50 greatest college football players this century, ranked

• Consensus All-American (2003)
• Big East Defensive Player of the Year (2003)
• First-team All-Big East (2003)

Sean Taylor would have been higher on this list if he’d played for any other school at any other time in the last 18 years. Since he happened to be a freshman on the greatest team in the history of college football and played the same position as two All-Americans and future Pro-Bowlers (Ed Reed and Antrel Rolle), he played nickel back and special teams for a third of his career.

Taylor was one of only four true freshmen to play in the 2001 National Championship drubbing of Nebraska.

He became a starter in 2002 as a sophomore and finished third on the team in tackles with 85. He also intercepted four passes, forced a fumble, blocked a field goal and returned a punt for a touchdown. He was good all season but his coming out party was the Fiesta Bowl national championship game against Ohio State (and the refs). Taylor was the best player on the field on either team and he dominated the game with 11 tackles and a pair of interceptions.

In 2003, he continued what he started with the 2002 Fiesta Bowl totaling 77 tackles, tying a school-record with 10 interceptions and setting a record with three interceptions returned for touchdowns.

Bonus Fact: Taylor was one of 18 first-round draft picks and 28 total players drafted on the 2001 Miami Hurricanes roster.