Top 100 College Football Players of All Time -- Americas Best Online

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.
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.
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.
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.
Vince Young QB, Texas - Vince Young was 28-2 as the Texas Longhorn's quarterback. In his final year, he pass for over 3,000 yards and ran for 1050. In the 2006 Rose Bowl, Vince Young put on one of the most dominating individual performances in college football history. He accounted for 467 yards offense (200 rushing, 267 passing) and three rushing touchdowns to lead Texas over USC, 41-38.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
Deion Sanders CB, Florida State
Jim Brown RB, Syracuse
Willie Heston RB, Michigan
Bo Jackson RB, Auburn
Archie Manning QB, Ole Miss
Roger Staubach QB, Navy
Nile Kinnick HB, Iowa
John Hannah OL, Alabama
Barry Sanders RB, Oklahoma State
Bubba Smith DL, Michigan State
Joe Washington, RB Oklahoma
Lawrence Taylor LB/DE, North Carolina
Ron Dayne RB, Wisconsin
Doak Walker RB, SMU
Dave Rimington C, Nebraska
Tony Dorsett RB Pittsburgh
Tommy Nobis LB/G, Texas
Don Hutson End, Alabama
O.J. Simpson RB, USC
Matt Leinart QB USC
Jim Parker OG, Ohio State
Marcus Allen RB, USC
Doug Flutie QB, Boston College
Ricky Williams RB Texas
Bennie Oosterbaan End, Michigan
Reggie Bush RB, USC
Orlando Pace OT, Ohio State
George Webster Rover, Michigan St
Lee Roy Jordan LB/C, Alabama
Charles Woodson CB/WR/KR, Michigan
Doc Blanchard RB, Army
Keith Jackson TE, Oklahoma
Lee Roy Selmon DT, Oklahoma
Mike Ditka TE/DL, Pittsburgh
Chuck Bednarik C/LB, Pennsylvania
John Elway QB, Stanford
Johnny Rodgers WR/KR, Nebraska
Brian Bosworth LB, Oklahoma
Rich Glover DL, Nebraska
Bill Fralic OT, Pittsburgh
Dean Steinkuhler OG, Nebraska
Jerry Rice WR, Miss Valley St
Chris Spielman LB, Ohio State
Anthony Carter WR, Michigan
George Connor T, Holy Cross & Notre Dame
Ernie Davis RB, Syracuse
Jack Tatum DB, Ohio State
Tommy Casanova DB/RB, LSU
Mike Singletary LB, Baylor
Howard Twilley WR, Tulsa
Jerry Robinson LB, UCLA
Glenn Davis HB, Army
Kenneth Sims DT, Texas
Tommie Frazier QB, Nebraska
George Gipp HB, Notre Dame
Ron Yary OL, USC
Randy White DL, Maryland
Tim Brown FL, Notre Dame
Ted Kwalick Tight End, Penn St
Leon Hart Line, Notre Dame
Ernie Nevers FB, Stanford
Jay Berwanger HB, Chicago
Charlie Ward QB, Florida State
Davey O'Brien QB, TCU
Johnny Lattner Back, Notre Dame
Steve Emtman DT, Washington
Raghib Ismail WR, Notre Dame
Charles White RB, USC
Bruce Smith HB, Minnesota
Desmond Howard WR, Michigan
Tom Harmon HB, Michigan
Elmer Oliphant Back, Army
Bob Gain T/PK, Kentucky
Bob Suffridge G, Tennessee
Kenny Easley S, UCLA
Ronnie Lott S, USC
Eric Dickerson, RB, SMU
Dan Dierdorf OT, Michigan
Ross Browner DE, Notre Dame
Paul Robeson End, Rutgers
Leroy Keyes RB, Purdue
Randy Moss WR, Marshall
Randy Gradishar LB, Ohio State
Peyton Manning QB, Tennessee
John Hicks OL, Ohio State
Frank Sinkwich HB, Georgia
Jamar Fletcher CB, Wisconsin
Jim McMahon QB, BYU
Charlie Justice HB, N. Carolina
Rod Woodson DB, Purdue