833.073166.00028893.23
TotalsAP #3, Coaches #311-129721387.19272530012.00032224387.627

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Rashaan Salaam 1994 Heisman Trophy Winner
Rashaan Salaam 1994 Heisman Trophy Winner
Rashaan Salaam 1994 Heisman Trophy Winner
Rashaan Salaam 1994 Heisman Trophy Winner
Rashaan Salaam 1994 Heisman Trophy Winner
Rashaan Salaam 1994 Heisman Trophy Winner
Rashaan Salaam 1994 Heisman Trophy Winner
Rashaan Salaam 1994 Heisman Trophy Winner
Rashaan Salaam 1994 Heisman Trophy Winner