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) /

7 of 26

Defensive lineman Dwight Freeney #54 of the Syracuse University Orange (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

20. Dwight Freeney, Syracuse, DE

From one monster sack artist to another, Dwight Freeney was a freak in the NFL, but it all started at Syracuse University. It didn’t take very long for him to make a difference. However, it was his senior season where he went off the rails for Syracuse. He had 17.5 sacks, making him one of the most dominant players in all of college football. It was the all-time record at the time (but it’s since been broken). Only one Syracuse player had more career sacks (Freeney ended his career with 34). However, he holds the university record for career tackles for loss (50.5) and forced fumbles (14).

This is the first year Freeney is on the ballot. Someone who ended his senior season as a finalist for the 2001 Lombardi, Nagurski, and Bednarik Awards. He forced eight fumbles that season.

Of course, Freeney is better remembered for his dominant performances in the NFL, but his senior season is one of the best seasons by a defensive lineman in history. He was so dominant for a Syracuse team that had no business winning ten games. They ended the season ranked 14th in the country, mostly because Freeney was a dominant force.

It’s hard to enshrine someone for one season, but Freeney was just so dominant that senior year that it’s impossible to ignore.

Home/College Football