25 best college football players not in the College Football Hall of Fame (yet)

NEW YORK - DECEMBER 14: Carson Palmer of the University of Southern California speaks with the press after winning the 68th annual Heisman Trophy Award at The Yale Club December 14, 2002 in New York City. The USC quarterback became the first west coast player win the trophy since 1981. Palmer received 242 first-place votes winning by 233 over second place Iowa quarterback Brad Banks. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) /

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Taylor Stubblefield #21 of Purdue: (Danny Moloshok/Allsport) /

17. Taylor Stubblefield, Purdue, WR

Taylor Stubblefield set the career record for total receptions (although, it’s been broken multiple times since). Those who hold those kinds of records deserve to be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. Stubblefield started quickly, with 73 receptions in his freshman season. He increased his receptions every season, hitting a college high of 89 in his senior season.

That season, he broke 1,000 yards for the first time, and he had a ridiculous 16 touchdowns. That is a school record. He was never a scorer before that, hitting a career-high three before that. He was always what drove Kyle Orton’s offense. Yet, during his senior season, he was the offense.

He was a first-team All American, which is an impressive feat for a Boilermaker. He was the first player to win All-Big Ten honors. He never transferred despite likely having a chance to go to a bigger program. He was a big fish in a little pond, but he was about as good at it as anyone has been.

Since Stubblefield left, Purdue has never finished the season ranked. It was quite the fall off after having Drew Brees and Stubblefield back to back. Now, Stubblefield’s legacy took a bit of a hit after his record was beaten, but he still deserves the recognition that comes with someone who breaks records in the college ranks.

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