Reggie Bush is reinstated as 2005 Heisman Trophy winner, with organizers citing NIL rule changes

NEW YORK (AP) — Reggie Bush has been reinstated because the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner greater than a decade after Southern California returned the award following an NCAA investigation that discovered he obtained what had been impermissible advantages throughout his time with the Trojans, the Heisman Belief introduced Wednesday.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush again to the Heisman household in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments,” stated Michael Comerford, president of The Heisman Trophy Belief. “We thought of the large adjustments in school athletics over the past a number of years in deciding that now could be the correct time to reinstate the Trophy for Reggie. We’re so pleased to welcome him again.”

Bush had gained the trophy awarded to the highest participant in school soccer after amassing greater than 2,000 yards from scrimmage and scoring 18 touchdowns in 2005. His 784 first-place votes had been the fifth most in Heisman historical past.

The Heisman Belief has returned the trophy to Bush and the duplicate to USC. Bush can be invited to all future Heisman Trophy ceremonies.

“Personally, I’m thrilled to reunite with my fellow Heisman winners and be part of the storied legacy of the Heisman Trophy, and I’m honored to return to the Heisman household,” Bush stated in an announcement to ESPN. “I additionally sit up for working along with the Heisman Belief to advance the values and mission of the group.”

The USC soccer program wrote in a social media publish, “again the place it belongs. ” The reinstatement of Bush offers USC a complete of eight Heisman winners, most of any faculty.

The Belief stated in its assertion that its determination adopted a “deliberative course of” during which it carefully monitored adjustments within the school athletics panorama. That included the U.S. Supreme Court docket’s 2021 determination that questioned the legality of the NCAA’s amateurism mannequin and opened the door to athlete compensation; the flexibility of gamers to be paid for his or her title, picture, and likeness; and the NCAA’s current proposal to take away the cap on education-related funds.

“Recognizing that the compensation of pupil athletes is an accepted follow and seems right here to remain, these basic adjustments in school athletics led the Belief to resolve that now could be the correct time to return the Trophy to Bush, who unquestionably was essentially the most excellent school soccer participant of 2005,” the Belief stated.

Johnny Manziel, the 2012 Heisman winner from Texas A&M, stated on social media final month that he wouldn’t take part in Heisman festivities until Bush acquired his trophy again. He thanked the Belief on Wednesday “for doing what’s proper and welcoming a storied member of our historical past again into the fold. There have been many voices all through this course of that stood on the desk for Reggie merely due to the sort of human being he’s. I sit up for being on that stage with you this December (Reggie Bush) you deserve it.”

Amongst others praising the choice had been 2022 winner and the projected No. 1 decide in Thursday’s NFL draft, Caleb Williams of USC, 2001 winner Eric Crouch of Nebraska and 2011 winner Robert Griffin III of Baylor.

Bush had his award vacated in 2010 after USC was hit with NCAA sanctions when it was discovered that Bush and his household obtained cash and items from fledgling advertising and marketing brokers who had been hoping to signify him.

The NCAA additionally erased 13 wins during which Bush performed, in addition to the 55-19 victory over Oklahoma within the Bowl Championship Collection title sport on the Orange Bowl following the 2004 season.

Bush was the No. 2 general decide within the 2006 NFL draft, by New Orleans, and he performed for 5 groups over 11 seasons.

Final August, Bush filed a defamation lawsuit in opposition to the NCAA for issuing an announcement to media in 2021 that stated Bush had a “pay-for-play” association. That assertion was in response to media inquiries about whether or not Bush would have his statistics from his USC profession reinstated when NIL funds turned permissible. Bush contended the assertion solid him in a false gentle.

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