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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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USC’s Reggie Bush (5) (Photo by Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
USC’s Reggie Bush (5) (Photo by Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) /
  • Heisman Trophy (2005)*
  • Doak Walker Award (2005)
  • Walter Camp Award (2005)
  • 2x Consensus All-American (2004, 2005)
  • 2x Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year (2004, 2005)
  • 2x First-team All-Pac-10 (2004, 2005)

The official list of Heisman Trophy winners goes straight from 2004 to 2006. Since Reggie Bush was on the cover of NCAA Football 07 the next year, USC’s jersey with No. 5 on the back was the bestselling jersey in 2005-2006 and anyone who watched him that year knew he was the best player on the field.

Whatever you think about the NCAA or how Bush broke their rules, he was one of the most exhilarating players in the history of college football. Consult YouTube if you need a refresher.

After exciting fans in his limited playing time as a freshman, Bush broke out as a triple-threat in 2004. He rushed for 908 yards, racked up 509 yards as a receiver, and returned two punts for touchdowns, earning All-American as a special teamer/all-purpose player his sophomore season. Bush’s junior season was by far his best. He ran for 1,740 yards, averaging a ridiculous 8.7 yards per carry and caught 37 passes for just under 500 yards.

Bush had 260 and 294-yard games in back to back weeks against Fresno State and UCLA. He had 195 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns against Notre Dame plus an assist for pushing Matt Leinart into the end zone to seal a 34-31 win for the Trojans. The season culminated in one of the best games in college football history when USC came up just short against Texas in the Rose Bowl to finish No. 2 overall.

Bonus Fact: Bush was a Heisman finalist in 2004 along with Utah quarterback and future No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick, Alex Smith. Before sharing the front row at the Heisman ceremony, the two shared a backfield at Helix High School, making them the first high school teammates ever to finish as Heisman finalists. They didn’t lose many games in high school.

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