This is the America's Best Online list of the greatest college football players of all time. This top 100 list starts with Jim Thorpe who played in the early 1900's when players didn't have thick pads and proper head gear. It was a tough game back then and Jim was the best of the best. Tim Tebow makes the list as a recent player who undeniably deserves to be in the top 10 based on his total offence numbers leading Florida to two national championships during this time there. You will recognize many other names from this list. Many went on to success in the NFL, coaching careers, and broadcasting. Others were great college football players but had little to no success in the pros (e.g. Steve Emtman, Brian Bosworth).
The top ten list includes a quick summary of the player and his accomplishments in college. Keep in mind that this entire list is based on collegiate performance and statistics not their professional careers. As you review the list you'll see names that might make the top 10 professional football players of all time list (e.g. Jerry Rice, John Elway). Several of these players are still playing pro football and will make the Hall of Fame.
1. Jim Thorpe HB, Carlisle - In 1911,
Thorpe played running back, defensive back, place-kicker,
and punter for his school's football team. He scored all of
his team's points (four field goals and a touchdown) in an
18-13 upset victory over Harvard. Carlisle finished the
season 11-1. The next year, Thorpe led Carlisle to the
national collegiate championship, scoring 25 touchdowns and
198 points, including an upset victory over national
powerhouse Army. He won All-American honors in both 1911 and
1912.
2. Herschel Walker RB, Georgia - At
UGA, Walker set an NCAA freshman rushing record and led
Georgia to the national football championship. He earned
consensus All-American honors three consecutive years, set
10 NCAA records, 15 Southeast Conference records, 30 Georgia
all-time records. In his junior and final year at Georgia,
he was awarded the 1982 Heisman Trophy.
3. Red Grange HB, Illinois -
In his
sophomore year, the "The
Galloping Ghost" ran for 723 yards and scored twelve
touchdowns while leading Illinois to a national
championship. But, he is most remembered for his 4
touchdowns(95, 67, 56, 44 yards) in the first quarter against Michigan in 1924.
He played only 20 games in college but had 31 touchdowns and
3,362 yards.
4. Sammy Baugh QB/DB/P, TCU - "Slingin'" Sammy Baugh of Texas Christian was the first
great passer in college football. In 1934, "Slingin'" Sammy
threw 587 passes in his three varsity seasons for 39
touchdowns and nearly two miles in yardage. In an era when a
quaterback usually three less than 10 passes a game. Baugh
was also an excellent punter. He was named All American in
1935 and 1936. and repeated as a consensus All- America in
his 1936 senior season. On New Year's Day of 1937 Texas
Christian played in the first Cotton Bowl defeating
Marquette 16-6.
5.
Tim Tebow QB, Florda - He
played college football at the University of Florida, where he won a Heisman
Trophy. He was the first college football player to both rush and pass for
twenty or more touchdowns in a single season and was the first college sophomore
to win the Heisman. Tebow won 2 national championships and 3 SEC Title games in
his first 3 years at Florida.
6. Hugh Green DE, Pittsburgh - Hugh
Green was a defensive end for the University of Pittsburgh
Panthers where he was a three-time All-American from
1978-80. In 1980, Green won the Walter Camp Award, the
Maxwell Award, and the Lombardi Award, and finished second
in the Heisman Trophy balloting, losing to running back
George Rogers of the University of South Carolina.Green left
the university with 441 tackles and 53 career sacks in his
college career.
7. Archie Griffin RB, Ohio State -
Archie Griffin played at Ohio State from 1972-75 and was
voted All-America three times. Griffin is the only player to
start in four Rose Bowls, the only player to win the Heisman
Trophy twice.He rushed for 1428 yards as a sophomore, 1620
as a junior, 1357 as a senior. The Sporting News named him
the 1975 "Man of the Year." He set an NCAA rushing record of
31 consecutive 100-yard games rushing. His career rushing
total, 5177 yards, was an NCAA record at the time.
8. Dick Butkus LB/C, Illinois -
Dick
Butkus played with intensity and desire. He was a
devastating linebacker for Illinois from 1962 through 1964
and also played center. He was a unanimous All-America in
1963 and 1964. In one of his biggest games,Butkus made 23
tackles against Ohio State in 1963. Since 1950, only one
player linebacker has been voted Most Valuable Player in the
Big Ten; that was Butkus in 1963. The American Football
Coaches Association named him Player of the Year in 1964.
9. Bronko Nagurski FB/T, Minnesota -
Bronko Nagurski played fullback on offense and tackle on
defense at the University of Minnesota from 1927-1929. He
was named an All-American at both positions by the New York
Sun in 1929. Coach Steve Owen said, "There's only one
defense that could stop Nagurski--shoot him before he leaves
the dressing room."
10. Earl Campbell RB, Texas - Earl"the
Tyler Rose" Campbell played for the University of Texas from
1973-1977. In a four-year career, he rushed for 4,443 yards.
This was the fifth highest total of all time when he
retired. His ran for 928 yards as a freshman, 1118 as a
sophomore, 653 as a junior (he missed four games), and 1,744
as a senior. He was All-America in 1975 and 1977, and he led
the nation in rushing and scoring and won the Heisman Trophy
in 1977.
11. Vince Young QB, Texas
12. Jim Brown RB, Syracuse
13. Deion Sanders CB, Florida State
14. O.J. Simpson RB, USC
15. Archie Manning QB, Ole Miss
16. Walter Payton, Jacksonville State
17. John Hannah OL, Alabama
18. Barry Sanders RB, Oklahoma State
19. Bubba Smith DL, Michigan State
20. Joe Washington, RB Oklahoma
21. Lawrence Taylor LB/DE, North Carolina
22. Ron Dayne RB, Wisconsin
23. Doak Walker RB, SMU
24. Dave Rimington C, Nebraska
25. Tony Dorsett RB Pittsburgh
26. Tommy Nobis LB/G, Texas
27. Doug Williams, Grambling State
28. Bo Jackson RB, Auburn
29. Matt Leinart QB USC
30. Jim Parker OG, Ohio State
31. Marcus Allen RB, USC
32. Doug Flutie QB, Boston College
33. Ricky Williams RB Texas
34. Bennie Oosterbaan End, Michigan
35. Reggie Bush RB, USC
36. Orlando Pace OT, Ohio State
37. Jerry Rice, Mississippi Valley State
38. Lee Roy Jordan LB/C, Alabama
39. Charles Woodson CB/WR/KR, Michigan
40. Doc Blanchard RB, Army
41. Keith Jackson TE, Oklahoma
42. Lee Roy Selmon DT, Oklahoma
43. Mike Ditka TE/DL, Pittsburgh
44. Chuck Bednarik C/LB, Pennsylvania
45. John Elway QB, Stanford
46. Johnny Rodgers WR/KR, Nebraska
47. Brian Bosworth LB, Oklahoma
48. Rich Glover DL, Nebraska
49. Bill Fralic OT, Pittsburgh
50. Dean Steinkuhler OG, Nebraska
51. Jerry Rice WR, Miss Valley St
52. Chris Spielman LB, Ohio State
53. Anthony Carter WR, Michigan
54. George Connor T, Holy Cross & Notre Dame
55. Ernie Davis RB, Syracuse
56. Jack Tatum DB, Ohio State
57. Tommy Casanova DB/RB, LSU
58. Mike Singletary LB, Baylor
59. Howard Twilley WR, Tulsa
60. Jerry Robinson LB, UCLA
61. Glenn Davis HB, Army
62. Kenneth Sims DT, Texas
63. Tommie Frazier QB, Nebraska
64. Johnny Lujack QB, Notre Dame
65. Bob Hayes WR, Florida A&M
66. Randy White DL, Maryland
67. Tim Brown FL, Notre Dame
68. Ted Kwalick Tight End, Penn St
69. Leon Hart Line, Notre Dame
70. Ernie Nevers FB, Stanford
71. Jay Berwanger HB, Chicago
72. Charlie Ward QB, Florida State
73. Davey O'Brien QB, TCU
74. Johnny Lattner Back, Notre Dame
75. Steve Emtman DT, Washington
76. Raghib Ismail WR, Notre Dame
77. Charles White RB, USC
78. Bruce Smith HB, Minnesota
79. Desmond Howard WR, Michigan
80. Tom Harmon HB, Michigan
81. Elmer Oliphant Back, Army
82. Bob Gain T/PK, Kentucky
83. Art Shell OT DT, Maryland State
84. Kenny Easley S, UCLA
85. Ronnie Lott S, USC
86. Eric Dickerson, RB, SMU
87. Dan Dierdorf OT, Michigan
88. Ross Browner DE, Notre Dame
89. Paul Robeson End, Rutgers
90. Leroy Keyes RB, Purdue
91. Randy Moss WR, Marshall
92. Randy Gradishar LB, Ohio State
93. Peyton Manning QB, Tennessee
94. John Hicks OL, Ohio State
95. Frank Sinkwich HB, Georgia
96. Jamar Fletcher CB, Wisconsin
97. Jim McMahon QB, BYU
98. Terrell Buckley CB, Florida State
99. Charlie Justice HB, N. Carolina
100. Rod Woodson DB, Purdue
This listing of the top 100 College Football Players of All-time is constantly being revised as we experience and see more college football games and see the atmosphere surrounding these classic stadiums. So, if you feel we are missing one, please email us and let us know!