Greatest College Football Players of All-Time (Ranked 25 -> 1)
25. Dan Morgan - (LB, Miami FL)
The heart of Miami’s 2000 defense, Morgan became the first player ever to win the Butkus, Bednarik, and Nagurski Awards in the same season. A relentless tackler and true field general.
24. Roy Williams - (S, Oklahoma)
An electrifying safety best remembered for his “Superman” leap vs. Texas in 2001. Williams won both the Nagurski and Thorpe Awards that year, symbolizing his dominance in the secondary.
23. Terrell Suggs - (DE, Arizona State)
In 2002, Suggs shattered the NCAA single-season sack record with 24. A nightmare off the edge, he redefined pass rushing for college defenders.
22. Bryant McKinnie - (LT, Miami FL)
A mountain of a man who never allowed a single sack in his college career. The 2001 Outland Trophy winner anchored one of the most talented teams in college history.
21. Deshaun Watson - (QB, Clemson)
Calm under pressure, Deshaun Watson led Clemson to the 2016 national championship and finished his college football career with over 10,000 passing yards. A big-game assassin.
20. Jonathan Taylor - (RB, Wisconsin)
Taylor rushed for 6,000+ yards in just three seasons and won back-to-back Doak Walker Awards. A model of power, vision, and consistency.
19. Khalil Mack - (LB/Edge, Buffalo)
From a small school to national dominance, Mack tied the NCAA record for tackles for loss (75). His explosiveness made him one of the most feared defenders of the century.
18. Steve McNair - (QB, Alcorn State)
“Air McNair” rewrote FCS record books with 14,496 passing yards and 119 TDs. His 1994 Heisman runner-up finish remains one of the highest ever for a small-school player.
17. Matt Leinart - (QB, USC)
The cool-headed leader of Pete Carroll’s dynasty, Leinart won the 2004 Heisman and two national titles, going 37-2 as a starter for the Trojans.
16. Christian McCaffrey - (RB, Stanford)
A do-it-all dynamo, McCaffrey set an NCAA record with 3,864 all-purpose yards in 2015. His versatility made him nearly unstoppable from anywhere on the field.
15. Aaron Donald - (DT, Pitt)
The ultimate technician in the trenches. In 2013, Donald swept every major defensive award after terrorizing offenses with his speed and power.
14. DeVonta Smith - (WR, Alabama)
“DeVonta the Dominator” became the first WR to win the Heisman since 1991, torching defenses for 1,856 yards and 23 TDs in 2020.
13. Larry Fitzgerald - (WR, Pittsburgh)
A master craftsman at wide receiver, Larry Fitzgerald dominated college football with his precision, body control, and unmatched hands. In 2003, he caught 92 passes for 1,672 yards and 22 touchdowns, earning unanimous All-American honors and finishing as the Heisman Trophy runner-up.
12. Tommie Frazier - (QB, Nebraska)
Tommie Frazier was the heartbeat of Nebraska’s powerhouse in the mid-1990s, leading the Cornhuskers to back-to-back national championships in 1994 and 1995 with a staggering 32-3 record as a starter. A master of the option offense, Frazier combined pinpoint decision-making with blazing speed, turning every read into a potential touchdown.
11. Baker Mayfield - (QB, Oklahoma)
Considered one of the best quarterbacks in Oklahoma history, Mayfield left a lasting mark with his records, Heisman Trophy win, and the leadership he displayed on and off the field.
10. Lamar Jackson - (QB, Louisville)
A human highlight reel, Jackson became the youngest Heisman winner ever in 2016. His blend of speed and arm talent made defenses look helpless.
9. Ed Reed - (S, Miami FL)
The emotional core of Miami’s early-2000s dominance, Reed’s instincts produced 21 career INTs. A true game-changer and vocal leader.
8. Ndamukong Suh - (DT, Nebraska)
A one-man wrecking crew in 2009, Suh single-handedly destroyed offenses and won nearly every defensive award available. Pure chaos in pads.
7. Jerry Rice - (WR, Mississippi Valley State)
Before the NFL greatness, Rice was rewriting college record books — 112 receptions, 1,845 yards, 27 TDs in 1984. The blueprint for every receiver since.
6. Joe Burrow - (QB, LSU)
A storybook 2019 season: 15-0 record, 5,671 yards, 60 TDs, and a national title. Burrow delivered perhaps the greatest single season ever by a QB.
5. Herschel Walker - (RB, Georgia)
A powerhouse from day one, Walker rushed for 5,259 yards in 3 seasons and won the 1982 Heisman. The ultimate combination of speed and strength.
4. Tim Tebow - (QB, Florida)
Two-time national champ and 2007 Heisman winner, Tebow’s passion and power defined the Urban Meyer era at Florida. A leader in every sense.
3. Vince Young - (QB, Texas)
His 2006 Rose Bowl performance, 467 yards and 3 TDs vs. USC, remains one of the greatest games ever. A transcendent dual-threat QB.
2. Reggie Bush - (RB, USC)
An explosive, graceful force of nature. Reggie Bush’s 2005 season for USC Trojans (8.7 YPC, 2,218 yards) redefined what a running back could be. He was electric every time he touched the ball.
1. Cam Newton - (QB, Auburn)
In 2010, Newton carried Auburn to a 14-0 national title season with 50 total TDs. One of the most complete and dominant individual seasons in college football history.
