Link: https://athlonsports.com/college-football/top-50-college-football-players-athlon-era
The following panel selected what they consider the top 50 college football players of the last 50 years (1967-2016). The panel includes:
Tony Barnhart (former CFB writer at Atlanta Journal-Constitution; current columnist at GridIronNow)
Michael Bradley (freelance college sports writer)
Matt Brown (college football writer for Sports on Earth)
Jimmy Burch (college sports writer at Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Bill Connelly (college football writer for SB Nation)
Rob Doster (senior editor at Athlon Sports)
Chris Dufresne (former CFB writer for Los Angeles Times; co-founder of TMGCollegeSports.com)
Bruce Feldman (CFB writer at FoxSports.com)
Steven Godfrey (CFB writer for SB Nation)
Herb Gould (former CFB writer for Chicago Sun-Times; co-founder of TMGCollegeSports.com)
Bill King (host of The Bill King Show on radio)
Tom Luicci (former CFB writer for The Star-Ledger in Newark, NJ)
Ivan Maisel (CFB writer for ESPN.com)
Stewart Mandel (CFB writer for FOXSports.com)
Paul Myerberg (CFB writer for USA Today)
Bud Withers (former CFB writer for the Seattle Times, Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Eugene Register-Guard)
Top 50 CFB Players of the Athlon Era (1967-2016)
50. Desmond Howard, Michigan (WR/KR - 1989-91)
Howard was the most electrifying player in college football in his day. He was the first receiver ever to lead the Big Ten in scoring, amassing a nation-leading 23 total touchdowns during his Heisman-winning season, and he set a handful of NCAA records in the process. In 1991, he received more first-place Heisman votes than anyone else before him, and he also captured the Walter Camp and Maxwell awards.
49. Doug Flutie, Boston College (QB - 1981-84)
The diminutive Flutie became an American folk hero during his 1984 Heisman Trophy season, a campaign that saw Flutie throw for 3,454 yards and 27 touchdowns — the most notable being the famous “Hail Flutie” pass that beat Miami 47–45. Flutie left BC as college football’s all-time passing yardage leader with 10,579 (since broken). The subsequent surge in applications to BC after his Heisman season signaled a phenomenon that became known as the “Flutie effect,” showing the power of college sports in building a school’s reputation.
48. Danny Wuerffel, Florida (QB - 1993-96)
Wuerffel and Florida coach Steve Spurrier were a match made in Fun ’n’ Gun heaven. Wuerffel ran Spurrier’s offense to perfection in leading the Gators to their first-ever national title and winning the school its first Heisman since Spurrier’s in 1967. Wuerffel finished his college career having completed 708 of 1,170 passes for 10,875 yards with 114 touchdown passes. His career pass efficiency rating of 163.56 was the best in major college history at the time, and his percentage of passes that went for TDs (9.74) also ranked first.
47. Marcus Mariota, Oregon (QB - 2012-14)
Mariota was a remarkably prolific quarterback in his three seasons in the high-powered Quack Attack. Among his countless statistical milestones: 10,796 career yards passing and 105 TDs to go with 2,237 yards rushing and 29 more TDs in only three seasons, with a win-loss record of 36–5. In his Heisman campaign of 2014, Mariota posted this phenomenal stat line: 4,454 yards passing, 68.3 percent completion percentage, 42 TD passes with only four interceptions, 770 rushing yards and 15 rushing scores.
46. Keith Jackson, Oklahoma (TE - 1984-87)
Despite playing in a run-first (and run-second) offense, Jackson found a niche as a big-play threat. In 1986, OU attempted 7.3 passes per game, and in 1987, 8.3 passes per game — and Jackson was an All-American both years. In OU’s win over Penn State in the 1986 Orange Bowl — which gave the Sooners the national championship — Jackson caught a 71-yard touchdown pass.
45. Peyton Manning, Tennessee (QB - 1994-97)
Manning finished his career having rewritten the school passing record book and extensively edited the SEC record book. He left Knoxville in possession of conference marks for career wins as a starter, completions, completion percentage, passing yards and total offense, among others. He won the 1997 Davey O’Brien and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm awards, and was the SEC Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American.
44. Chris Spielman, Ohio State (LB - 1984-87)
Maniacally intense, Spielman finished his career as Ohio State’s all-time leader with 283 solo tackles overall and 105 solo stops in a season (1986), and also tied a school record with 29 tackles in the 1986 Michigan game. A three-time All-Big Ten choice and two-time All-American, the Massillon native was a cult hero in Ohio and appeared on a Wheaties box as a high schooler.
43. Reggie White, Tennessee (DT - 1980-83)
The Minister of Defense is better known for his Hall of Fame pro career, but he also had a dominant college career spent terrorizing SEC quarterbacks and running backs. White holds the school record for sacks in a single season with 15 in 1983 and only recently saw his school career sack record broken by Derek Barnett. White was the SEC Player of the Year and an All-American in ’83.
42. Jonathan Ogden, UCLA (OT - 1992-95)
Ogden was a perfect combination of size (6'9", 345) and athleticism for the all-important left tackle position, which he played in textbook fashion at both the college and pro levels. In 23 games as a junior and senior, Ogden allowed only two sacks. In 1995, he earned unanimous first-team All-America honors along with the Outland Trophy and UPI Lineman of the Year award. He was also an NCAA champion in the shot put.
41. Bruce Smith, Virginia Tech (DE - 1981-84)
Smith was an unblockable sack machine for the Hokies, amassing 46 career sacks, including a nation-leading 22 as a junior. He was a first-team All-American in 1983 and ’84 and won the 1984 Outland Trophy. He also had 71 tackles behind the line of scrimmage for 504 yards in losses. The No. 1 overall pick of the 1985 NFL Draft, Smith had a Hall of Fame career for the Bills and Redskins and is the NFL’s all-time sack leader with 200.
40. Randy White, Maryland (DL - 1971-74)
The Manster — part man, part monster — terrorized ACC offenses before embarking on a Hall of Fame pro career. Starting his career as a fullback, White moved to defense as a sophomore and became one of the best linemen in the country thanks to speed that matched that of some running backs. As a senior, White won the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award and was the ACC Player of the Year.
39. Mike Singletary, Baylor (LB - 1977-80)
A player of matchless intensity, Singletary was a tackle machine for the Bears, who attained an unprecedented level of success during his time in Waco. He had 97 tackles as a freshman, a school-record 232 as a sophomore (including 35 in a game against Houston), 188 as a junior and 145 as a senior, when the Bears won 10 games and a Cotton Bowl berth. He was an All-American as a junior and senior.
38. Matt Leinart, USC (QB - 2003-05)
Leinart won the Heisman as a junior, when he completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,322 yards and 33 touchdowns with only six interceptions. Over his three-year career as a starter, he completed 65 percent of his tosses for 10,693 yards and a school-record 99 touchdowns, and was a two-time first-team All-American. With Leinart calling signals, the Trojans went 37–2 with a 34-game winning streak, three Pac-10 titles and two national titles.
37. Ricky Williams, Texas (RB - 1995-98)
Williams broke Earl Campbell’s school freshman rushing record with 990 yards, and he was off and running. Williams was a two-time All-American and the first two-time winner of the Doak Walker Award (1997 and ’98). In his senior year, he rushed for a school single-season record 2,124 yards and earned the Heisman Trophy along with the Maxwell Award and AP Player of the Year and Walter Camp Player of the Year honors.
36. Archie Manning, Mississippi (QB - 1968-70)
Before siring two great NFL quarterbacks, Archie was an Ole Miss legend who passed for 4,753 yards, rushed for 823 more and accounted for 56 touchdowns in an era when those numbers were extraordinary. He secured his legend in a 33–32 loss to Alabama in 1969, when he passed for 436 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 104 yards in a losing effort.
35. Jerry Rice, Mississippi Valley State (WR - 1981-84)
Tiny Itta Bena, Mississippi, was the college home of the GOAT, who teamed up with the other half of the Satellite Express, QB Willie "Satellite" Totten, to post otherworldly numbers at MVSU. Rice set NCAA marks for receptions (102) and receiving yards (1,450) as a junior, and then topped himself as a senior with 112 catches, 1,845 receiving yards and 27 TDs. He finished his career with 301 catches for 4,693 yards and 50 touchdowns.
34. Ed Reed, Miami (FL) (S - 1998-01)
Reed anchored the back end of some of the most talented defenses of the modern era. He holds Miami records for interceptions (21), interception return yards (389) and return touchdowns (five). He also blocked four punts, had 288 tackles, forced four fumbles and defended 52 passes during his career. He had nine interceptions for the 2001 national champions, one of history’s greatest teams.
33. John Elway, Stanford (QB - 1979-82)
As was the case for much of his pro career, Elway was a virtual one-man show on some Cardinal teams that lacked overall talent. Although he never was able to lead his team to a bowl game — due in part to The Play in the 1982 Cal game — Elway threw for 9,349 career yards and 77 touchdowns and led the nation in TD passes in 1982 with 24. He finished his career with nearly every Stanford and Pac-10 passing and total offense record.
32. Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma (LB - 1984-86)
The flamboyant sideshow sometimes hid the substance: Brian Bosworth was one of the best linebackers in OU history. A two-time winner of the Butkus Award, Bosworth was a devastating defender. He led OU in tackles in each of his three seasons — tallying 133, 144 and 136 tackles. He helped lead the Sooners to the national championship in 1985 and was even an academic All-American in ’86.
31. Steve Emtman, Washington (DE - 1989-91)
Emtman was the cornerstone of one of the great teams of the modern era, the undefeated 1991 Washington Huskies, who shared the national championship with Miami. That season, Emtman won the Outland Trophy, Lombardi Award and Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year Award and finished fourth in the Heisman voting after posting 20.5 tackles for a loss on the season. He was the first overall pick in the 1992 NFL Draft but saw his pro career cut short by injuries.
30. Cam Newton, Auburn (QB - 2010)
Newton spent only one year on The Plains after an ill-fated stint at Florida and a year in junior college, but it was one of the greatest single seasons by a quarterback in college football history. In leading Auburn to the 2010 national title, Newton completed 185-of-280 passes (66.1 percent) for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns and rushed for 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns to earn the Heisman Trophy by a landslide margin.
29. Jack Tatum, Ohio State (DB - 1968-70)
Tatum, who went on to star for the Raiders, was one of the most feared hitters in football history. A key member of Ohio State’s great teams from 1968 through 1970, Tatum twice was named an All-American and was the national Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. Perhaps more meaningful to him, however, was being voted one of four captains on Ohio State’s All-Century Team in 2000.
28. Lawrence Taylor, North Carolina (LB - 1977-80)
At the time, Chapel Hill was a rather remote college football outpost in the basketball-mad ACC, but LT helped establish Tar Heel football during a dominant college career. Taylor, who didn’t start playing football until his junior year of high school, was a terrifying combination of size, speed and aggression. In 1980, Taylor posted 16 sacks and was an All-American and ACC Player of the Year before going on to redefine the outside linebacker position in the NFL.
27. Marcus Allen, USC (RB - 1979-81)
Allen, USC’s fourth Heisman Trophy winner, became the first college back ever to crack the 2,000-yard rushing mark for the regular season, rushing for 2,342 yards in his 1981 Heisman campaign and setting new NCAA marks with 212.9 rushing yards per game and five consecutive 200-yard games. During his days in cardinal and gold, Allen broke 14 NCAA records and tied two others.
26. Anthony Muñoz, USC (OL - 1976-79)
Muñoz was the prototypical offensive lineman who showed that big men could be agile as well as dominating. A two-time All-American, Muñoz was also talented enough to have pitched for the Trojans’ national championship baseball team in 1978. Knee injuries proved to be a problem for Muñoz while at USC, but they did not keep him from having a Hall of Fame NFL career.
The following panel selected what they consider the top 50 college football players of the last 50 years (1967-2016). The panel includes:
Tony Barnhart (former CFB writer at Atlanta Journal-Constitution; current columnist at GridIronNow)
Michael Bradley (freelance college sports writer)
Matt Brown (college football writer for Sports on Earth)
Jimmy Burch (college sports writer at Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Bill Connelly (college football writer for SB Nation)
Rob Doster (senior editor at Athlon Sports)
Chris Dufresne (former CFB writer for Los Angeles Times; co-founder of TMGCollegeSports.com)
Bruce Feldman (CFB writer at FoxSports.com)
Steven Godfrey (CFB writer for SB Nation)
Herb Gould (former CFB writer for Chicago Sun-Times; co-founder of TMGCollegeSports.com)
Bill King (host of The Bill King Show on radio)
Tom Luicci (former CFB writer for The Star-Ledger in Newark, NJ)
Ivan Maisel (CFB writer for ESPN.com)
Stewart Mandel (CFB writer for FOXSports.com)
Paul Myerberg (CFB writer for USA Today)
Bud Withers (former CFB writer for the Seattle Times, Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Eugene Register-Guard)
Top 50 CFB Players of the Athlon Era (1967-2016)
50. Desmond Howard, Michigan (WR/KR - 1989-91)
Howard was the most electrifying player in college football in his day. He was the first receiver ever to lead the Big Ten in scoring, amassing a nation-leading 23 total touchdowns during his Heisman-winning season, and he set a handful of NCAA records in the process. In 1991, he received more first-place Heisman votes than anyone else before him, and he also captured the Walter Camp and Maxwell awards.
49. Doug Flutie, Boston College (QB - 1981-84)
The diminutive Flutie became an American folk hero during his 1984 Heisman Trophy season, a campaign that saw Flutie throw for 3,454 yards and 27 touchdowns — the most notable being the famous “Hail Flutie” pass that beat Miami 47–45. Flutie left BC as college football’s all-time passing yardage leader with 10,579 (since broken). The subsequent surge in applications to BC after his Heisman season signaled a phenomenon that became known as the “Flutie effect,” showing the power of college sports in building a school’s reputation.
48. Danny Wuerffel, Florida (QB - 1993-96)
Wuerffel and Florida coach Steve Spurrier were a match made in Fun ’n’ Gun heaven. Wuerffel ran Spurrier’s offense to perfection in leading the Gators to their first-ever national title and winning the school its first Heisman since Spurrier’s in 1967. Wuerffel finished his college career having completed 708 of 1,170 passes for 10,875 yards with 114 touchdown passes. His career pass efficiency rating of 163.56 was the best in major college history at the time, and his percentage of passes that went for TDs (9.74) also ranked first.
47. Marcus Mariota, Oregon (QB - 2012-14)
Mariota was a remarkably prolific quarterback in his three seasons in the high-powered Quack Attack. Among his countless statistical milestones: 10,796 career yards passing and 105 TDs to go with 2,237 yards rushing and 29 more TDs in only three seasons, with a win-loss record of 36–5. In his Heisman campaign of 2014, Mariota posted this phenomenal stat line: 4,454 yards passing, 68.3 percent completion percentage, 42 TD passes with only four interceptions, 770 rushing yards and 15 rushing scores.
46. Keith Jackson, Oklahoma (TE - 1984-87)
Despite playing in a run-first (and run-second) offense, Jackson found a niche as a big-play threat. In 1986, OU attempted 7.3 passes per game, and in 1987, 8.3 passes per game — and Jackson was an All-American both years. In OU’s win over Penn State in the 1986 Orange Bowl — which gave the Sooners the national championship — Jackson caught a 71-yard touchdown pass.
45. Peyton Manning, Tennessee (QB - 1994-97)
Manning finished his career having rewritten the school passing record book and extensively edited the SEC record book. He left Knoxville in possession of conference marks for career wins as a starter, completions, completion percentage, passing yards and total offense, among others. He won the 1997 Davey O’Brien and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm awards, and was the SEC Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American.
44. Chris Spielman, Ohio State (LB - 1984-87)
Maniacally intense, Spielman finished his career as Ohio State’s all-time leader with 283 solo tackles overall and 105 solo stops in a season (1986), and also tied a school record with 29 tackles in the 1986 Michigan game. A three-time All-Big Ten choice and two-time All-American, the Massillon native was a cult hero in Ohio and appeared on a Wheaties box as a high schooler.
43. Reggie White, Tennessee (DT - 1980-83)
The Minister of Defense is better known for his Hall of Fame pro career, but he also had a dominant college career spent terrorizing SEC quarterbacks and running backs. White holds the school record for sacks in a single season with 15 in 1983 and only recently saw his school career sack record broken by Derek Barnett. White was the SEC Player of the Year and an All-American in ’83.
42. Jonathan Ogden, UCLA (OT - 1992-95)
Ogden was a perfect combination of size (6'9", 345) and athleticism for the all-important left tackle position, which he played in textbook fashion at both the college and pro levels. In 23 games as a junior and senior, Ogden allowed only two sacks. In 1995, he earned unanimous first-team All-America honors along with the Outland Trophy and UPI Lineman of the Year award. He was also an NCAA champion in the shot put.
41. Bruce Smith, Virginia Tech (DE - 1981-84)
Smith was an unblockable sack machine for the Hokies, amassing 46 career sacks, including a nation-leading 22 as a junior. He was a first-team All-American in 1983 and ’84 and won the 1984 Outland Trophy. He also had 71 tackles behind the line of scrimmage for 504 yards in losses. The No. 1 overall pick of the 1985 NFL Draft, Smith had a Hall of Fame career for the Bills and Redskins and is the NFL’s all-time sack leader with 200.
40. Randy White, Maryland (DL - 1971-74)
The Manster — part man, part monster — terrorized ACC offenses before embarking on a Hall of Fame pro career. Starting his career as a fullback, White moved to defense as a sophomore and became one of the best linemen in the country thanks to speed that matched that of some running backs. As a senior, White won the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award and was the ACC Player of the Year.
39. Mike Singletary, Baylor (LB - 1977-80)
A player of matchless intensity, Singletary was a tackle machine for the Bears, who attained an unprecedented level of success during his time in Waco. He had 97 tackles as a freshman, a school-record 232 as a sophomore (including 35 in a game against Houston), 188 as a junior and 145 as a senior, when the Bears won 10 games and a Cotton Bowl berth. He was an All-American as a junior and senior.
38. Matt Leinart, USC (QB - 2003-05)
Leinart won the Heisman as a junior, when he completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,322 yards and 33 touchdowns with only six interceptions. Over his three-year career as a starter, he completed 65 percent of his tosses for 10,693 yards and a school-record 99 touchdowns, and was a two-time first-team All-American. With Leinart calling signals, the Trojans went 37–2 with a 34-game winning streak, three Pac-10 titles and two national titles.
37. Ricky Williams, Texas (RB - 1995-98)
Williams broke Earl Campbell’s school freshman rushing record with 990 yards, and he was off and running. Williams was a two-time All-American and the first two-time winner of the Doak Walker Award (1997 and ’98). In his senior year, he rushed for a school single-season record 2,124 yards and earned the Heisman Trophy along with the Maxwell Award and AP Player of the Year and Walter Camp Player of the Year honors.
36. Archie Manning, Mississippi (QB - 1968-70)
Before siring two great NFL quarterbacks, Archie was an Ole Miss legend who passed for 4,753 yards, rushed for 823 more and accounted for 56 touchdowns in an era when those numbers were extraordinary. He secured his legend in a 33–32 loss to Alabama in 1969, when he passed for 436 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 104 yards in a losing effort.
35. Jerry Rice, Mississippi Valley State (WR - 1981-84)
Tiny Itta Bena, Mississippi, was the college home of the GOAT, who teamed up with the other half of the Satellite Express, QB Willie "Satellite" Totten, to post otherworldly numbers at MVSU. Rice set NCAA marks for receptions (102) and receiving yards (1,450) as a junior, and then topped himself as a senior with 112 catches, 1,845 receiving yards and 27 TDs. He finished his career with 301 catches for 4,693 yards and 50 touchdowns.
34. Ed Reed, Miami (FL) (S - 1998-01)
Reed anchored the back end of some of the most talented defenses of the modern era. He holds Miami records for interceptions (21), interception return yards (389) and return touchdowns (five). He also blocked four punts, had 288 tackles, forced four fumbles and defended 52 passes during his career. He had nine interceptions for the 2001 national champions, one of history’s greatest teams.
33. John Elway, Stanford (QB - 1979-82)
As was the case for much of his pro career, Elway was a virtual one-man show on some Cardinal teams that lacked overall talent. Although he never was able to lead his team to a bowl game — due in part to The Play in the 1982 Cal game — Elway threw for 9,349 career yards and 77 touchdowns and led the nation in TD passes in 1982 with 24. He finished his career with nearly every Stanford and Pac-10 passing and total offense record.
32. Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma (LB - 1984-86)
The flamboyant sideshow sometimes hid the substance: Brian Bosworth was one of the best linebackers in OU history. A two-time winner of the Butkus Award, Bosworth was a devastating defender. He led OU in tackles in each of his three seasons — tallying 133, 144 and 136 tackles. He helped lead the Sooners to the national championship in 1985 and was even an academic All-American in ’86.
31. Steve Emtman, Washington (DE - 1989-91)
Emtman was the cornerstone of one of the great teams of the modern era, the undefeated 1991 Washington Huskies, who shared the national championship with Miami. That season, Emtman won the Outland Trophy, Lombardi Award and Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year Award and finished fourth in the Heisman voting after posting 20.5 tackles for a loss on the season. He was the first overall pick in the 1992 NFL Draft but saw his pro career cut short by injuries.
30. Cam Newton, Auburn (QB - 2010)
Newton spent only one year on The Plains after an ill-fated stint at Florida and a year in junior college, but it was one of the greatest single seasons by a quarterback in college football history. In leading Auburn to the 2010 national title, Newton completed 185-of-280 passes (66.1 percent) for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns and rushed for 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns to earn the Heisman Trophy by a landslide margin.
29. Jack Tatum, Ohio State (DB - 1968-70)
Tatum, who went on to star for the Raiders, was one of the most feared hitters in football history. A key member of Ohio State’s great teams from 1968 through 1970, Tatum twice was named an All-American and was the national Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. Perhaps more meaningful to him, however, was being voted one of four captains on Ohio State’s All-Century Team in 2000.
28. Lawrence Taylor, North Carolina (LB - 1977-80)
At the time, Chapel Hill was a rather remote college football outpost in the basketball-mad ACC, but LT helped establish Tar Heel football during a dominant college career. Taylor, who didn’t start playing football until his junior year of high school, was a terrifying combination of size, speed and aggression. In 1980, Taylor posted 16 sacks and was an All-American and ACC Player of the Year before going on to redefine the outside linebacker position in the NFL.
27. Marcus Allen, USC (RB - 1979-81)
Allen, USC’s fourth Heisman Trophy winner, became the first college back ever to crack the 2,000-yard rushing mark for the regular season, rushing for 2,342 yards in his 1981 Heisman campaign and setting new NCAA marks with 212.9 rushing yards per game and five consecutive 200-yard games. During his days in cardinal and gold, Allen broke 14 NCAA records and tied two others.
26. Anthony Muñoz, USC (OL - 1976-79)
Muñoz was the prototypical offensive lineman who showed that big men could be agile as well as dominating. A two-time All-American, Muñoz was also talented enough to have pitched for the Trojans’ national championship baseball team in 1978. Knee injuries proved to be a problem for Muñoz while at USC, but they did not keep him from having a Hall of Fame NFL career.
