Charles White won a Heisman Trophy and is the USC Trojans' all-time leading rusher. Nov 25, 1977; Los Angeles, CA, USA: FILE PHOTO; Southern California running back Charles White (12) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Long Photography-USA TODAY Sports
College FootballNCAANFLBy Matt Clapp on

Legendary USC Trojans college football player Charles White died of cancer on Wednesday night. He was 64.

The USC Trojans account tweeted, “FightOnForever, Charles White. The 1979 Heisman Trophy winner, who won a national championship with USC in 1978 and went on to make the College Football Hall of Fame, died today in Newport Beach.”

White — a two-time unanimous All-American — had a remarkable career at USC before playing nine seasons in the NFL.

43 years after his college football career ended, White is still USC’s career rushing leader with 6,245 yards, as Greg Beacham of the Associated Press tweeted. Beacham also noted that White won two Rose Bowl MVP awards.

White was a highly productive NFL player as well, after being a first-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 1980 draft. He played with the Browns from 1980-84 and the Los Angeles Rams from 1985-88.

1987 was certainly the highlight of White’s NFL career. He led the NFL in rushing yards (1,374) and rushing touchdowns (11), while being selected to the Pro Bowl and being named a first-team All-Pro. He was also named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

From 1993-97, White coached the running backs at USC.

Tributes have poured in for White from the football world.

The Rose Bowl Game account tweeted, “Charles White is a legend among legends in Rose Bowl Game history. Ran for 460 yards across 3 #RoseBowl wins, scored in all 3 games, holds the rushing record with 247 yards in 1980. The Heisman winner was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1990. May he rest in peace.”

The Heisman Trophy Trust tweeted, “The Heisman Trophy Trust mourns the loss of 1979 Heisman Trophy winner Charles White and shares its deepest condolences with his family and friends as well as the entire University of Southern California community.”

Former USC quarterback and 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart tweeted, “RIP Charles White, a great Trojan. Fight on Forever!”

Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times tweeted, “One of my enduring memories from my early teen years was attending the 1980 Rose Bowl with my dad and marveling at Charles White’s performance. #RIP”

About Matt Clapp

Matt is an editor at The Comeback. He attended Colorado State University, wishes he was Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris, and idolizes Larry David. And loves pizza and dogs because obviously.

He can be followed on Twitter at @Matt2Clapp (also @TheBlogfines for Cubs/MLB tweets and @DaBearNecess for Bears/NFL tweets), and can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.

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