Wisconsin's gentle giant — the all-time Big Ten rushing leader who won the 1999 Heisman Trophy.
Ron Dayne was born in Berlin, New Jersey in 1978. He attended the University of Wisconsin and won the Heisman Trophy in 1999 after breaking Ricky Williams' recently-set all-time NCAA rushing record with 7,125 career yards. He won the Doak Walker Award and was a two-time consensus All-American. He scored 71 career touchdowns. His 1,834-yard, 20-touchdown senior season produced the Heisman and a Rose Bowl victory. He was nicknamed the Great Dayne. New York Giants selected him 11th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. His professional career was less spectacular than his college achievements — he was primarily a backup in the NFL — but his Wisconsin career remains the most statistically productive in Big Ten history. His breaking of the all-time rushing record on the national stage in his final home game at Camp Randall Stadium remains one of the most celebrated individual moments in Big Ten history.
Heisman Trophy (1999)
Career Honours
- Heisman Trophy (1999)
- Big Ten career rushing record
- Doak Walker Award
- Consensus All-American 2x