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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Linebacker Simeon Rice of the Illinois Fighting Illini: (Brian Bahr/Allsport) /

21. Simeon Rice, Illinois, DE

Simeon Rice feels like one of those forgotten great pass rushers of his generation. Denny Marcin coached Lawrence Taylor at one point in his career. Now the defensive coordinator for the University of Illinois, he apparently knew that Rice was going to be great after three practices.

He broke the freshman record at Illinois with nine sacks. Unfortunately, the NCAA didn’t recognize sacks as an official stat until 2000, so it’s hard to tell where he ranks all-time on that list, but unofficially, he’s the best. Still, nine sacks are incredibly impressive while he was still basically in his high school body.

He owns so many records for the University of Illinois. He has more sacks than anyone who played at Illinois. He owns that record by 21.5 sacks. Rice finished his career with 44.5 sacks and 69 tackles for loss.

Rice was a monster at all times. He was in the backfield on every play despite the other team’s sole point being to stop him on every snap. He dominated while playing for a bad team. Those players who dominated on National Champions will always get recognition, but it’s impossible to ignore what Rice did even for a mediocre Fighting Illini team.

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