Best college football players of all time ranked by jersey number
By John Buhler
Barry Sanders
Running Back, Oklahoma State Cowboys
Barry Sanders may have only played three years of college ball in Stillwater for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, backing up some guy named Thurman Thomas in two of them. However, his 1988 Heisman Trophy winning season might be the greatest season by a college tailback to date.
In 1988, Sanders had 344 carries for 2,628 yards, averaging a ridiculous 7.6 yards per attempt and 37 touchdowns. He left the Big Eight after that Heisman campaign with 3,556 yards and 48 career touchdowns to be the greatest No. 21 college football has ever seen.
Doug Flutie
Quarterback, Boston College Eagles
Doug Flutie’s 1984 Heisman Trophy season is forever etched in our memories from his unbelievable game-winning Hail Mary pass to beat the juggernaut Miami Hurricanes. For some time, Flutie was the most accomplished player in Boston College history. Frankly, he still might.
Flutie was the best to wear No. 22 for anybody. He left Boston College as a career 52.8 percent passer for 10,759 yards, 70 touchdowns and 56 interceptions. His Heisman season in 1984 saw Flutie complete 58.2 percent of his passes for 3,634 yards, 30 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He also finished third in Heisman voting his junior year in 1983.
Lance Alworth
Wide Receiver, Arkansas Razorbacks
Though it has been over 55 years since he last played for the Arkansas Razorbacks in the old Southwest Conference, Lance Alworth remains not only one of the best players to have played for the Hogs, but the best No. 23 in college football history.
Alworth would become a Pro Football Hall of Famer for his work at wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers. In college, Alworth would be a versatile flanker playing for legendary head coach Frank Broyles. Alworth would leave Fayetteville with 1,917 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns on 338 plays from scrimmage.
Nile Kinnick
Running Back, Iowa Hawkeyes
Though his numbers while playing for Iowa don’t stand the test of time, Nile Kinnick remains the most celebrated player in Hawkeyes history. He is the only Hawkeye to have ever won the Heisman Trophy, doing so as Mr. Everything for the 1939 Iowa team.
Kinnick proudly wore the No. 24 jersey for Iowa. Sadly, he passed away at age 24 in 1943 during training for World War II. The Hawkeyes have named their football venue Kinnick Stadium in his honor. All accounts say that he was an elevator of lackluster talent to new heights as the star player for Iowa in the late 1930s.