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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Michael Bishop #7 of the Kansas State Wildcats: (Allsport /Allsport) /

22. Michael Bishop, Kansas State, QB

Michael Bishop is the first quarterback on this list, the position that surprisingly doesn’t have the most inductees in the Hall (offensive linemen and running backs have more). Bishop had an incredible story in his college football career. He started at Blinn Junior College in Texas. He won two NJCAA National Championships in a row.

He was heavily recruited to play cornerback, but he ended up going to Kansas State because they were the only team to give him a chance to play quarterback. It was a great decision by head coach Bill Snyder.

Bishop immediately took over the starting quarterback position in his first season. He helped the Wildcats go 11-2 and finished second in the Big 12 North. He was voted second-team All-Big 12 after throwing for 1,557 yards and rushing for 556 yards. He had 22 total touchdowns and was voted the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.

It was a strong start, but it led to massive expectations for Kansas State the next season. They were even considered National Championship contenders. They didn’t exactly live up to those expectations, but they did win their first division title, going 8-0 in the Big 12.

Bishop lost the Big 12 Championship Game in an epic two OT performance against Texas A&M. They still finished the season as the top-scoring team in college. It was thanks to the playmaking ability of Bishop, who threw for 2,844 yards and rushed for 748 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was a star, and he deserves recognition for his college heroics.

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