After years of working to reclaim his Heisman Trophy, Reggie Bush will finally have the honor restored.
The Heisman Trust will formally reinstate Bush’s trophy on Wednesday due to “fundamental changes” in college sports that now allow athletes to be compensated for their name, image and likeness, according to ESPN.
“We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments,” Michael Comerford, The Heisman Trophy Trust president, told ESPN. “We considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years in deciding that now is the right time to reinstate the trophy for Reggie. We are so happy to welcome him back.”
Bush, a standout running back at USC, won the Heisman Trophy in 2005 but forfeited it in 2010 after an NCAA investigation concluded that Bush and his family took extra benefits while he was a student at USC. The Trojans were hit with massive sanctions that included a two-year bowl ban and a reduction of 30 scholarships as a result of the investigation.
After NIL laws were enacted in 2021, Bush sought to have his Heisman returned and records restored. The Heisman Trust said it would reinstate Bush’s 2005 trophy only if the NCAA restored Bush’s vacated records. However, the NCAA decided not to reverse penalties ot reinstate vacated.
Bush ran for 1,740 yards and 16 touchdowns in his Heisman season, averaging 8.7 yards per carry and establishing himself as one of the most exciting players in college football. During his three seasons with the Trojans, Bush amassed 3,169 rushing yards, 25 rushing touchdowns, 1,301 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns. He was also a two-time All-American and the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005. He went on to play 11 NFL seasons, winning a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints.
This story will be updated.
(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)
