Top Ten College Football Players In The Past Twenty Years
With all this talk about Tebow and his greatness it got me to thinking of the best players I've seen in the past. So I conprised a list of who I think is the top ten. I am interested to see who you guys would pick.
The best college player that I've seen couldn't make this list because he left the previous year to the pros.
Barry Sanders seemed virtually unstoppable. He touched the ball and his team was guaranteed to get 7 plus yards per carry. And any touch he had was threat to go for six. He had IMHO the best single season of all time. And he carried the single season rushing record, the heisman trophy and his gaudy rushing record to the nfl. Okay, here is my list in no particular order.
1. Charles Woodson DB
2. Jake Long OT
3. Braylon Edwards WR
4. Reggie Bush RB
5. Vince Young QB
6. Desmond Howard WR
7. Raghib Ismail WR
8. Glenn Dorsey DT
9. Peyton Manning QB
10 Lavar Arrington LB
This is purely subjective. I couldn't argue with anyone who takes objectection with my list. But these our players that I have seen play and were impressed with what I saw.
January 9th, 2009 at 5:51 PM ^
1. Tim Tebow
2. Tim Tebow
3. Tim Tebow
4. Tim Tebow
5. Tim Tebow
6. Tim Tebow
7. Tim Tebow
8. Tim Tebow
9. Tim Tebow
10. Peyton Manning
January 9th, 2009 at 6:25 PM ^
thought i was gonna come in here and be all creative and make a 1-10 list with only tim tebow on it but look what i found..
January 9th, 2009 at 6:00 PM ^
The problem with these lists is that they always tend to lean towards the list-maker's favorite team and are always biased towards more recent players. Look, Braylon was great, but was he really better than Larry Fitzgerald or Randy Moss in college? Can you really put Jake Long on there and not have Orlando Pace? Where does Warren Sapp go? Is Reggie Bush really the best running back? How about Eddie George or Ricky Williams?
January 9th, 2009 at 6:35 PM ^
"Look, Braylon was great, but was he really better than Larry Fitzgerald or Randy Moss in college?"
Absolutely.
January 10th, 2009 at 5:45 PM ^
You can make a case for Braylon over Fitzgerald, but Randy Moss was unreal. The only "knock" on him is that he played at Marshall.
January 13th, 2009 at 1:46 AM ^
Randy Moss was a great college player. I do knock him for playing at Marshall (both 1-A and 1-AA Marshall, mind you), and I do knock him for well documented off-field snags, but the numbers don't lie. That said, Braylon's intangibles (a stellar senior year with a very young QB, exhausting his eligibility, the MSU game, etc.) just give him more of an edge over Randy Moss in my opinion.
When it comes down to it, I'd rather have Braylon on my team than Moss. Numbers aside.
January 13th, 2009 at 6:50 PM ^
You can knock Moss for playing at a small school, but doesn't the fact he has been absurdly dominant for long stretches in the NFL kinda demonstrate that he would have been similarly effective at the "BCS" level?
January 13th, 2009 at 4:42 PM ^
I don't know about Braylon being better than Randy Moss...dude was untouchable and put Marshall on the map! When Braylon starts returning kicks then we can talk...
January 9th, 2009 at 6:41 PM ^
In 2005 he ran away with the Heisman, even though Vince Young and Matt Leinart were active. He went for 9 yards a carry. George and Williams might deserve it to, but Bush is significantly higher than any RB in recent years.
January 9th, 2009 at 6:10 PM ^
But, it is always subjective. And in my opinion, yes Braylon was better than both Randy and Larry in college. The guy made Navarre and a freshman Henne look like all world Quarterbacks. I see your point with Eddie George, but again in my opinion Reggie Bush in college was better than Eddie George yes. Ricky Williams, I have never been high on. Warren Sapp was good as well as Orlando Pace...But again, as I said, the list is subjective. There is no one definitive way to determine who is the best. It is just ones opinion.
January 9th, 2009 at 6:30 PM ^
As you say, it's subjective, but it's hard to claim that Michigan would have 3 representatives on the "ten best" list when schools like Miami, which won something like 5 championships in the time span, have zero.
January 9th, 2009 at 6:43 PM ^
Jake, Braylon, Charles, and Desmond are on his list.
January 9th, 2009 at 6:59 PM ^
Yeah, the only one I can argue for is Woodson.
I mean, Jake was great, but was he better than Robert Gallery, Tony Boselli, Joe Thomas, Jon Jansen, Flozell Adams, or Orlando Pace? Maybe some - but I'd say Boselli and Pace were probably better.
I'd say Peter Warrick had a better, and similar, career to Howard, to name one.
Moss was probably better than Braylon.
Then there's all those dudes who never became anything in the pros - like Charlie Ward was fucking amazing. Eric Crouch? Tommy Frazier? Ricky Williams? That fat-ass Wisconsin RB?
January 9th, 2009 at 7:06 PM ^
Jake was certainly better than Joe Thomas. Thomas' senior year he was not the offensive lineman of the year in the big ten, Jake was. And the Jake was again the next year.
However, Hutch was better than both. He was all Big Ten 4(!) times.
January 9th, 2009 at 7:13 PM ^
I wasn't necessarily saying Thomas was better - my point is that it's hard to differentiate between these road-grader type OT's.
January 13th, 2009 at 2:04 AM ^
ken dorsey.
Willis McGahee's PCL.
Woody Williams 15 arrests.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:07 AM ^
Willie Williams
January 9th, 2009 at 6:36 PM ^
glenn dorsey? glenn f*cking dorsey!?
January 9th, 2009 at 6:38 PM ^
I will say this: by sheer statistical weight, it is nearly impossible to claim Tebow is not one of the ten best players of the past 20 years. I'm trying to think of a QB who's career would match his after he adds ANOTHER season of accomplishments, and I can't.
January 9th, 2009 at 6:57 PM ^
Really. "sheer statistical weight".
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/stats/bycategory?cat=Passing&conf…
TT is not even on the list of the top 30 QBs (2008)
Not in top 20 (2007)
Not in top 30 (2006)
Based on Yards passing.
Nice try. But just posting "sheer statistical weight" does not make it so.
Give us some real stats.
I expect way more from WLA.
January 9th, 2009 at 7:11 PM ^
So you're going to compare Tebow's passing yards to Harrell's on 200 fewer attempts? That's well reasoned.
My preferred measure of QB'ing is yards per pass attempt (obviously, you need a minimum number of pass attempts to qualify - I wouldn't compare a QB to a RB who throws 2 complete bombs), as it balances out completion %, and difficulty of throw. It is, literally, how much the QB produces every time they go back to throw.
This year, Tebow is 3rd, behind Tulsa's David Johnson and Sam Bradford. He also had a 30/4 TD Int. He also threw fewer interceptions per attempt than any QB in football.
Last year, Tebow was 1st in yards per attempt and 1st in interceptions per attempt.
Add in that he ran for 1700 yards between the two years which is more than you can say for any QB that is in the passing discussion, and led a team to a National Championship, it's hard to argue.
January 9th, 2009 at 7:33 PM ^
Really: Same source as above for 2008.
Johnson 10.1 YPA
Goodson 10.1
Bradford 9.8
Robinson 9.8
TT: 9.2
Davis 9.0
McCoy 8.9
Sanchex 8.8
Teel 8.
Moore 8.6
My statistical professor would have flunked my if I called this "sheer statistical weight"
January 9th, 2009 at 7:37 PM ^
Goodson is a running back, I have no idea who Robinson is.
January 9th, 2009 at 7:50 PM ^
I can't find a Goodson on this list:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/stats/byposition?pos=QB&conferenc…
I missed Zac Robinson, my bad.
Regardless, you're distorting my argument. I specifically included the assumption that Tebow would play again next year and have a season of comparable quality. I think we'll be hard pressed to find a 3-year starter (and 4-year contributor) who plays at that high a level for the duration of his career, based on YPA, Passer Efficiency, rushing yards, and National Championships. Yes, longevity counts. Does contributing for 4 years make Tebow a "better college player" than someone who has only 2 good years? Yes. When Tebow played a significant role on a championship team, Bradford was redshirting.
January 9th, 2009 at 8:12 PM ^
but the four best players I've seen in college football, in terms of a non-stat opinion, based strictly on their impact on a game and dominating the opponent, are Bush, Tebow, Woodson and Young
January 13th, 2009 at 4:49 PM ^
I agree with all four of the guys you've listed above. I think one criteria should be if the individual was capable of taking over a game...basically beating a team all by himself. Those guys above did that...
Bush against Fresno State among others
Young ofcourse in the Rose Bowl against USC
Tebow against Alabama, Florida State
Woodson against OSU
January 17th, 2009 at 12:25 PM ^
BLASPHEMOUS... I REFUSE TO READ ANY FURTHER!!!
January 9th, 2009 at 7:22 PM ^
Harris completed all his passes for touchdowns. Yes, all of them! Sure, he only threw one, but what more do you want? (Your link shows a lot of running backs who've throw passes, I think.)
Tebow's the no. 2 career passer at the moment, though:
http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2008/Internet/career/careerPassB15.html
Personally, I want to wait until the guy goes pro to make any judgements on his career. Could be in a few months, although we'll see.
January 9th, 2009 at 7:33 PM ^
Because passing yards is the ONLY stat that define good quarterback play.
Maybe you should stop watching Michigan football for a while, I guarantee we're not going to do well in the passing yards category.
January 10th, 2009 at 6:35 PM ^
Tebows value is not solely passing. The man runs tough. Over his 3 years on the gators he has 43 rushing tds, which is more than Mike Hart had for his career. I'd say he had impressive stats.
January 10th, 2009 at 6:44 PM ^
too - has he ever missed a game due to injury?
IIRC he played with a broken wrist or something at the end of 2007
January 13th, 2009 at 2:07 AM ^
He's played with a severed spinal cord since birth. He's a man's man.
January 9th, 2009 at 6:39 PM ^
In the past 20 years, I can't think of a better college or professional WR than a properly-motivated Randy Moss.
January 13th, 2009 at 4:52 PM ^
Dude basically put Marshall on the map. Didn't he break Desmond's record for consecutive games with a TD catch? (which I believe was later broken by Larry Fitzgerald)Randy was unstoppable and even returned kicks!
January 9th, 2009 at 7:33 PM ^
Again, I would put those guys on my team and not flinch. That is over Moss, Fitzgerald and throw whatever receiver you want to out there. I would take Vince the unstoppable freaking Young over Tebow. We made Tebow look like cat litter, Vince Young was looking like a video game when we played him. Jake IMHO was the best tackle that I have seen. Again, let me qualify my picks by players I have actually seen play. I can't say that I follow college football with enough verocity to say that I've seen every play that Pace made or Joe Thomas. I just saw them play Michigan and again I would take Jake without batting an eye. If I really wanted to be a homer I could have taken Henson or Brady or some crap like that.
January 9th, 2009 at 7:39 PM ^
Bluetell wherever there's an obvious joke (that's already been completely beaten into the ground) waiting to be made, then I'll be there to make it happen.
I am glad somebody mentioned Tommie Frazier, that guy was about as dominant as anybody I can remember in recent college football history. Didn't he miss the entire year one season and still come back for the bowl game and tear it up?? He'd probably be my #1. In terms of best that I've seen in person I'd probably go with Woodson, McNabb or (ugh)Kordell Stewart.
January 9th, 2009 at 7:47 PM ^
I would have to agree with that. I forgot totally about Frazier.
January 9th, 2009 at 7:51 PM ^
McNabb is probably the best college player I can remember seeing in the past 15 years.
January 10th, 2009 at 6:25 PM ^
I almost fell off the bleacher in the student section when McNabb came around left tackle into the open field and put a ridiculous juke on whatever poor LB/DB was coming up to try and tackle him. I was amazed.
January 9th, 2009 at 7:58 PM ^
Jake Long? Come on dude, I know all us Michigan fans love him, but would anyone in their right mind put an O-Lineman on that list?
January 9th, 2009 at 11:59 PM ^
put an O-Lineman on the list. If you watch the guy play the position and see how he dominated defenders. How he just flat out pancaked guys and know that most of those most rushing yards in school history Mike Hart got he got running behind Jake then yeah, I think it warrants a look. Again, I will say it is subjective. IF I put four Michigan guys on my top ten then I do. I tell you what, I wouldn't put Tebow in top five quarterbacks more less players that I have seen in college. But again your list is your list and this isn't hey pick apart my list. The post was writing in the hopes of seeing who you guys thought were the top ten players you've seen in the past 20 years.
January 10th, 2009 at 12:25 AM ^
This is what you said in your post: "I couldn't argue with anyone who takes objectection with my list"
Then you go ahead and argue with my objection. Strange.
The problem is that o-lineman are difficult to judge. They don't have numbers that you can stand behind. Watching them in action proves difficult as you generally try to follow the ball (which they don't have). Jake Long was great, obvs. #2 of the last 20 years is a sttttttttttttretch. There. Again, I have objected to your list, and according to your own post, you can't argue with it.
January 10th, 2009 at 12:44 AM ^
Me giving reason as to why I consider him to be in my top ten is not arguing it is stating my case for my selection.
January 10th, 2009 at 1:17 AM ^
This doesn't strike me as stating your case: "But again your list is your list and this isn't hey pick apart my list."
Also, you wrote: "The post was writing in the hopes of seeing who you guys thought were the top ten players you've seen in the past 20 years."
But you never made that clear in the post, that was just in your head, or you just thought it up on the spot.
To me your coming across as if objecting to your pick is somehow against your "rules", whereas in your post you clearly state that objections are fine. I don't get it.
I'll stop now, it's far too late to fuck around with this.
Good idea for a post though.
January 9th, 2009 at 8:03 PM ^
If you're going to go with so many Michigan players you might as well add Derrick Alexander, David Terrell, Tom Brady, Drew Henson, Chad Henne, Mike Hart, Marlin Jackson, Leon Hall, Lamar Woodley, Alan Branch, etc, etc, etc, etc.
January 9th, 2009 at 8:16 PM ^
Alain Kashima, the freak
January 9th, 2009 at 8:17 PM ^
At first I saw this post and was all excited to throw Red Grange, "The Galloping Ghost," in the list. Then I saw that it was limited to the past 20 years.
I haven't thought about a complete list, but I'll at least say that Tebow, Woodson, Young, Howard, Dayne and Sanders (assuming he can still edge in the 20 year mark) are on mine. I don't want to limit the list to just skill players, so Orlando Pace and Warren Sapp would probably have a place on there too, but again, I haven't thought about it much. I'm drawing a blank on linebackers. Arrington maybe?
If the time period were a little longer, I'd probably throw Bo Jackson on there too.
January 9th, 2009 at 9:00 PM ^
Take all the award winners and finalists from each position over the past 20 years, that will give you list of about 1000. From there, look for repeat finalists, margin of victory over runner up, team record and end of year ranking, and a few other variables, run a regression. This will give you the result you seek.
1. Vince Young
2. Tim Tebow
3. SEC
4. Fat running back from Wisconsin
5. Manning (the funny one, not the doochebag in NY)
6. Reggie Bush
7. Matt Leinart
8. Charles Woodson
9-17. A bunch of dudes who played in the late 80's/early 90's, whom I cannot remember because it just doesn't really matter.
18. Some Houston quarterback... they used to put up sick numbers.
19. Barry Sanders
20. TBD
January 9th, 2009 at 10:10 PM ^
In any order you want but mine top players are Barry Sanders, Ron Dayne, Ricky Williams, Charles Woodson, Vince Young, Reggie Bush, Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, Tim Tebow.
January 10th, 2009 at 1:10 AM ^
It took 31 posts before anyone mentioned Barry Sanders?? You should all be slathered with peanut butter and tied to a Fire Ant hill. Or to a tree in Charlie Weis' front yard.