College football duos: Ranking the 32 best dynamic duos in modern history

17. Morris Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu, LSU

There have been some amazing secondaries in the history of college football, but not many could even compete with the talent that the 2011 LSU Tigers roster had. Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne might be the best cornerback tandem in history. They might have been the best cornerbacks in college football that season.

Claiborne ended up having the better season, winning the Jim Thorpe Award, taking down six interceptions, breaking up six passes and making 51 total tackles. Mathieu won the Chuck Bednarik Award, had two interceptions, five recovered fumbles and two defensive touchdowns. Together, they helped LSU lead the country in passing touchdowns allowed per game. There’s a reason both cornerbacks ended up being All-Americans. They were the best in the country at what they were doing at a time that Stephon Gilmore and Dre’ Kirkpatrick were in college.

LSU was undefeated the entire season until the BCS National Championship Game, where they faced fellow SEC nemesis Alabama. It wasn’t the defense’s fault they didn’t win the game. LSU’s defense only allowed one touchdown the whole game. They stopped the Crimson Tide on five drives for field goals. LSU had five first downs the whole game.

It was a bittersweet end for both players, who would never play a college football game again. Claiborne left for the NFL Draft and Mathieu was dismissed for violation of team rules. Still, for two years they were the kings of the secondary across college football.