Best college football players of all time ranked by jersey number
By John Buhler
Fred Biletnikoff
Wide Receiver, Florida State Seminoles
Like many guys on this list, Fred Biletnikoff’s collegiate dominance largely hinges on his great player his senior season. Biletnikoff was so skilled at catching footballs in 1964, the NCAA eventually named the best receiver award after him.
While at Florida State, Biletnikoff would do things in the passing game no receiver before him ever really did. As a senior, Biletnikoff had 70 catches for 1,179 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. Over 50 years later, those numbers shockingly stand the test of time. For that reason, he is the best to wear the No. 23 in college.
Sean Taylor
Safety, Miami Hurricanes
Nearly a decade after his murder, former Miami Hurricanes and Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor remains one of the most impactful safeties of his generation in both levels. He played with a ballhawking flair that inspired many kids across the nation that it was cool to kick inside from cornerback to play safety.
Taylor was an All-American in 2003 as a junior with 10 interceptions for 184 yards and three touchdowns. He would win a national title as a freshman in 2001. Taylor has since been recognized as one of the greatest players in Redskins history during his short, but brilliant NFL career with Washington.
Eddie George
Running Back, Ohio State Buckeyes
While may in Cornhusker Nation feel that this guy definitely took Tommie Frazier’s Heisman Trophy from him in 1995, Ohio State Buckeyes running back Eddie George is the best guy to wear a No. 27 jersey in college football.
Before being a dominant tailback for the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, George ran all over people in the Big 10 for the Buckeyes. George had 28 carries for 1,927 yards and 24 touchdowns in 1995. He left Columbus with 683 carries for 3,768 yards and 44 rushing touchdowns.
Marshall Faulk
Running Back, San Diego State Aztecs
It’s utterly embarrassing that Gino Torretta won the 1992 Heisman Trophy over Sand Diego State Aztecs running back Marshall Faulk. Don’t discount what he did on the gridiron for it being against lesser competition. Faulk changed the game in the NFL with his versatility as a back for the St. Louis Rams.
Faulk had 766 carries for 4,589 yards and 57 rushing touchdowns in four years at San Diego State. Add in that he also had 82 catches for 973 yards and five touchdowns, it’s not hard to see how he made The Greatest Show on Turf so electrifying. Adrian Peterson may have worn No. 28 at Oklahoma, but Faulk’s body of work in college gives him the slight edge.