November 26, 2024

Former USC Heisman winner Carson Palmer named to College Football Hall of Fame

Heisman #Heisman

Former USC quarterback Carson Palmer was named to the College Football Hall of Fame’s 2021 class on Monday.

The 2002 Heisman Trophy winner is the 45th Trojan to earn his spot in the Hall of Fame and is part of a 13-member class that includes former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, Kansas State running back Darren Sproles and Arizona State defensive back David Fulcher. https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?fk=bRolOyFR&cid=8151&sound=off&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on

The 2021 Hall of Fame class will be inducted on Dec. 7 at a dinner in New York City prior to enshrinement at the Atlanta museum.

Palmer started at USC for four seasons, interrupted in 1999 by a broken collarbone that forced the sophomore to apply for a redshirt season. As a junior, he was the quarterback for the start of the Pete Carroll era.

The quarterback, who arrived at USC out of Santa Margarita High, opted to return for a fifth season in 2002. The Trojans went 11-2 that season, beating third-ranked Iowa in the Orange Bowl as the exclamation mark on the statement that USC was back in the national conversation.

That season, Palmer completed 63.2% of his 489 passes for 3,942 yards, 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He was named the Heisman Trophy winner, earning 242 first-place votes and beating out Iowa quarterback Brad Banks, Penn State running back Larry Johnson and Miami running back Willis McGahee.

Palmer finished his collegiate career having broken or tied 33 Pac-10 and USC records, including setting the conference record for total offense (11,621 yards) and passing yards (11,818).

The No. 1 overall pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2003 NFL Draft, Palmer was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame that same year and had his No. 3 retired alongside the other Trojan Heisman winners.

Leave a Reply