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Best college football players of all time ranked by jersey number

By John Buhler

Clemson Tigers. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Clemson Tigers. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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USCs Reggie Bush takes a kickoff during the USC Trojans game versus Texas Longhorns in the Rose bowl game and BCS National Championship at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. USC was defeated by Texas 41 to 38. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images)
USCs Reggie Bush takes a kickoff during the USC Trojans game versus Texas Longhorns in the Rose bowl game and BCS National Championship at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. USC was defeated by Texas 41 to 38. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images) /
5

Reggie Bush

Running Back, USC Trojans

We may have seen the latest model of the multi-purpose Pac-12 tailback rocking the No. 5 in Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey. He could end up having an outstanding NFL career. However, Reggie Bush was simply electrifying for the USC Trojans a little over a decade ago.

Bush was a two-time All-American, a two-time National Champion, a Doak Walker Award winner, a Walter Camp Award winner and the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner. Though he did have to forfeit his Heisman for being ineligible, Bush did stuff on the football field we had never seen before. In three years at USC, Bush had 4,470 yards from scrimmage for 38 touchdowns.

6

Robbie Bosco

Quarterback, BYU Cougars

The No. 6 jersey is not one of the most sought after jerseys in the college football landscape. However, the best to wear it collegiately is the most overlooked passer from the 1980s in the form of BYU Cougars signal caller Robbie Bosco.

BYU may have had other more high-profile quarterbacks in LaVell Edwards’ prolific passing game like Ty Detmer, Jim McMahon and Steve Young, but it was Bosco that led the Cougars to their only National Championship in 1984. Bosco finished third in the Heisman voting twice in 1984 and 1985. He left Provo having completed 64.0 percent of his passes for 8,400 yards, 66 touchdowns and 36 interceptions.

7

Danny Wuerffel

Quarterback, Florida Gators

While No. 6 is not a preferred jersey number for many, you better believe that No. 7 is. From Joe Theismann to John Elway to Michael Vick, all have worn No. 7 in their college careers. While picking any other those three wouldn’t be bad, Danny Wuerffel did something none of those three did in college: win a national title and a Heisman Trophy.

Wuerffel starred under Steve Spurrier’s tutelage with the Florida Gators. He won the 1996 National Championship as the Gators star quarterback, joining his head coach as the second Gator to have ever won a Heisman. The Gators won the SEC all four years he was enrolled in Gainesville. Wuerffel completed 60.5 percent of his passes for 10,875 yards, 114 touchdowns and 42 interceptions as a collegiate.

8

Davey O'Brien

Quarterback, TCU Horned Frogs

This could change depending on what Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson does in his junior season after winning the 2016 Heisman Trophy. Oregon Ducks quarterback and 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota also has a strong stake at being the best No. 8 in college football.

However, it’s difficult to look past college football legend Davey O’Brien. At TCU, O’Brien won the 1938 National Championship, the Maxwell Award, the Heisman Trophy and was a unanimous All-American that season for the Horned Frogs. He has an award named after him for the best college football quarterback that season. In 1938, O’Brien completed 55.7 percent of his passes for 1,509 yards 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

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