Top 50 College Football Players

SINow.com recently re-ranked the top 50 college football players in the sport's 150+ year history. I'd say they did a decent job. Hard to believe I've seen all but 4 or 5 of these players in action.

50. Bubba Smith, Michigan State DE 1964-1966

49. Joe Montana, Notre Dame QB 1974-1978 

48. Ozzie Newsome, Alabama TE 1974-1977

47. Michael Vick, Virginia Tech QB 1998-2000

46. Joe Greene, North Texas DE 1966-1968

45. Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M QB 2011-2013

44. Derrick Thomas, Alabama LB 1985-1988

43. Dave Rimington, Nebraska C 1979-1982

42. Marcus Allen, USC RB 1978-1981

41. Walter Payton, Jackson State RB 1971-1974

40. Sammy Baugh, TCU QB S 1934-1936

39. Travis Hunter WR CB Jackson St 2022 Colorado 2023-2024

38. Billy Sims, Oklahoma RB 1975-1979

37. Paul Hornung, Notre Dame QB RB S K P 1954-1956

36. Doc Blanchard RB LB K P UNC 1942, Army 1944-1946

35. Steve McNair, Alcorn State QB 1991-1994

34. Tommie Frazier, Nebraska QB 1992-1995 

33. Matt Leinart, USC QB 2001-2005

32. Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska DT 2005-2009

31. Peyton Manning, Tennessee QB 1994-1997

30. Larry Fitzgerald, Pitt WR 2002-2003

29. Bronko Nagurski, Minnesota RB DT 1927-1929

28. DeVonta Smith, Alabama WR 2017-2020

27. Ed Reed, Miami S 1997-2001

26. Lamar Jackson, Louisville QB 2015-2017

25. Baker Mayfield QB Texas Tech 2013, Oklahoma 2014-2017

24. OJ Simpson, USC RB 1967-1968

23. Reggie White, Tennessee DL 1980-1983

22. Jerry Rice, Miss Valley State WR 1981-1984

21. Archie Griffin, Ohio State RB 1972-1975

20. Ricky Williams, Texas RB 1995-1998

19. Vince Young, Texas QB 2002-2005

18. Charles Woods on, Michigan CB WR 1995-1997

17. Tony Dorsett, Pitt RB 1973-1976

16. Roger Staubach, Navy QB 1961-1964

15. Reggie Bush, USC RB 2003-2005

14. Deion Sanders, FSU CB 1985-1988

13. Joe Burrow QB Ohio State 2015-2017, LSU 2018-2019

12. Hugh Green, Pitt DE 1977-1980

11. Earl Campbell, Texas RB 1974-1977

10. Orlando Pace, Ohio State OT 1994-1996

9. Red Grange, Illinois RB DB 1923-1925

8. Tim Tebow, Florida QB 2006-2009

7. Dick Butkus, Illinois LB C 1962-1964

6. Bo Jackson, Auburn RB 1982-1985

5. Cam Newton QB Florida 2007-2008, Auburn 2010

4. Jim Thorpe, Carlisle RB DB K P 1907-1908 1911-1912

3. Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State RB 1986-1988

2. Herschel Walker, Georgia RB 1980-1982

1. Jim Brown, Syracuse RB DB K 1954-1956