NCAA College Football is an American football league where student-athlete teams of American universities, colleges, and military academies come against student-athletes of Canadian universities. American football rules achieved traction in the United States first through college football.
Unlike any other sports in North America, in American or Canadian football, there is no official minor league association. College football is commonly known as second-tier in the US and Canada; a step above the secondary school tournaments, and a step below the professional competition. However, college football is more important than professional football in some parts of the world, and college football was considered more renowned than professional football for most of the early 20th century.
The success and performance of the player directly affect his chances of playing professional football in college football. After three to four years of collegiate competition, the top college players usually announce their yearly NFL draft, with 256 players chosen each year. Let's take a look at the Top 11 College Football Players of All-Time.
11. John Elway (Stanford, 1979-1982)
In four seasons Elway already had accrued remarkable numbers amid a gaping void in his college description. Despite Stanford's 20-23 record with it as a starter, he completed 774 passes for 9,349 yards and 77 touchdowns.
He was an American Consensus and was second in the Heisman vote in 1982.
10. Harold “Red” Grange (Illinois, 1923-1925)
Grange was the hero of Illinois from 1923-25 and earned an 8-0 season in 1923 for them. For three seasons, he starred with 2,074 yards, 575 yards, and eleven interceptions. At 30.2 yards per kickoff return, he still has the Illinois record.
The NFL was legitimized by Grange's popularity at the university level, and that is why the "The Galloping Ghost" legend continues to exist today.
9. Charles Woodson (Michigan, 1995-1997)
Charles Woodson is the only defensive player to have ever won the Heisman Trophy. He scored for Michigan and heavily protected the Ohio state in every way possible in his landmark 1997 victory.
He returned turnovers, pulled balls, ran the ball on, and returning points. During the competition, he won almost every imaginable university distinction, including the Walter Camp and the Jim Thorpe Awards.
8. Tommie Frazier (Nebraska, 1992-1995)
Frazier is potentially the best quarterback choice ever. He was the last champion in the 1990s of Tom Osborne's Nebraska dynasty. He was a startup at 33-3 and led the National Championship back-to-back from 1994 to 1995.
He was the master in an implacable rush, he rushed 3,521 yards, 1,955 running yards, and 79 touchdowns. He never won the Heisman Award, but somehow everybody recalls who was the greatest winner of that decade.
7. Tony Dorsett (Pittsburgh, 1973-1976)
Tony Dorsett is a guy who ran easily. He played at Pitt when the Panthers were nationally important. During the Heisman Trophy in 1976, he led them to the National Championship.
He reached the All-American three times and ended his career at a rate of about 6,082 yards, and he held that record until Texas' Ricky Williams broke it in 1998.
6. Earl Campbell (Texas, 1974-1977)
In his first two seasons, Campbell rushed 2,046 yards for Texas. Campbell struggled as a junior to tackle hamstring injuries and 20 pounds excess weight. Three games were missing and the beer car style that made him so dangerous had never been seen downhill.
Campbell got fit, lost 20 pounds, and rushed to 1,744 yards, 6.5 yards at a time under the new coach, Fred Akers. He won the 1977 Heisman trophy.
5. Tim Tebow (Florida, 2006-2009)
Tebow one of the most famous players to have been loved and hated at the same time, but no one can ignore his significance. In his first season in 2006, he played a part in the Gators Championship and was the first to win the Heisman trophy.
He didn’t get to lift the trophy for the second time, but still was in the run and led Florida to the BCS championship of 2008. Tebow ended his NCAA career with some sterling numbers, 88 touchdown passes and 57 touchdown runs.
4. Barry Sanders (Oklahoma State, 1986-1988)
Barry Sanders was pretty much an anonymous alternative to Thurman Thomas during the first two seasons in Oklahoma State. Once Sanders had the potential to be the most influential figure in the college football narrative, he offered what many deem the largest solo season.
At an average of 7.6 yards, Sanders rushed to 2,628 yards and cruised to win the Heisman Trophy in 1988. He also had 42 touchdowns when his excellent performance was included in the Holiday Bowl that season.
3. Archie Griffin (Ohio State, 1972-1975)
Archie Griffin ran for 1,577 yards as a sophomore in Ohio State in 1974 and captured the Heisman Trophy. He rushed as a senior for 1,450 meters — and again won Heisman. Griffin was Heisman's first and only double champion, and still only.
Griffin strengthened his record with two Walter Camp awards and a Maxwell Trophy. In addition, He was a Heisman finalist in his sophomore year.
2. Bo Jackson (Auburn, 1982-1985)
As a two-sports hero with both the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Royals, Jackson became the face of Nike and the "Bo Knows" campaign. But Jackson was a football star and baseball hero in Auburn before anything.
In 1985, Jackson raced at 1,786 yards, averaging 6,4 yards per rush, the highest pace in SEC history at the time for a season.
1. Herschel Walker (Georgia, 1980-1982)
Walker exploded as the first freshman of Georgia in 1980, the year in which the Bulldogs won a National Championship and he was the greatest running back ever to play college football. With 1,891 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, Walker started his impressive freshman season; however, he finished second for the Heisman Trophy.
Finally, as he hurried down for 1,752 yards and 16 touchdowns, he received the trophy in his junior year.
