University of Notre Dame

Tim Brown is the second wide receiver to win the Heisman, and the seventh Heisman winner from Notre Dame

"Touchdown Timmy"

Tim Brown

WR | Senior | University of Notre Dame

Brown became Notre Dame’s seventh Heisman winner joining Angelo Bertelli (’43), John Lujack (’47), Leon Hart (’49), John Lattner (’53), Paul Hornung (’56) and John Huart (’64). He is the second of three wide receivers to win the Heisman.

A native of Dallas, Texas, Brown attended Woodrow Wilson High, the same school as 1938 Heisman Trophy winner Davey O’Brien. He originally started out in the school band, but played football from his sophomore year onward. A high-end athlete with good marks in the 400 meters and long jump, Brown was highly-sought after by college recruiters despite his team going 4-25-1 during his three years as a starter. Brown chose Notre Dame over Oklahoma, SMU, Nebraska and Iowa.

“Touchdown Timmy” set the Irish freshman receiving record in 1984 with 28 catches for 340 yards and one score. As a sophomore he caught 25 passes for 397 yards and three TDs and started to flash his return ability while averaging 24 yards on kickoff returns (with one TD return).

Brown had 45 catches for 910 yards and two kick return TDs as a junior. He burst onto the national scene with a scintillating season-ending performance in a come-from-behind upset of USC and his name was on Heisman voters’ minds heading his senior year.

He then used back-to-back punt returns for touchdowns in an early-season 1987 game against Michigan State to cement his Heisman bid.

Listed as a flanker, Brown utilized his ability as a pass receiver, rusher out of a full-house backfield and punt and kickoff returner to rank sixth nationally in all-purpose yardage as a senior (167.9). Brown finished his career as Notre Dame’s all-time leader in pass reception yards (2493) while also returning six kicks for touchdowns (three punts, three kickoffs). Despite constant double and triple coverage as a senior, he earned a reputation as perhaps the most dangerous player in college football. He won the Heisman handily over Syracuse quarterback Don McPherson.

Brown was a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Raiders (sixth player chosen overall) in the ’88 NFL draft. He has been selected to play in the NFL Pro Bowl in 1988, ’91, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’99 and 2000.

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Heisman Voting Results

Number of electors: 1050 - Announced: December 5, 1987.

 PlayerClassPositionSchool1st2nd3rdTotal Points
1Tim BrownSRWRNotre Dame3241731241442
2Don McPhersonSRQBSyracuse16713560831
3Gordon LockbaumSRRB/DBHoly Cross108103127657
4Lorenzo WhiteSRRBMichigan State89121123632
5Craig HeywardSRRBPittsburgh174431170
6Chris SpielmanSRLBOhio State152025110
7Thurman ThomasSRRBOklahoma State11232099
8Gaston GreenSRRBUCLA4133573
9Emmitt SmithFRRBFlorida2114270
10Bobby HumphreyJRRBAlabama5171463

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

 Player
1Tim Brown
2Lorenzo White
3Gordon Lockbaum
4Don McPherson
5Bobby Humphrey

Northeast

 Player
1Don McPherson
2Tim Brown
3Gordon Lockbaum
4Lorenzo White
5Craig Heyward

Mid-Atlantic

 Player
1Tim Brown
2Don McPherson
3Gordon Lockbaum
4Lorenzo White
5Craig Heyward

Midwest

 Player
1Tim Brown
2Lorenzo White
3Gordon Lockbaum
4Chris Spielman
5Don McPherson

Southwest

 Player
1Tim Brown
2Gordon Lockbaum
3Don McPherson
4Lorenzo White
5Thurman Thomas

Far West

 Player
1Tim Brown
2Lorenzo White
3Gordon Lockbaum
4Don McPherson
5Gaston Green

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