College football is filled with legends at every position. There are currently over 1,000 former players in the college football hall of fame, and more on the way. But there are still players that stand out from those 1,000 that are already immortalized. Here, we rank the top 20 college football players of all time.
20. Bryant McKinnie, OL, Miami
McKinnie only played two years for the Miami hurricanes after transferring from a junior college, but during his two years at “The U” he was unstoppable. He helped lead the Hurricanes to a 23-1 record over two seasons, including a BCS National Championship in 2001. He is also the only offensive lineman in the BCS era to finish top ten in Heisman voting.
19. Barrett Jones, OL, Alabama
Look, linemen need love too; they are often times the most overlooked position on the field. But one guy who wasn’t overlooked was Barrett Jones. Jones was the most decorated lineman of the BCS era, earning freshman All-American honors in 2009, and the Outland trophy awarded to the nation’s top lineman in 2011. He also won the Rimington trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s top center. All in all, Jones finished his time at Alabama with two All-American nods, three national titles, and a master’s degree. Not bad for a guy who switched positions on the line every year.
18. Tony Dorsett, RB, Pitt
Throughout his career, Tony Dorsett set or tied over fifteen rushing records, which is more than any other player in college football history. He is fourth all-time in rushing yards in a college career with over 6,000 yards on the ground in only 43 games. Dorsett is one of only six players to run for over 6,000 yards in a career.
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17. Reggie White, DE Tennessee
One of the most dominant defensive players in Tennessee history is Reggie White. In four seasons, White registered 201 solo tackles, and came just short of 300 total tackles. He finished his career with 32 sacks, and his 15 sacks in 1983 set the school record for sacks in a season. He was a fierce defensive end, and was one of the most feared linemen of the 1980’s.
16. Cam newton, QB, Auburn
The main reason Cam Newton made this list is for the sure amount of hype and excitement that he had in college. Name a player that was more electrifying during the 2010 season. You can’t, because all you can think of is Cam Newton dominating on the ground and through the air. Digression aside Newton is the most well-known football player to come out of Auburn, with the exception of another guy on this list.
15. Hugh Green, DE, Pitt
Maybe not as much as a fear mongerer as Reggie White, Hugh Green holds the record for NCAA career sacks with 53 in a career, and two tackles for loss. However, sacks did not become an official stat in football until 1982, and Green ended his college career in 1979, so he is not the official all-time leader in sacks in NCAA history. However, even though his sacks were technically never recorder, he is still arguably the best defensive lineman in NCAA history. Also, shout out to whoever went back and recorded all of his stats. They are the real MVP.
14. Walter Payton, RB, Jackson State
Before the Sanders family put Jackson State on the map, a guy by the name of Walter Payton was solidifying himself as the best FCS player in the country. He was a two-time FCS All-American and rushed for 3,600 yards and 63 touchdowns at Jackson State. However, he did attend an FCS program which didn’t host the strongest competition. He is easily the best FCS player of all time, and from 1971-1974 nobody ran the ball like “sweetness”.
13. Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
One of the most electric players during the 2007 and 2008 season was Michael Crabtree. Crabtree only played his freshman and sophomore seasons at Texas tech but accumulated over three thousand receiving yards during that span, including a 1,962 yard campaign in his freshman year; he accompanied this with 22 total touchdowns. The following season he eclipsed 1,000 yards and hauled in 19 touchdowns once more. The stats that he put up in two years as an underclassman are equivalent to those that a four-year player may accumulate; thus landing Crabtree on this list.
12. Jerry Rice, WR, Mississippi Valley State
Rice played his college ball at a Division 1-AA school, which is now referred to as an FCS program. Jerry Rice put up such insane stats that he actually finished ninth in Heisman Voting in 1984. Crazy for having attended such a small school. He finished his college career with 301 receptions for over 4,500 yards and 50 touchdowns, shattering all Mississippi Valley State records.
11. Charles Woodson, DB, Michigan
Woodson is the first and only defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy; winning it in 1997. Woodson was a two-way player for the Wolverines as a DB and wide receiver; he also returned kicks at Michigan. He was the 1997 Big Ten Defensive player of the year, and finished his three year college career with three receiving touchdowns on offense, and a total of 16 career interceptions. While his stats may not be eye popping at first, his consistent ability to lock down receivers makes him one of the best defensive players in college football history.
10. Barry Sanders, RB, Oklahoma State
Barry Sanders is responsible for the single best rushing season in college football history. In 1988, Sanders rushed for 2,628 total yards and an insane 37 rushing touchdowns. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1988 and is Oklahoma State’s lone Heisman Trophy winner.
9 . Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
Joe Burrow won the 2019 Heisman Trophy and threw for 5,671 total yards with 60 touchdowns. This was capped off with a National Championship victory, and 2019 is widely regarded as the best season a quarterback has ever had in college football history. On top of that, he put up these numbers against SEC opponents, which makes his storybook season that much more impressive.
8. Trevor Insley, WR, Nevada
Trevor Insley is one of the most dominant receivers in college football history, and 1997-1999 had 1,000 yards or more as a receiver. In 1999, Insley became the first receiver in college football history to reach 2,000 receiving yards in a season. That year he also hauled in 13 touchdowns. His alma mater Nevada was not a power five program, but that still shouldn’t take away from his accomplishments; 5,005 career receiving yards is an amazing accomplishment
7. Roger Staubach, QB, Navy
Staubach played college ball from 1962-1964, and is one of the. Most decorated quarterbacks in the sport. Staubach threw for 3,571 yards and 35 touchdowns in his career at Navy but given the style of play in the early 60’s Staubach was essentially the nation’s best passer. In his junior season in 1963, Staubach won the Maxwell Trophy, and the Walter Camp memorial award. He also won the Heisman Memorial Trophy.
6. Case Keenum, QB, Houston
Case Keenum is statistically the best quarterback in college football history. He is tied foo fourth place with Joe Burrow for most passing yards in a single season, but has 19,217 passing yards in a career to accompany 155 passing touchdowns. Both of those stats are the most in college football history. Keenum is the best passer in all of college football, and his records will stand alone for the foreseeable future.
5. Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
Davis is statistically the best wide receiver in college football history. He leads all FBS players with the most receiving yards in a college career; having accumulated 5,285 in his four years from 2016-2019. Davis had three straight seasons over 1,400 receiving yards and fell 50 yards short of 1,000 in his freshman year. Davis is second all-time in receiving touchdowns in a career with 52 touchdowns. All in all, Davis is statistically the best receiver of all time, and even though he did not attend a power five school, Davis was still a first round pick by Tennessee in 2017.
4. Bo Jackson, RB, Auburn
From 1982-1985 Bo Jackson earned two All-American nods and a Heisman Trophy. Jackson was the Auburn offense in 1983 and 1985, as he rushed for over 1,000 yards in both seasons. He almost cracked 1,000 yards in his freshman year (1982). In total, Jackson finished his college career with 45 total touchdowns and over 4,500 yards from scrimmage.
3. Herschel Walker, RB, Georgia
Herschel Walker is the most decorated running back in college football history. He came top three in Heisman voting in 1980, 1981, and 1982. He earned SEC player of the year every year from 1980-1982. He was a three-time All-American and ended his college career with three straight seasons with 1,500 or more rushing yards. He ended his three-year college career with the Georgia Bulldogs having accumulated 5,502 total yards and 52 touchdowns.
2. Jim Brown, RB, Syracuse
Jim Brown is arguably the best athlete of the 1950’s. He is the best all-around athlete in Syracuse history, he earned ten varsity letters from playing football, lacrosse, track, and basketball. He led the nation in rushing touchdowns in 1956 and kickoff return yards in 1955. Brown was also the team’s placekicker. All in all, Jim Brown carried Syracuse athletics from 1954-1956.
1. Jim Thorpe, Carlisle
Jim Thorpe is one of, if not the greatest athlete of all time. His 6’1, 185 frame was large for his time (1907-1912). Jim Thorpe did almost everything for his college team, he was the team’s running back, defensive back, punter, and kicker. On top of that he was a gold medal winner in the Olympics and even supposedly ran 100 yards in ten seconds flat. Thorpe was the fastest, most athletic man on the field, and is the best athlete in college football history.
