The Best College Football Player All Time!

[HuskerOC]

Two words: Tommy Frazier

Geezus H Cristmas.

Tommie.

 

[NolePride]

I like you train of thought but I tend to go a step further and give extra weight to iron men players. I end up debating between Bronko Nagurski, Jim Butkus and Chuck Bednarik to challenge Jim Thorpe.

Somebody wrote about Butkus being an All-American at Center and LB. Bednarik was the NFL's last, 60-minute man
who was all-pro as a LB and an Offensive Center. His hit on Frank Gifford is still a classic, must see.

But, I've got to add two names to your list. Jim Brown and Roger Staubach. Staubacj remains the greatest college
QB that ever lived, and even taking the feats of Jim Thorpe into consideration, Jim Brown is the greatest College
Athlete in History.

 

[batchaps4me]

Somebody wrote about Butkus being an All-American at Center and LB. Bednarik was the NFL's last, 60-minute man
who was all-pro as a LB and an Offensive Center. His hit on Frank Gifford is still a classic, must see.

But, I've got to add two names to your list. Jim Brown and Roger Staubach. Staubacj remains the greatest college
QB that ever lived, and even taking the feats of Jim Thorpe into consideration, Jim Brown is the greatest College
Athlete in History.

Solid names and I could make an argument for both Brown and Staubach. I love seeing the different perspectives because it is really hard to compare different eras and positions. We disagree on Brown v Thorpe though.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Of course but Archie Griffin is right there

 

[obxyankeefan]

I was at a UVA at VA Tech game when Michael Vick left with an injury. I have never seen a stadium react the way Lane did when Vick came back from the locker room.


Alton Grizzard. If Staubach is the GOAT, then wouldn't the guy that broke his records be better?

 

[outofyourmind]

Maybe this guy

 

[JuiceTheGator]

lmao @ this thread.


The complete player.

 

[tnapucco]

 

[NolePride]

Solid names and I could make an argument for both Brown and Staubach. I love seeing the different perspectives because it is really hard to compare different eras and positions. We disagree on Brown v Thorpe though.

True, it is very difficult to compare the "eras" but I've always liked Brown and Thorpe because with their size
at running back they could have competed today. Thorpe was playing in 1912 at 6-2 190. He was bigger than
many OT's. Brown played at 6-2 232...with speed.

Thorpe's exploits in College Football and track are noteworthy. His performance in the 1912 Olympics was unreal,
winning the Pentathlon and Decathlon. That's 15 events in 2 weeks.

But Brown is no slouch either in college sports. 5th in the Heisman...He should have won it. 15 ppg for Syracuse
in basketball. He was a track lettermen and finished 5th in the nation in the decathlon and then he matched
all of that by being named the Best Lacrosse player in History.

He could play any game at a superior level.

The naming of Michael Jordan as the greatest athlete of the 20th century was a fraud. He couldn't play minor
league baseball. Thorpe, Brown, Bo Jackson, Deion and even Charlie Ward would rank above Jordan as an
"athlete." Charlie won the Heiman and revolutionized the QB position. he played in the NBA for 12 seasons,
was a 15th round draft choice, out of High School of the Seattle Mariners and was a world class tennis player.

Jordan is probably the greatest NBA player of all-time, but I wouldn't vote for him as the best ever in college
ball. Alcindor (Jabbar) probably gets that honor, or maybe George Mikan.

 

[AlaskaGuy]

OJ Simpson

 

[iowajerms]

IMO, Red Grange should be considered best college football player of all time. Nobody stood out during their time like Grange did during his time.

 

[Deep Creek]

Frickin' whippersnappers....non historians of CFB

 

[Deep Creek]

IMO, Red Grange should be considered best college football player of all time. Nobody stood out during their time like Grange did during his time.

There's one for the old guys. Well done.

 

[Wild Turkey]

The kid had a great season and he and his receivers were in synch better than I can remember seeing in college football but at the end of the day Burrow didn't have to put games solely on his shoulders and deliver the W. What I saw Cam Newton do with his supporting cast was out of this world and shouldn't have happened.

Joe will probably be the better Pro QB (if he gets with the right team because luck is involved) but for a championship season to season comparison I would go with Cam over Joe.

 

[Wild Turkey]

Marcus Mariota
Dennis Dixon had he not gotten injured

I can say with zero doubt that no Oregon player is anywhere close to the top 10.

 

[Wild Turkey]

I surprised the Bammer aren't in here with some of their defensive players. Derrik Thomas and Keith McCants were freaks on the college gridiron.

 

[theboardref]

The kid had a great season and he and his receivers were in synch better than I can remember seeing in college football but at the end of the day Burrow didn't have to put games solely on his shoulders and deliver the W. What I saw Cam Newton do with his supporting cast was out of this world and shouldn't have happened.

Joe will probably be the better Pro QB (if he gets with the right team because luck is involved) but for a championship season to season comparison I would go with Cam over Joe.

I just had to put my boy in the conversation. In terms of Heisman winning season performances though he has to be in the conversation. The numbers are slightly skewed but still.

Cam legit had to do that by himself. Plus he had to suffer through Gene Chizik as his head coach.

 

[theboardref]

IMO, Red Grange should be considered best college football player of all time. Nobody stood out during their time like Grange did during his time.

He also played when football was segregated. I have a hard time calling anyone who played the greatest at their sport when training is vastly superior present day.

 

[Ickey Shuffle]

Reggie Bush for me.

 

[cwalke3408]

My unbiased opinion