re: Was Derrick Thomas a Heisman Finalist?

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Other than Charles Woodson
I think Hugh Green was the closest defensive player to winning the Heisman from 1980 To now

ETA: it was actually Te’o

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Suh finished top 5 in 2009. But, yes, Teo was the closest to win it since Woodson.

DT finished 10th. He absolutely should have been higher. Bobby Humphrey finished with more votes in '87 than DT received in '88. DT wasn't even the highest defensive player in the voting that year, Deion Sanders was. Also, there were some other really good players that season: Barry Sanders (all time best season as a RB), Peete, and Aikman with Steve Walsh and Major Harris (both really good college QBs) as well. But, DT was second best player in the country that year and deserved more recognition at the time