American · McColl, South Carolina, USA · Born 11 December 1924 · Died 2009-04-19Army fullback nicknamed 'Mr. Inside,' who won the 1945 Heisman Trophy as the first junior ever to receive it, forming with Glenn Davis one of the most celebrated backfields in college football history.
Felix Anthony Blanchard was born on 11 December 1924 in McColl, South Carolina, and starred at Saint Stanislaus College prep school in Mississippi before playing his freshman season at North Carolina in 1942. He transferred to the United States Military Academy in 1944, joining a wartime Army program that had first pick of thousands of talented servicemen. Blanchard teamed with halfback Glenn Davis to form the most celebrated backfield combination in college football history, with Blanchard - nicknamed 'Mr. Inside' for his punishing power running - complementing Davis's speed as 'Mr. Outside.' The pair led Army to consecutive national championships in 1944 and 1945, with Blanchard also serving as placekicker and punter and playing linebacker on defense. In November 1945, both players appeared together on the cover of Time magazine. In 1945, Blanchard rushed for 19 touchdowns, led the nation in scoring, and became the first junior in history to win the Heisman Trophy, also capturing the Maxwell Award and the inaugural James E. Sullivan Award as America's top amateur athlete. Across his three seasons at West Point, Army went undefeated 27-0-1, and Blanchard scored 38 touchdowns for 1,908 yards. He was selected third overall in the 1946 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers but never played professional football, instead serving as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force from 1947 to 1971, flying missions in Korea and Vietnam and receiving a commendation for bravery in 1959 after safely preventing a faltering plane from crashing into a village. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959 and died of pneumonia on 19 April 2009 in Bulverde, Texas, at age 84.
Winning the 1945 Heisman Trophy as the first junior ever to do so, forming college football's most celebrated backfield with Glenn Davis at Army
How They Played
Powerful fullback known as 'Mr. Inside' for his punishing power running through the middle, complemented by placekicking, punting, and linebacker duties on both sides of the ball
Lasting Impact
Regarded as one of the greatest fullbacks in college football history, whose partnership with Glenn Davis defined an era of Army dominance during World War II, before he chose a distinguished military career over professional football
Career Honours
- 1945 Heisman Trophy - first junior ever to win it
- 1945 Maxwell Award and inaugural James E. Sullivan Award
- 3x National Champion with Army (1944, 1945, and shared 1946)
- 3x Consensus All-American
American Athletes