Legendary USC RB and 1979 Heisman winner Charles White passes away at just 64

The USC and college football community, in general, is mourning the passing of 1979 Heisman Trophy winner Charles White, who died of cancer on Wednesday in Newport Beach, California.

White was part of USC's 1978 national championship team — as crowned by the coaches poll — and followed that up by winning the Heisman a season later.

He rushed 374 times in that championship season, notching 1,859 yards and 13 touchdowns. USC was 12-1 with its only loss coming to Arizona State. Technically, the Trojans shared a championship title that season, as Alabama was named champion via the AP Poll thanks to an 11-1 season with a win over No. 1 ranked Penn State in the Sugar Bowl. USC and White earned every bit of that shared championship, though. Not only did the Trojans beat No. 1 Alabama earlier in that season in Tuscaloosa, but they beat No. 8 Notre Dame and then No. 5 Michigan in the Rose Bowl as well.

USC started the 1979 season ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP Poll and went 11-0-1 with a win over No. 1 ranked Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. The champion that season according to both polls was 12-0 Alabama, but White walked away with the Heisman Trophy after a legendary season.

He rushed for 2,050 yards and 19 touchdowns on 332 carries, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. He rushed for 247 total yards in the close Rose Bowl win against Ohio State.

"Charles White was one of the all-time great Trojans," USC  athletic director Mike Bohn said in a statement, per ESPN. "A Rose Bowl legend, a two-time unanimous All-American and an NCAA record-setter, he made USC proud donning the Cardinal and Gold."

White was drafted with the 27th overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns and he had an eight-season NFL career that featured one Pro Bowl and one All-Pro season.