10 Greatest College Players

[Forksref]

Between his sophomore and senior seasons, Archie Griffin ran for 100 or more yards in 31 consecutive regular-season games. That is still an NCAA record, as is his 33 career 100-yard games. Many times, Archie only played half a game because the Buckeyes were so far ahead. He was on 4 Big Ten Title teams, the only player to have won 2 Heismans and is the only player to ever start in 4 consecutive Rose Bowls.

Vic Janowicz of Elyria, Ohio, may have been the best all round player at Ohio State. He won the Heisman as a junior and would have won it again had it not been for the new coach, Woody Hayes and his T offense. Vic could run and throw and kick as well as play defense. He once ran for 2 TD's and threw for 4 TD's and set a Big Ten record with 10 extra points, all in one game. He played professional baseball for the Pirates and football for the Redskins before his career was cut short by an automobile accident that left him partially paralyzed.

[jimpiano]

The excerpt is from Wikipedia just because it is concise about Barry Sanders in College:

Sanders played for the Oklahoma State Cowboys from 1986 to 1988, and wore the number 21. During his first two years, he backed up All-American Thurman Thomas. Thomas moved on to the NFL, and Sanders became the starter for his junior year.
In 1988, in what has been called the greatest season in college football history,[1] Sanders led the nation by averaging 7.6 yards per carry and over 200 yards per game, including rushing for over 300 yards in four games. He set college football season records with 2,628 yards rushing, 3,249 total yards, 234 points, 39 touchdowns, of which 37 were rushing (also a record), 5 consecutive 200 yard games, scored at least 2 touchdowns in 11 consecutive games, and 9 times he scored at least 3 touchdowns. Sanders also ran for 222 yards and 5 touchdowns in his three quarters of action in the Holiday Bowl - a game that was not included with his season statistics.[2] Sanders won the Heisman Trophy as the season's most outstanding player.

There is simply no better running back in the modern era of college football than Sanders.

Number two, by the standards set by Sanders, is a distant second.

The biggest disappointment for me, an Ohio State season ticket holder, is that Barry turned pro before he and Oklahoma State were scheduled to play in Columbus in 1989. It would have been something to see Sanders come into Ohio Stadium chasing another Heisman in the home of the only two time winner.

[parepat]

Originally Posted by GregBar

This is my list What do you think?
10- Tony Dorsett -Pitt
9- Jim Brown - Syracus
8- Charles Woodson- Michigan
7- Roger Staubach - Navy
6- Dick Butkus - Illinois
5- Earl Campbell- Texas
4- Doak Walker- SMU
3- Jim Thorpe- Carlisle
2- Archie Griffin- Ohio State
1- Herschel Walker- Georgia

I could have listed Payton Manning at 10 and moved everyone else up one as Herschel Walker is in a class by himself.

Brown was not as dominant in college. Woodson is a stretch. Staubach is a great pick and is under rated. Archie was great but #2 is a bit high.

Barry was a fantastic talent and an all time great. However, he couldn't break the starting lineup until a junior. Thus, how can you be in the top ten all time when you weren't even the best player at your position on your team. Similar arguments can be made about Marcus Allen.

Some others to consider Hugh Green, Bo Jackson, Ernie Davis, Billy Sims, Mike Rozier, Charles White

[OverAndBack]

Originally Posted by parepat

Brown was not as dominant in college.

True fact: Jim Brown played 24 college football games. 16 of them were played in New York state. He only played in one bowl game (the Cotton after his senior year, which Syracuse lost 28-27 to TCU). Prior to that trip to Dallas, the farthest west SU and Brown played a game was Champaign, IL.

True fact: His college career consisted of 361 carries. Central Florida's Kevin Smith had 450 this season.


Year.....G..Att....Yds..Avg..TD...YPG...Pts
1954.....8....75...439..1.3...4...54.9...24
1955.....8...128...666..5.2...7...83.3...42
1956.....8...158...986..6.2..13..123.3...78
Totals..24...361..2091..5.8..24...87.1..144


He was a heck of a player, obviously, but circumstances prevented him from getting the kind of numbers we see from a "best back in the country" now.

I think what we now know about Brown's greatness influenced his selection, as did the fact that he was such a tremendous athlete (garnering All-American honors in football and lacrosse).

[waltjp]

Jim Brown's best sport, and his favorite, was lacrosse.