17. Okay, lets talk about this. Former Nebraska star Johnny Rodgers recalls returning a punt for a touchdown in the 1971 Nebraska vs. Oklahoma game. That adage spurred Griffin throughout his senior year; he won the Heisman again. Nearly four decades later, college football remains on a first-name basis with the 1985 Heisman winner. As a freshman, Plunkett pushed back when head coach John Ralston wanted to move him to defensive end. 136. Legendary coach Pop Warner once called Nevers the "greatest football player of all time" -- even better than Jim Thorpe, whom Warner also coached. His less iconic name prevents him from being higher on this list, but he has an argument to make the top 20. Most importantly, he helped the Wolverines win their first national title since 1948. After watching Nobis suffocate Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Roger Staubach in a 28-6 victory over Navy in the 1964 Cotton Bowl, Army coach Paul Dietzel called Nobis "the finest linebacker I've ever seen in college." The two-time All-American broke five NCAA, 14 SEC and 28 Florida records, including career passing efficiency (170.8), completion percentage (67.1) and rushing yards by a quarterback (2,947). Passing yards: 3,940 | Touchdowns: 33 | Total offense: 5,197 yards Listed in alphabetical order. At 11, Dawkins contracted polio and was went through a then-unconventional treatment of aggressive physical therapy. Otto Graham is one of the forgotten greats of the game if youre not a huge football fan, or a proper Cleveland Browns fan. In 2005, Young became the first FBS player to throw for more than 3,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. Rushing yards: 6,559 | Rushing TDs: 84 | Points: 524 Chuck Bednarik (C, Penn, 1945-48) Blanchard started out at North Carolina in 1942. 1 overall pick in the 1976 NFL draft. What makes Jerry Rices case unique is his longevity and extended excellence. 64. [3] [4] Among defensive players, Jim Marshall's 270 is the longest. Jim Parker (OL, Ohio State, 1954-56) "If the law had the power to end segregation -- and by extension, discrimination -- it had the power to change a lot, and that captured me." Beban may be the classic example of the bromide, "All he could do was beat you." The 134 tackles he made as a sophomore in 1973 remain an Alabama single-season record, and 44 years later, he has slipped from first to only fourth in career tackles (315). In his only Iron Bowl, Newton led the Tigers from a 24-point deficit to win at Alabama, 28-27. Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1991); 1x OPoY; 10x All-Pro; 9x Pro Bowl. Keith Jackson (TE, Oklahoma, 1984-87) Youll see a few more of these before this list is through. He finished as the Heisman runner-up. Rushing yards: 557 | TDs: 6 But it was about more than stats for the 2014 Heisman winner. In one of the nail-biters, an 18-7 victory at Big East rival Boston College, Reed sealed the victory by stripping teammate Matt Walters of his interception and returning the ball 80 yards for a touchdown. The Panthers went 42-6 in Marino's four seasons, finishing as the country's No. Former OU coach Barry Switzer has repeatedly called Selmon the best player he ever coached. With President John F. Kennedy watching from the stands, Jordan might have produced the greatest individual performance in a bowl game in Alabama's 17-0 shutout of Oklahoma in the 1963 Orange Bowl. Grantland Rice once famously wrote, "Eleven Bronko Nagurskis could beat 11 Red Granges or 11 Jim Thorpes. No one has ever quieted the Swamp quicker. Rodgers is perhaps best remembered for his 72-yard punt return for a score in Nebraska's 35-31 decision over Oklahoma in the Game of the Century in 1971. John Hannah (G, Alabama, 1970-72) Michel Platini and Roberto Baggio make up the top 10. Who else makes the top 25? Rich Glover (DL, Nebraska, 1970-72) Dickerson is remembered as Exhibit A for the lawlessness that ruled the Southwest Conference in the early 1980s. Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1999); 1x OPoY; 5x First-Team All-Pro; 3x NFC OPoY; 6x Pro Bowl; ORoY. Paolo Maldini 18. The numbers fail to capture the magic that Flutie unleashed in Chestnut Hill. He left Texas as the NCAA's all-time leading rusher with 6,279 yards and posted three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. All times ET. Raiders. As Brown's senior season began, he had proven himself to be a dependable receiver and kick returner on an undependable team. The schools who put the most players on this list are archrivals closing in on the 100th anniversary of their first meeting. Steve Young (QB, BYU, 1981-83) Rushing yards: 2,844 | Rushing TDs: 35 | All-purpose yards: 3,990 From his name, to his looks, to his stats, to nearly everything else about him, Montana has been the modern prototype for every hopeful signal caller in the NFL, and for good reason. But as a senior in 1964, paired with his classmate, quarterback Steve Tensi, Biletnikoff caught 57 passes for 987 yards and 11 touchdowns to become Florida State's first consensus All-American. Alex Hess, Marcus Alves, Alex Reid, Declan Warrington, Thore Haugstad, Michael Yokhin, Andrew Murray, Seb Stafford-Bloor, Jon Spurling last updated 9 November 2022 From Messi to Maradona, Cristiano. Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers, Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1979 Class); 4x Champion (1x Super Bowl, 3x pre-Super Bowl); 3x MVP; 1x MoY; 5x First-Team All-Pro; 3x Second-Team All-Pro; 10x Pro Bowl. Legendary Florida State coach Bobby Bowden called Marino "a pro quarterback in college, really," and Penn State's Joe Paterno said Marino was the best college quarterback he'd ever coached against. Joe Greene (DT, North Texas, 1966-68) So it should speak to the talent above Brown that as the greatest to ever play arguably the second-most important role on an NFL team, he ranks at the bottom of this particular Mt. Receiving yards: 1,944 | Return yards: 1,448 | Touchdowns: 35 He arrived at Maryland as a fullback, but at the end of his freshman year, new head coach Jerry Claiborne shifted him to the other side of the line. Griffin rushed for 1,695 yards and 12 touchdowns his junior year, good enough to earn the 1974 Heisman. Receiving yards: 2,681 | All-purpose yards: 5,197 | Touchdowns: 36 109. While not as statistically brilliant as his successors, Unitas place here is not simply nostalgic. 2 Ohio State 27-17). No player had a more integral role in establishing Clemson's recent dominance than Watson, who had a 32-3 record as a starter. 119. 1. Teams: Cleveland (AAFC), Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers. He returned to the state as a Jayhawk, and made Lawrence the new Speed, Kansas. Brown averaged 21.7 yards per catch and finished with 1,847 all-purpose yards in 1987 and earned All-America honors for the second straight season. Darrell Royal won a fierce recruiting battle for the Tyler (Texas) Rose, as Campbell would become known. Passing yards: 14,496 | Passing TDs: 119 | Rushing yards: 2,327 Sanders never slowed down. His trash talking fit right in with the Hurricane greats too. He set a Stanford career record with 53 passing touchdowns that would stand until John Elway broke it 12 years later. The 100 best football players of all time: 80-71 The 100 best football players of all time: 70-61 The 100 best football players of all time: 60-51 The 100 best football players of all time: 50-41 . He missed the remainder of the regular season; surely he would have made a difference in the 21-21 tie with Stanford that prevented USC from sharing No. He was named the Big Ten's MVP in 1963 and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting the next year. Leroy Keyes (RB, Purdue, 1966-68) He completed an unheard-of 57 percent of passes as a sophomore. He continues the trend of definitive GOATs at their position, and only slides down to 3rd because of the insane longevity of the two players ahead of him. Robinson never hid his offensive strategy: give the ball to a bell-cow back, put him behind a physical offensive line, and voila. The Gary, Indiana, native was the first Iowa player to earn first-team All-America honors in two seasons. Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1965); 3x NFL Champion; 4x AAFC Champion; 3x MVP; 2x AAFC MVP 4x First-Team All-Pro; 2x Second-Team All-Pro 5x Pro Bowl; 3x First-Team All-AAFC. He had 97 tackles as a freshman, a school-record 232 as a sophomore, 188 as a junior and 145 as a senior. Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1993 Class); 1x Super Bowl Champion; 1x MVP; 1x OPoY; 2x NFC OPoY; 1x MoY; 7x First-Team All-Pro; 1x Second-Team All-Pro; 9x Pro Bowl. Passing yards: 4,402 | Passing TDs: 28 | Yards per completion: 12.6 Andres Iniesta 16. As a junior, Tebow led Florida to another national title, defeating Oklahoma 24-14 in the BCS championship game. 122. 65. 1 of 25 Damon Allen, Quarterback (1985-2007) David Cooper/Toronto Star via Getty Images One of. He has won the Ballon D'Or, the annual award given to the best player in the world, 7 times, 2022 FIFA World Cup winner and an Olympic gold medal winner in 2008. He became the first black quarterback chosen in the first round of the NFL draft when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made him the 17th pick in 1978, and he became the first black quarterback to win a Super Bowl when he led the Washington Redskins to a 42-10 decision over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII. He averaged 174.6 yards per game, and he carried the ball an astounding 34 times per game over three seasons. 1 in his class at Yale. Passing yards: 11,792 | Passing TDs: 90 | Pass completions: 1,026 Jim Brown of Syracuse finished fifth in the vote to select the most outstanding player of 1956. In his last two seasons, the Nittany Lions went 22-0, and as a senior Reid won both the Outland Trophy, given to the national's best interior lineman, and the Maxwell Award, given to the nation's best player. 95. Lee Roy Selmon (DL, Oklahoma, 1972-75) Bo Jackson? In all, he played all but 38 seconds and had 371 total yards in Michigan's 40-0 rout of the Buckeyes. Walker was a three-time All-American for the Ponies. In the 1982 Sugar Bowl, Marino threw a 33-yard touchdown to tight end John Brown with 35 seconds left to defeat Georgia 24-20. Walter Payton (RB, Jackson State, 1971-74) Ward averaged 7.5 yards on each of the 707 plays that he ran or caught the ball. as his initials imply, Terrell Owens earned 6 Pro Bowl invites and 5 First-team All-Pro selections in his 16 season stint in the NFL. His career touchdowns remained a school record for 22 seasons. Achievements: 2-time AP Defensive Player of the Year (2017, 18); 1st-team All-Pro (2015, 16, 17, 18); 5-time Pro Bowler. Before the left-handed Young won three Super Bowl titles with the San Francisco 49ers, he was a dangerous dual-threat quarterback at BYU. A 12-year NFL career as the hardest hitter in football is no joke, though, and he has accolades to back up that claim. Ferenc Puskas 6. 57. In a league where everyone cheated, SMU flaunted its disregard for the NCAA manual. France. George Gipp (B, Notre Dame, 1917-20) He earned Phi Beta Kappa and the 1939 Heisman, finishing his Hawkeyes career with 2,169 total yards and 18 interceptions. He was at his best on the sport's biggest stage. Passing yards: 6,040 | Rushing yards: 3,127 | Total TDs: 81 (37 rush/44 pass) In World War II, Harmon joined the Army Air Corps and received the Silver Star and Purple Heart. In 2000, Peppers led the ACC and set a UNC single-season record with 24 tackles for loss. However, spare a thought for Ronaldo fans who have had a tough few weeks. 150. Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1963); 2x NFL Champion; 2x NFL PoY; 4x First-Team All-Pro; 4x Second-Team All-Pro; 6x Pro Bowl. Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football HOF (1997); Super Bowl champ; 2-time First-team All-Pro (1984, 1985); 6-time Second-team All-Pro (1976-1980, 1982); 9-time Pro Bowl selection; NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1976). But it's not just numbers that make this program special. When Blanchard was a sophomore, Army sealed a 23-7 victory against Navy with a nine-play, 52-yard touchdown drive. It created a record more than broke one; no one had ever done it more than once in a season. Put it this way: Thirty-one seasons later -- after a period in which the Crimson Tide have won six national championships and put 23 consensus All-American defenders on the field -- no Alabama player has come within 12 of Thomas' mark of 39 tackles for loss in a season. His career rushing total of 3,221 yards in three seasons broke a 15-year-old NCAA record. After arriving on campus as a 6-foot-3, 232-pound tight end, Sapp blossomed into a force on the defensive line. Eric Dickerson (RB, SMU, 1979-82) Bob Griese (QB, Purdue, 1964-66) 11. Passing yards:3,384 | TD passes: 39 | Punting average: 40.9 | Interceptions by: 10 Ray Lewis is the second greatest linebacker of all time, and the greatest of this era. Even more impressive, McNair brought his team back from 11 fourth-quarter deficits to win. 6. He was a unanimous first-team All-American in 2001 and won the Bednarik and Lombardi awards, becoming the first Tar Heels defensive player to win a national college football award. He finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting. In 2009, Utah State announced that the field at Romney Stadium (now Maverik Stadium) would be named in Olsen's honor. The 11 Nagurskis would be a mop-up. He was small (5-9, 177) but he relished the chance to prove how well he could play every Saturday. 31. Billy Ray Smith Sr. was a star tackle at Arkansas and spent 13 seasons in the NFL. Jordan finished fourth in Heisman voting in 1962. He became a songwriter, and while this list may not settle the argument over the best player, there should be no debate over the most versatile. Hannah was also the best lineman to ever play at Alabama, earning All-America honors in 1971 and '72 and winning the Jacobs Award as the sport's best blocker as a senior. Pete Dawkins (RB, Army, 1956-58) When Reed signed with The U in Feb. 1997, the Canes had just suffered their first losing season in 17 years. We couldn't tackle him." Parker was the Buckeyes' first Outland Trophy winner in 1956 and a two-time All-American. Over four seasons, he averaged 19 yards per catch and 12 yards per punt return. Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1971 Class); 1x Super Bowl Champion; 3x MVP; 8x First-Team All-Pro; 1x Second-Team All-Pro; 9x Pro Bowl; RoY (1957). As a senior, he guided UT to a 10-1 record and 27-0 shutout of Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (2004 Class); 2x Super Bowl Champion; 1x MVP; 1x Super Bowl MVP; 2x AFC OPoY; 1x First-Team All-Pro; 2x Second-Team All-Pro; 9x Pro Bowl. Junior Seau (LB, USC, 1988-89) Ranking the top 25 greatest football players of all timeMusic: Yann Tiersen - Comptine d`un autre ete - l`apres-midiFollow me on Instagram: @kevskate The 1982 consensus All-American is SMU's all-time leader in rushing yards, total TDs and 100-yard rushing games. Achievements: NFL Most Valuable Player (2012); NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2012); 4-time First-team All-Pro (2008, 2009, 2012, 2015); 3-time Second-team All-Pro (2007, 2010, 2013); seven pro bowls; NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2007). He won the 1979 Heisman Trophy after leading the country in rushing with 1,803 yards and 18 touchdowns. Spurrier won the 1966 Heisman Trophy as Florida's quarterback and returned to his alma mater to coach the Gators to their first national title three decades later. It is known as the Camback. 16. L.T. 44. Freshman? Howard "Hopalong" Cassady (RB, Ohio State, 1952-55) 41. In three seasons as a Sooner, Mayfield led his second school to three Big 12 championships and two playoff berths, and won the 2017 Heisman. Griffin changed his coach's mind, perhaps by rushing for a school-record 239 yards in the second game of the season. 107. That season, he had 84 tackles; led the Hurricanes in sacks (10.5), tackles for loss (9.0) and quarterback pressures (25); was a consensus All-American; and finished sixth in the Heisman voting. Alex Karras (DL, Iowa, 1955-57) The next player on this list is more prototypical and more iconic/nostalgic in the sport of football, but Peyton, with his huge arm (and bigger forehead), is arguably the most talented quarterback, and player, in NFL history. Lattner's 3,095 all-purpose yards topped Notre Dame's record book until Vagas Ferguson in 1979. Graham arrived at Northwestern on a basketball scholarship but made his mark in football. 81. Arrington was named a consensus first-team All-American and won the Butkus Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award. 8. Kinnick landed in the ocean rather than endanger the ship and died at age 24. Gallery Ranking the Steelers Top 25 players 25 and younger. Carter stood 5-11 and weighed only 161 pounds, and that might have been while wearing a helmet and cleats. 58. He's faster and he cuts better." 132. 12. 62. Before Luck took over Stanford's offense in 2009, the Cardinal had suffered seven straight losing seasons. But in a Big Ten Conference that still viewed the forward pass with a raised eyebrow, Carter wreaked havoc. Blanchard ran on seven of the nine plays, for 48 of the 52 yards, including the last 10. Smith was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 1983 as the fifth pick of the first round. Rushing yards: 4,682 | Yards per carry: 5.2 | Rushing TDs: 45 Gipp was a member of the inaugural College Football Hall of Fame class in 1951. Joe Montana 9. Hart was a three-time All-American and won the Maxwell Award in his final season. Smith, an east Texas native and an African American, came along too soon to play in the Southwest Conference. Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football HOF (1968. All-purpose yards: 6,987 | Rushing yards: 3,922 | Touchdowns: 33 We've put together a list of the greatest college football players ever, and ranked. Jim Plunkett (QB, Stanford, 1968-70) Ryan Giggs. He led the Ducks to a 36-5 record over three seasons. You dont get a nickname like the Golden Arm for nothing. The 1936 consensus All-American became the standard by whom passers would be judged for a generation. Cam Newton (QB, Florida/Auburn, 2007-08/2010) Honestly, the biggest nod to his greatness was the effectiveness of a Colts offense (and team, really) that rested solely on his shoulders. Howard had a knack for the big moment in the big game. Bryant is ranked as the No. In the long line of outstanding backs who grew up in Texas and starred at Oklahoma, Peterson can make a strong case as the greatest. The son of a Minnesota sports writer, Fitzgerald had his hands on a football at an early age as a Vikings ball boy. He is one of only four men inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach. His records are very much untouched, and his production remained even with Aikman and Irvin eating up possessions. Texas joins Top 25 And 1 after landing Abmas He set NCAA career records in passing yards (8,411) and touchdown passes (93). The "Kansas Comet" averaged 6.5 yards per carry in his Jayhawks career. Tackles: 229 | Tackles for loss: 63 32. Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1972); 2x NFL Champion; 9x First-Team All-Pro; 1x Second-Team All-Pro; 11x Pro Bowl. Against UTEP, he set an NCAA record with 406 yards on 43 carries with six touchdowns. Until his family moved to Omaha when he was 8 years old, Sayers lived in a small town named Speed, Kansas. Barry Sanders (RB, Oklahoma State, 1986-88) New York Giants, 1984-1992; Washington Redskins, 1993; Cleveland Browns, 1994-1995 Two-time Super Bowl champion Voted to one Pro Bowl, First Team All-Pro once Recorded 39.5 career sacks. All-purpose yards: 5,024 | Receiving yards: 2,493 | Touchdowns: 22 Honourable mentions: Paolo Maldini (Italy), Ferenc Puskas (Hungary), Garrincha (Brazil), Bobby Charlton (England), Gerd Muller (Germany) Without further ado, here are our ten greatest footballers. Jerry Rice 2. Terrell Owens Notable accolades: 1x Super Bowl Champion; 1x Super Bowl MVP; 4x MVP; 4x First-Team All-Pro; Second-Team All-Pro; 10x Pro Bowl, NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. He averaged 7.6 yards per carry over his Sooners career. He won the Heisman Trophy, despite the Sooners' finishing with a 6-4 record. He was also honored by the National Football Foundation as one of the country's top scholar athletes. 89. Where is Cristiano Ronaldo? A Native American icon, and the AP greatest athlete from the first half of the 1900s, Thorpe is deified as one of the greatest and most versatile athletes in modern history. He ran for 147 yards before leaving for good. 1 Draft Picks. 1 overall. The original A.P. He grew up near SMU, and as a Mustang he so captivated the city of Dallas that the Cotton Bowl, expanded twice during Walker's career, became known as The House That Doak Built. Arguably the first great Washington player, Baughs place on this list is lower than expected due to how far back his career goes. 83. The traits are undeniable and so, too, is . NEWSLETTER:Exclusive NFL analysis directly in your inbox, NFL Draft Hub: Latest NFL Draft mock drafts, news, live picks, grades and analysis, EVERY TEAM'S BEST:Top players in the history of each NFL franchise. He is the first quarterback to beat all 32 teams, and his three MVP years are the most times the award was consecutively received. Woody Hayes recruited Tatum to Ohio State as a running back, but moved him to defensive back -- at the behest of assistant coach Lou Holtz -- shortly after he arrived. Diego Maradona The four-part series goes behind the scenes with all four CFP teams, leading up to and through the semifinals and the national championship game. It seems almost criminal, therefore, to list him this low, but quarterbacks are generally more historically remembered, and the greatest running back in NFL history is more iconic and is statistically comparable (even better in some cases) on a per-game basis. He also played heavy minutes as a punter and DB, probably due to the relative size of the league back then. Passing yards: 3,521 | Total offense: 5,476 yards | Passing TDs: 43 Touchdown Celebrations. Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 2004; two-time Super Bowl champion (1998, 99); 1989 AP MVP; 1998 Super Bowl MVP; 1992 Walter Payton Man of the Year; 9-time Pro Bowler; Achievements: Inducted into Pro Footbal HOF 2010; 18,355 rushing yards, No. Boselli made All-American twice, capping his career by being named MVP of a team that won the Cotton Bowl. Bertelli, a first-generation American from Springfield, Massachusetts, became known as the "Springfield Rifle" for his ability to throw the ball. He won the Nagurski and sealed his place among the game's elite. He played full-time minutes on both offenseanddefense, and was the most-feared tackler of his era. During his three-year collegiate career, Walker set 41 Georgia, 16 SEC and 11 NCAA records. 37. Teams: Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (2019); 1x Super Bowl Champion; 1x DPoY; 5x First-Team All-Pro; 3x Second-Team All-Pro; 9x Pro Bowl.
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