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50 greatest college football players this century, ranked

By Jeremy Morris

Tim Tebow, #15 quarterback of the Florida Gators (Photo by Matt Marriott/University of Florida/Collegiate Images/Getty Images)
Tim Tebow, #15 quarterback of the Florida Gators (Photo by Matt Marriott/University of Florida/Collegiate Images/Getty Images) /
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Patrick Willis #49 linebacker of the University of Mississippi Rebels makes a tackle during a game on (Photo by University of Mississippi/Getty Images)
Patrick Willis #49 linebacker of the University of Mississippi Rebels makes a tackle during a game on (Photo by University of Mississippi/Getty Images) /
  • Butkus Award (2006)
  • Jack Lambert Trophy (2006)
  • 2× Consensus All-American (2005, 2006)
  • SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2006)
  • 2× First-team All-SEC (2005, 2006)

Patrick Willis was to the Rebels (before they became the Rebel Black Bears then Landsharks?) defense what Eli Manning had been to their offense the years before his arrival — the best player on either side of the ball and the reason the team was competitive during their years as upperclassmen.

Willis was only a two-star recruit according to a handful of recruiting rankings but he saw playing time immediately at Ole Miss appearing in all 13 games as a freshman. As a sophomore in 2004, he played in 10 games, missing one with an injury and first began garnering recognition as a potential All-SEC/All-American caliber player with 70 tackles, 11 for a loss and five sacks.

As a junior, he led the SEC in tackles, averaging 12.8 per game and repeated as the conference’s tackling leader as a senior in 2006. During his two years as an upperclassman, Willis was named first-team All-SEC and a consensus All-American back to back and he received the Butkus Award and Jack Lambert Trophy.

Bonus Fact: Willis had one of the highest verticals ever for a linebacker at the NFL Combine, jumping 39 inches at 6-foot-1 inch, 240 pounds.

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