25 Greatest College Football Players of All Times

Recently ESPN/ABC has been counting down their list of the 25 greatest college football players of all time. So, I became inspired, and decided to create my own list of college football greats. Here goes....


25. Sam "Bam" Cunningham: One might call him the unofficial Jackie Robinson of college football. He never won the Heisman like some other heralded USC running backs (including one who killed his wife and is thus not on this list), but in a game against Alabama in 1970 in Birmingham Alabama!!!! Cunningham demolished Bear Bryant's vaunted Crimson Tide defense. Bryant was so impressed that he invited Cunningham into his locker room after the game, and said, "Men, this is what a football player looks like." As Bryant would later say, "Sam Cunningham did more to integrate Alabama in 60 minutes than Martin Luther King did in 20 years." Bryant's hyperbole aside (any historian will tell you that the turning point of the civil rights movement occurred in Birmingham in 1963 when King and thousands of other nameless fighters for freedom stood up to Bull Connor, his dogs, fire hoses, and racist cops and showed the world the vile nature of racial oppression) Sam Cunningham was a hell of a football player and his play helped to prove once again that African Americans could succeed when given the chance. Alabama, and the SEC would rise to greatness as a result. Also of note, Cunningham's younger brother Randall was a pretty good player himself.

24. Tommy Frazier: He played on some great teams (under his direction, Nebraska played for the national title 3 years in a row), but not many quarterbacks win a national title, let alone two as Frazier did (the list of great q.b.'s who never even won one is pretty long and includes the likes of Marino, Elway and Manning). Frazier was just a play-maker, pure and simple. In 1994, battling a blood clot most of the season, Frazier hung tough and helped lead the Huskers to two touchdowns in the 4th Quarter against Miami in the Orangebowl, ensuring Nebraska's 1st national title since 1971. The following year, in one of the most dominant seasons ever by any team, he lead the Huskers to a repeat of the previous year's glory, capped by a 62-24 Sugar Ray Robinson style beat down of a very good Florida Gators team.

23. Charles Woodson: As a buckeye fan, I hate to even utter his name, let alone acknowledge his greatness, but even the hate in my heart cannot obscure what Woodson did on the field. As the only primarily defensive player to win the Heisman, Woodson distinguished himself by making big play after big play in big game after big game. He made my childhood miserable. In 1995 as a freshman Woodson got a big interception in Michigan's upset win over then #2 Ohio State. In 1997, he shut down David Boston for most of the game, and also managed to score a touchdown on a punt return to help seal another Michigan victory over the Buckeyes, paving the way to Pasedena and an eventual national title. Also, his interception against Michigan St. in 1997 has to be one of the most amazing plays I have ever seen.

22. George Gipp a.k.a "The Gipper": Perhaps more famous as the subject of an oft repeated Knute Rockne halftime speech (Ronald Reagan being the primary popularizer of that anecdote through his portrayal of Gipp in Knute Rockne, All American), Gipp may have been the greatest player to play for the legendary coach, and was Notre Dame's first All American

21. Doak Walker: When they name awards after you, you have to be pretty good. Walker just about did it all at SMU. He was a running back, punt returner, place kicker, punter, and defensive back during his career. He also won the Heisman and Maxwell awards as was a 2 time Cotton Bowl MVP. I love this anecdote about Walker from Rick Reiley. "He [Walker] appeared on 47 covers, including Life, Look and Collier's. One time, Kyle Rote, another gridiron golden boy, saw a guy buying a football magazine at a newsstand. 'Don't buy that one,' Rote said. 'It's not official. It doesn't have a picture of Doak Walker on the cover."

20. Bronko Nagurski: It's hard to compare generations in sports because the game inevitably changes over time. But Nagurski was a freak, even by today's standards. Bronko has the largest recorded NFL Championship ring size at 19 1/2. He grew up on the plains of Minnesota, and was recruited to play for the Gophers by pure chance. A scout, who had gotten a little lost on his way to look at another recruit, stopped by Nagurski's farm to ask for directions. Bronko was out plowing the fields. The scout hollered over to him asking which way the next town was. Bronko lifted the plow up off the ground with just his arms and pointed in the direction the scout should head. He was signed up on the spot. He was big enough and strong enough to play tackle on defense and offense, and fast enough to play running back as well.

19. Bubba Smith: Lt. Hightower from Police Academy was just as intimidating on the football field. The two time all american at defensive end from Michigan St. is perhaps best remembered for his performance in the "game of the century", the 10-10 tie between Michigan St. and Notre Dame in 1966. He knocked out Notre Dame's starting quarterback in the first quarter with a sack, and helped the defense hold the #1 Irish to only 10 points in the game. In fact, Notre Dame's coach Ara Parseghian elected to run out the clock instead of trying to challenge Smith and the MSU D at the end of the game. Smith, angry at not getting the satisfaction of challenging Notre Dame's best effort, yelled at Parseghian to just try and attack them as the game ended.

18. Jerry Rice: Until a few years ago, the all-time leader in receiving yards in college. People didn't think too much of him at the time--he was small school--but we can all see the folly of our ways now. The guy just worked harder than everyone else. The greatest receiver of all time, and arguably one of the top 2 or 3 players of all time. Could be higher on this list, but college isn't where he really shone. Playing I-AA doesn't get you a lot of love. But in 1984 Rice had the greatest season ever by a college wide-receiver. He had 112 catches for 1845 yards and 27 td grabs. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

17. Chris Spielman: Because this is my list, Spielman gets some love. Obviously, when talking college linebackers the name Brian Bosworth tends to come up. But I hate the "Boz," so I'm giving some love to another Lombardi winner, a guy with some class who actually played well in the NFL and who can get just about anyone jacked up to play some football. Spielman was a beast. He had a non-stop motor and great fundamentals. If you look up form-tackle in a dictionary it has a picture of him laying the wood to somebody. In a 1986 game against Michigan, Spielman racked up an unreal 29 tackles. He was also MVP of the 1987 Cotton Bowl, and had 2 interceptions to lead an upset of then #1 ranked Iowa.

16. Herschel Walker: How about this for a work-out regiment. Herschel liked to watch television, normally a pretty sedentary activity. But to keep himself in shape and still get his tube time in the all-everything back would make sure to do 25 push-ups during every commercial break. This would add up to about 250 a day! My arms are tired just thinking about it. He helped Georgia win the 1980 national title with a dominating freshman season and got himself the Heisman in 1982.

15. Orlando Pace: Perhaps the most dominating college lineman ever. I once watched him out run his running back to keep blocking some 40 yards down field. The term pancake block was invented just for him, and he famously pancaked future NFL star Simeon Rice some 13 times in a game against Illinois. He won the Lombardi twice and the Outland once as well as being a finalist for the Heisman. He didn't allow a sack his last 2 years of college, and helped Ohio State to a #2 final ranking and Rosebowl win during the 1996 season.

14. Bo Jackson: If this were a list of best athletes of all time, he would be #1 hands down. As a football player he was pretty good as well. He won the Heisman in 1985 at Auburn, and averaged an SEC record 6.6 yards per carry during his career. He was Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis rolled into one. He could run over you, run through you, run by you or run around you. No matter what, you weren't stopping Bo.

13. Doug Flutie: Who says you can't play quarterback at 5'7". There is no quit in Doug Flutie, and he made anyone who doubted him pay. He was a whirling dervish of excitement, and a pest to bring down. He could run or spin away from trouble in a heartbeat, and then kill you by finding the open man in the wake of the havoc he created with his frantic play. On his most famous play, the "Hail Mary" against Miami, the Miami defenders didn't run to the back of the endzone to cover Gerard Phelan, the eventual recipient of Flutie's bomb. Presumably they didn't think he could throw the ball that far. He did, and if he hadn't won the Heisman already, that play to seal the victory against Miami ensured it. He threw for over 10,000 yards in his career, and helped make Boston College the great school that it is today as thousands of top students began applying to BC hoping to capture some of Flutie's magic.

12. Paul Hornung, "The Golden Boy." The only player ever to win the Heisman on a losing team; he lead Notre Dame in just about every statistical category in 1956 as the quarterback for the 2-8 Irish. He had a knack for scoring and making plays, was a great short distance runner. He finished 2nd in the nation in total offense in 1956 as well as being 2nd in kickoff returns, 15th in passing and 16th in scoring while also finishing 2nd on the team in interceptions.

11. Jim Brown: The greatest running back in pro football history, and a guy Paul Hornung beat out for the 1956 Heisman. The scariest thing about him is that he may have been better at lacrosse than football. I don't know how that's possible. Brown was an athletic freak, and he ran mean. Impossible to bring down on first contact, the All American was strong and fast with all the moves anyone could want. He once scored 43 points in a game against Colgate, and ran for over 2000 yards in his career while averaging 5.8 per carry. In 1956 he finished 5th in the Heisman voting, leading the Orangemen to a one point loss to TCU in the Cotton Bowl. In that game he scored 21 of Syracuse's 27 points, and was named MVP.

10. Derrick Thomas: This list probably needs more defensive players, and Thomas is certainly a worthy addition. He won the Butkus award in 1988 as the nation's top linebacker, finishing the year with 27 sacks. That season came on the heals of an equally impressive 18 sack campaign his junior year. The Alabama standout followed in the footsteps of Lawrence Taylor, helping to modernize the college game by making the linebacker position a means for attacking the quarterback. He was one of my favorite players to watch growing up, and I was really sad when he died. He once had 7 sacks in an NFL game. The guy was just unstoppable.

9. Warren Sapp: There are a lot of choices for great defensive lineman at Miami. Sapp was likely the greatest of them all. He won a national title his freshman year in 1991, and played for 2 more following the 1992 and 1994 regular seasons. Sapp stood out on a defense that included plenty of stars, not the least among them future perennial all-pro Ray Lewis. He was a Lombardi, Bednarik and Nagurski winner and a finalist for the Outland trophy. He made opposing offensive linemen look like they were back in high school he was that unblockable. He became one of the first defensive tackles to become effective as a pass rusher, and was just as effective stopping the run as the pass.

8. Dick Butkus: Continuing the defensive player run, we have the scariest man ever to don a helmet, and the 2nd greatest player in Illinois history, Mr. Dick Butkus. Before Chuck Norris became the subject of modern tall tales of absurd macho power, Butkus ruled that roost. Dick Butkus' helmet wears Dick Butkus for protection, that's how tough he was. If you think of the middle linebacker position, one picture comes to mind, that of a big, mean, Butkus wearing number 51, knocking the stuffing out of some hapless wonderkind running back as the cold air billows out of his flaring nostrils.

7. "Neon" Deion Sanders: One word says it all, "Prime Time." And he was. Flashy, fast, cool, high-steppin, ball waving, hates tackling, loves playing, rapping, show-boating, preaching, dancing, touchdown celebrating, always electric, never boring, plays big when it counts. Deion was the original shut-down corner and B.M.O.C. (Big Man on Campus). He was a 2 time all-american, and won the 1988 Thorpe award as the nation's top corner. He had 14 interceptions in his career, returning one 100 yards for a score. He is also Florida State's career leader in punt return yardage.

6. Lawrence Taylor "LT": The North Carolina star revolutionized the linebacker position, and went on to be arguably the greatest defensive player in NFL history. In 1980 he won all-american honors, and finished the year with 16 sacks. He always played the game all out, with full reckless abandon. He seemed to pay no regard to his physical health as he would be willing to jump 6 feet in the air to block a kick and then wind up landing on his neck. This style of play made him nearly unblockable as no one could match both raw strength and speed, and constant motor.

5. Archie Griffin: The only player to ever win the Heisman twice, the Ohio State star also helped lead his team to 4 big ten titles and 4 Rosebowls, and is the only player to ever start in 4 Rose Bowls. He finished his career with 5589 rushing and 6559 all-purpose yards to go along with 26 touchdowns. His coach, Woody Hayes, said of him, "He's a better young man than he is a football player, and he's the best football player I've ever seen."

4. Red Grange: A legend in his own time, he inspired these words of immortal wonderment by Grantland Rise. "A streak of fire, a breath of flame/Eluding all who reach and clutch;/A gray ghost thrown into the game/That rival hands may never touch;/A rubber bounding, blasting soul/Whose destination is the goal." In his 20-game career, he ran 388 times for 2,071 yards (5.3 average), caught 14 passes for 253 yards and completed 40 of 82 passes for 575 yards. Of his 31 touchdowns, 16 were from at least 20 yards, with nine from more than 50. Destination the goal indeed.

3. Barry Sanders: In 1988 Barry had the greatest season ever by a college running back. Having spent the previous 2 years as a backup to future hall-of-famer Thurman Thomas, Sanders made his mark early in his career as a kick returner. But then he exploded as a junior. He averaged 7.6 yards per carry, gained a record 2628 yards rushing and 3249 yards overall while scoring 39 touchdowns. He won the Heisman going away. Famous for his elusiveness, Sanders was once asked if it was his vision that allowed him to find so many holes to run through. In response he said, "I see the same thing that you do, the only difference is that I can get there." Indeed, Sanders made a career out of making everyone else look like mere mortals as he danced around them like a god.

2. Vince Young: Every player on this list accomplished rare feats while in college. But what Vince Young did to USC in the national championship game in 2006 I have never seen before. He won the game himself. Literally. I think he threw for over 300 yards, ran for over 200, and was essentially unstoppable. He was so good, Pete Carrol knew he had to go for it on 4th and 2 because he couldn't risk giving Vince the ball back. The guy was a supreme talent. 6'5", runs like a deer, strong in the pocket, rocket arm. But he was perhaps the greatest leader I have ever seen. VY is rare. As rare as they come. Not many have ever played the college game better.

1. Jim Thorpe: Maybe just this guy. The 2 time all American at Carlisle played running back, placekicker, defensive back and punter. He scored all of his teams points in 1911 as Carlisle ran to an 11-1 record with an upset win over Harvard. The following year he lead them to a national title, which included a 27-6 victoy over Army. In that Army game Thorpe scored an apparent 92 yard touchdown that was brought back because of penalty. No matter, on the next play Thorpe ran it in from 97 yards out. Carlisle revolutionized the game of football by making speed the most important factor. As they were generally undersized compared with the other college powers of the day, Carlisle relied on their quickness and speed to help them out-run and chase down their opponents. None was faster than Thorpe, and his speed and skill helped drag football out of the brawling morass of its infancy and into the violent grace that inspired NFL Films and Grantland Rice to compose its forms in the spare terms of poetry and slow motion film.