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Mike's list of the best college football players of the 21st century. His top 25 CFB players since 2000, including Justin Jefferson, Joe Burrow, and more.
College Football All-Quarter Century Team
A list like this is nearly impossible to curate. Inevitably, some really good, if not great players, will be left off. Heisman winners will be left off the list. So will National Champions. So will Michael Penix Jr. Penix had a good career at Indiana and led Washington to heights not seen since 1990, but even he didn’t make the cut. Some iconic players that made iconic plays (David Pollack against South Carolina in 2002 or the Roy Williams “Superman” play against Texas in 2001) didn’t make the list.
This isn’t about NFL success. Some guys on this list flamed out in the NFL, but we don’t care about that. They were great in college, and that’s what this list is about. First off, we’ll start with the guys who were great but didn’t quite make the list.
- Cam Newton, QB, Florida/Auburn (2007-10)
- Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma (2007-09)
- Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State (2003-06)
- David Pollack, LB, Georgia (2002-04)
- Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina (2011-13)
- Michael Vick, QB, Virginia Tech (1999-2000)
- Cedric Benson, RB, Texas (2001-04)
- Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU (2018-19)
- Julius Peppers, DE, North Carolina (1999-2001)
- Troy Smith, QB, Ohio State (2003-06)
25. Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech (2004-06)
This is a situation where stats alone don’t tell the full story. Johnson hauled in 178 passes for 2,927 yards and 28 touchdowns in his three seasons with Georgia Tech. For those of you who don’t remember, Georgia Tech ran an option offense in those years. Johnson’s 178 receptions accounted for 33% of the total completions for the Yellow Jackets in those three years. His 2,927 yards accounted for 43% of Tech’s passing yards in those three years. Johnson also scored 28 of the 47 passing touchdowns in those three years. That means every opponent knew where the ball was going, and they were powerless to stop it.
Johnson led the ACC in receptions once (76 in 2006), in receiving yards twice (888 in 2006 and 1,202 in 2006), and in touchdowns once (15 in 2006). He was the second pick of the 2007 NFL draft, having several productive seasons with the Detroit Lions. Johnson retired at the age of 30 after making six consecutive Pro Bowls. His 11,619 receiving yards rank 36th in NFL history, despite Megatron only playing nine seasons in the NFL.
24. Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (2008-11)
RGIII started all four years in Waco but played just three games in 2009 thanks to an ACL tear in the third game of the season. He came back with a vengeance in 2010 and 2011. Griffin threw for 3,501 yards, 22 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 2010. He compiled another 635 yards on the ground and nine touchdowns. Griffin won the 2011 Heisman Trophy, throwing for 4,293 yards, 37 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. He also ran for 699 yards and 15 more touchdowns on the ground.
Griffin was drafted second overall in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He won Rookie of the Year in 2012, but injuries took their toll on RG III. He only played two full NFL seasons, only starting 14 games combined in his final five NFL seasons.
23. Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU (2017-19)
Jefferson played sparingly as a freshman in 2017, not even catching a pass. Then some guy named Joe Burrow showed up, and the LSU offense took off. Jefferson caught 165 passes in just two years! He led all of FBS with 111 receptions in 2019, helping to lead LSU to a National Championship. Jefferson racked up 2,415 yards and 24 touchdowns in just two seasons in Red Stick.
Jefferson was the 22nd pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. In his five NFL seasons, he has been to the Pro Bowl four times and won Offensive Player of the Year in 2022. Jefferson has over 100 receptions in three of his five seasons and has topped 1,000 yards in every NFL season. He’s still just 25 years old!
22. Tyrann Mathieu, S, LSU (2010-11)
Despite only playing two seasons of college football, the “Honey Badger” was one of the most disruptive defensive players of this century. Mathieu forced 11 fumbles, recovered eight fumbles, compiled six sacks, and picked off four passes. That doesn’t count the 133 tackles, of which an astonishing 93 were solo. Mathieu also returned punts in 2011, returning two of them for touchdowns.
Despite not playing college football in 2012, the Arizona Cardinals selected Mathieu with the 69th pick of the 2013 NFL Draft. Mathieu has been disruptive in the NFL as well, making three Pro Bowl appearances in 12 years in the NFL. Mathieu is second among active players with 36 career interceptions and third among active players in interception return yards (530). Not bad for a third-round pick!
21. DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama (2017-20)
Smith won two National Championships in his four years at Alabama. He was a role player as a freshman on the 2017 team, but was the leader of the 2020 team. Smith is the last WR to win the Heisman Trophy in that season. He led FBS with 117 receptions, 1,856 receiving yards, and 23 touchdowns. The rare receiving triple crown was one of the best seasons for any Alabama player in history. Smith put up 1,256 receiving yards as a junior despite Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III sharing the field with him.
Smith was the 10th pick of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. Smith has 4,011 receiving yards in four seasons with the Eagles, with former college teammate Jalen Hurts tossing him the ball.
20. Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech (2007-08)
Crabtree only played two years in Lubbock, but what a two years they were! He had one of the most iconic plays in one of the biggest wins ever for the Red Raiders against then top-ranked Texas in 2008. Crabtree led FBS in receptions (134) and yards (1,962) as a freshman in 2007 and was nearly as good in 2008. His 41 receiving touchdowns in two years are still good for 41st in conference history. Can you imagine if he had played three or four seasons? Crabtree was the first great receiver of the Mike Leach Air Raid offense.
Crabtree turned that into the 10th pick of the 2009 NFL Draft by the 49ers. He spent 11 mostly productive seasons in the NFL, finishing with 637 receptions, 7,499 yards, and 54 touchdowns in his career.
19. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson (2018-20)
Lawrence led Clemson to the National Championship over Alabama as a freshman in 2018. His sophomore season was nearly as productive as he led the ACC with 3,665 passing yards. He threw 90 touchdown passes to just 17 interceptions in his three years as a starter in upstate South Carolina.
Lawrence turned his success at Clemson into the top pick of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has had mixed success in the NFL so far, but he did make the Pro Bowl in 2022.
18. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State (2009-11)
Blackmon had an inauspicious debut with the Cowboys as a freshman in 2009, but his next two seasons are the subject of Cowboys lore. Blackmon was the best player in Stillwater since Barry Sanders, 20 years before him. Blackmon hauled in 233 passes over the next two seasons (his 122 receptions in 2011 led FBS) for 3,304 yards and 38 touchdowns (his 20 in 2010 led FBS). He was the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2010 and a two-time All-American.
Blackmon was the fifth pick of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Blackmon had a solid rookie season for the Jaguars but played just four more games in his NFL career. He was twice suspended for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy in 2013 and was suspended for the entire 2014 season thanks to another violation. Jacksonville still owns his rights, but it is unlikely that Blackmon will ever play in the NFL again.
17. Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville (2015-17)
Lamar Jackson was a human highlight reel for Louisville in his sophomore and junior seasons for the Cardinals. He won the 2016 Heisman Trophy for the Cardinals and finished third in 2017. Jackson ran for an astonishing 4,132 yards in just three seasons with Louisville, finishing with 50 rushing touchdowns. His 1,601 rushing yards in 2017 led the conference, which is almost unheard of for a quarterback. Jackson was also a prolific passer. He threw for 9,043 yards in his three seasons at Louisville, leading the ACC with 3,660 passing yards in 2017.
Jackson was the 32nd overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens did something that most NFL coaches had been slow to do up until that point: they tailored the offense to fit Jackson, not Jackson to fit the offense. Dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL were mostly a fad for a team or two that tried to reverse their fortunes. John Harbaugh and the Ravens made Jackson the focal point of their offense and built a massive line to protect him. The results speak for themselves. Jackson has made four Pro Bowl squads in seven NFL seasons. He has 6,173 rushing yards to go with 20,059 passing yards…all in just seven NFL seasons!
16. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, TCU (1997-2000)
Tomlinson was good in his freshman and sophomore seasons, but he was great in his junior and senior years at TCU. He led FBS in rushing yards with 1,850 in just 11 games in 1999. He once again led FBS in rushing yards with 2,158 in 2000 on a staggering 369 carries. Tomlinson’s 5,263 career rushing yards are still 14th in FBS history.
LT’s durability carried over into his NFL career. He was drafted fifth overall by the Chargers in the 2001 NFL Draft. Tomlinson made five Pro Bowls in 11 seasons, finishing his career with 13,684 rushing yards (seventh in NFL history). His 18,456 yards from scrimmage are sixth in NFL history. Tomlinson was a true every-down back. He began the still-continuing trend of stressing the importance of a back being a good receiver.
15. Ed Reed, S, Miami (FL) (1998-2001)
Reed was one of those players who helped Miami regain its ’80s swagger. Reed intercepted 17 passes for 298 return yards and four touchdowns over his last two collegiate seasons after moving to safety from linebacker. Unfortunately for opponents, Reed still hit like a linebacker. His nine interceptions in 2001 led the FBS, and his 21 career interceptions are still fourth in FBS history.
Reed took his hard-hitting style to the next level as the 24th overall pick of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. Reed made nine Pro Bowl teams (including seven in a row from 2006-12) with the Ravens and won Super Bowl XLVII. Reed’s 1,590 interception return yards are an NFL record.
14. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford (2014-16)
McCaffrey was one of the more durable players of this century in college (and in the NFL, for that matter). He likely should have won the 2015 Heisman Trophy when he ran for 2,019 yards and had 2,664 yards from scrimmage (which led FBS). McCaffrey also had a Pac-12 best 1,070 return yards in 2015. McCaffrey missed a couple of games in 2016 but still managed 1,913 scrimmage yards and led the Pac-12 with 1,603 rushing yards.
McCaffrey was the eighth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. He has made three Pro Bowl teams and was the Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 when he led the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards and 2,023 yards from scrimmage (not to mention a league-leading 21 touchdowns). McCaffrey has amassed 10,853 total yards in eight NFL seasons, despite missing most of the 2020, 2021, and 2024 seasons.
13. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech (2014-16)
Mahomes only started for two years at Texas Tech, but he put up some video game numbers. After 4,653 passing yards and 36 touchdowns in 2015, Mahomes raised the bar in 2016, throwing for a FBS-best 5,052 yards and 41 touchdowns to only 10 interceptions. Mahomes ended his career with 11,252 passing yards, which is 10th in Big 12 history. On October 22, 2016, Mahomes was involved in one of the best games of the century. He piled up 734 passing yards and 819 total yards in a 59-66 loss to Oklahoma.
Mahomes was the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Chiefs. He has spent his entire career with Kansas City, making six straight Pro Bowl squads from 2018-23 along with two NFL MVP awards. Mahomes had led the Chiefs to three Super Bowl wins. His 102.1 career passer rating is second in NFL history to Aaron Rodgers.
12. Terrell Suggs, DE, Arizona State (2000-02)
Suggs set the FBS record for sacks in a season in 2002 with 24, giving him 46 sacks in his three-year career at Arizona State. He also recorded 65 tackles for loss in those three seasons. Suggs was impossible to guard and maybe the most feared defensive lineman since Bruce Smith.
Suggs was drafted 10th overall by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2003 NFL Draft. He was a sackmaster throughout his professional career as well, recording 139 sacks (12th all-time) and 202 tackles for loss, which is the most in NFL history. Suggs made seven Pro Bowl squads in his 17-year NFL career.
11. Vince Young, QB, Texas (2003-05)
How much weight can we put on one magical season? Young ran for 998 yards as a freshman in 2003 and backed that up with 1,079 rushing yards in his sophomore year. However, his passing left something to be desired. Young tossed as many touchdowns as interceptions (18) in his first two years in Austin, leading most to label him as a glorified option quarterback. His talent was undeniable, but his passing often cost Texas as many games as it won them. Something clicked in 2005.
Young threw for 3,036 yards with 26 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. He also dazzled on the ground again with 1,050 rushing yards and 12 more touchdowns. The crowning achievement for Young was in the 2006 Rose Bowl. Texas was down 12 with just under seven minutes to play. Young tallied all 69 yards of the next Texas drive to bring them within five. Young then converted a third-and-12 on the next Texas drive to keep the Longhorns alive before running in the winning touchdown.
The high of that National Championship for Texas and a strong combine caused the Tennessee Titans to take Young with the third overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. Young burst onto the NFL scene, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2006 and making the Pro Bowl. Young made another Pro Bowl in 2009, but injuries finally took a toll on Young after that season. He started only 11 more NFL games. Many credit Young’s early NFL success with helping to pave the way for players like Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts.
10. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson (2014-16)
Watson was off to a great start as a freshman before tearing his ACL in 2014. His next year, Watson became the first player ever with over 4,000 (4,104) passing yards and 1,000 (1,105) rushing yards in a season. He was even better in 2016 with 4,593 passing yards and 41 touchdowns. On top of that, he toppled mighty Alabama to give Clemson its first National Championship since 1981.
The Texans made Watson the 12th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. His 4,823 passing yards in 2020 led the league, and he made three consecutive Pro Bowl teams from 2018-20. Watson has yet to play more than seven games in a season since 2020 due to injuries and legal issues.
9. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas (2005-07)
McFadden topped 1,000 rushing yards in all three seasons in Fayetteville. Despite only playing three seasons, McFadden is third in SEC history with 4,590 career rushing yards. Run DMC also amassed nearly 1,000 return yards in his career and scored 44 touchdowns in his career at Arkansas.
The Raiders selected McFadden fourth overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. Even though he was never on a Pro Bowl team, McFadden racked up 5,421 rushing yards in 10 NFL seasons with the Raiders and Cowboys.
8. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pittsburgh (2002-03)
Fitzgerald only played two years at Pittsburgh, but he was likely the best receiver so far this century. He set an FBS record with at least one touchdown reception in 18 consecutive games, a record that still stands. He led FBS with 1,672 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2003 despite having Rod Rutherford as his quarterback. Fitzgerald finished his career with 161 receptions for 2,677 yards and 34 touchdowns in 26 games.
Fitzgerald was the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He was even better in the NFL. Fitzgerald was on 11 Pro Bowl teams in 17 seasons with the Cardinals. He finished his illustrious career with 1,432 receptions (second to Jerry Rice in NFL history), 17,492 yards (second to Jerry Rice), and 121 touchdowns (sixth in NFL history). Expect him to be immortalized in Canton next year.
7. Reggie Bush, RB, USC (2003-05)
Bush doesn’t have the eye-popping stats of the others on this list thanks to his timeshare with LenDale White, but make no mistake about it. Bush was one of the best players of this century. He piled up 1,740 rushing yards on just 200 carries in 2005 on the way to a Heisman Trophy. Bush led FBS with 2,218 yards from scrimmage in 2005. His 7.3 career yards-per-carry is second in Pac-12 history.
Bush’s reputation as one of the most explosive players in college football caused the Saints to select Bush with the second overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. Bush had a strong NFL career with 9,088 yards from scrimmage and 54 touchdowns in his 11 NFL seasons with the Saints, Dolphins, Lions, 49ers, and Bills.
6. Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma (2004-06)
Peterson dominated college football as a freshman in 2004, leading all of FBS with 339 carries. His 1,925 rushing yards led the Big 12 and are still a record for a true freshman. He would have won the Heisman Trophy if it weren’t for an unwritten rule at the time that an underclassman couldn’t win it. Injuries held Peterson to 11 games in 2005 and just seven games in 2006, but he still ran for over 1,000 yards in both of those seasons and scored 26 more touchdowns.
The Minnesota Vikings made Peterson the seventh pick of the 2007 NFL Draft, and he became one of the best players in franchise history. The “Purple Jesus” made four consecutive Pro Bowl teams to begin his career and made three more in the next five seasons. His 2,097 rushing yards in 2012 were second only to Eric Dickerson’s 2,105 in 1984 in NFL history. Peterson is fifth in NFL history with 14,918 career rushing yards and fourth in NFL history with 120 rushing touchdowns. As good as he was at Oklahoma, he was somehow better in the NFL.
5. Joe Burrow, QB, Ohio State/LSU (2016-19)
Burrow’s ascension to immortality began with LSU in 2018. He threw for 2,894 yards and 16 touchdowns to only five interceptions. Those are good numbers, but it wasn’t anywhere near the greatness that he would show in 2019. Burrow’s 2019 season is one of the best in college football history. Burrow led FBS in completion percentage (76.3%), yards (5,671), touchdowns (60…that’s not a typo!), yards per attempt (12.53), and passer rating (202.0). He led LSU to a National Championship while directing one of the best offenses ever assembled.
The Cincinnati Bengals made Burrow the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and he has done much of the same in the NFL. He has 19,001 passing yards in five NFL seasons, making the Pro Bowl in two of those seasons. His 68.6% completion percentage is the best in NFL history.
4. Baker Mayfield, QB, Texas Tech/Oklahoma (2013-17)
Mayfield was solid as a freshman at Texas Tech in 2013 before sitting out a year (remember those days?) to transfer to Oklahoma. What he did with the Oklahoma offense from 2015-17 was legendary. Mayfield completed 69.8% of his passes for 12,292 yards, 119 touchdowns, and just 21 interceptions. Mayfield finished his career with 14,607 passing yards (second in Big 12 history, eighth in FBS history) and 131 touchdown passes (second in Big 12, sixth in FBS history).
The only thing missing from Mayfield’s record is a National Championship, which Oklahoma choked away against Todd Gurley and Georgia in the 2018 Rose Bowl. I still haven’t watched that game in full and may not ever. It still hurts too much. I had to listen to it on the radio while driving home from Chicago. The Browns selected Mayfield as the top overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Despite Mayfield throwing for at least 3,000 yards in every season for Cleveland, they shipped him out after the 2021 season. Mayfield has found new life with the Buccaneers, throwing for 8,544 yards in two seasons as their starter. Mayfield has 24,832 passing yards in 106 NFL games.
3. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska (2005-09)
Suh was a terror for his first three years before turning in one of the most dominant defensive seasons in college football history in 2009. If you have never watched Suh play, you don’t realize how much of a disruptor he was. By 2009, most coordinators were triple-teaming him because the double teams weren’t working anymore. Suh picked up 85 tackles (21 for loss) in 2019 and 12 sacks, all while facing at least a double team on every play. He should have won the 2009 Heisman Trophy. I don’t care if he is a defensive player.
The Detroit Lions selected Suh second overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year and made four Pro Bowls in his 13-year NFL career. Suh recorded 600 tackles and 71.5 sacks in his NFL career.
2. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin (2017-19)
Taylor doesn’t get nearly enough respect for his college career. In an era in which there are very few feature backs, Taylor carried the ball 926 times for 6,174 yards in just 41 career games. He also racked up 407 receiving yards and 55 total touchdowns. Despite rushing for at least 1,977 yards in all three of his collegiate seasons, Taylor never finished above fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. I’m giving Taylor the respect he deserves.
His 6,174 rushing yards are second in Big Ten history and fourth in FBS history. Taylor is also in the top 10 in FBS history in rushing touchdowns (seventh), rushing attempts (eighth), and yards from scrimmage (fifth). The Colts selected Taylor with the 41st pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has made two Pro Bowls in five seasons and led the NFL in rushing yards in 2021 (1,811). Taylor has 6,013 rushing yards in 67 NFL games and has scored 56 total touchdowns.
1. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida (2006-09)
Tebow was used mostly as a short-yardage back on Florida’s 2006 Championship team, but he was a leader of the Gators for the next three seasons. His stats were really good but never great. What made Tebow one of the best college players ever was his leadership and play on the field. He only threw 16 interceptions in 995 career pass attempts. Tebow’s 57 rushing touchdowns rank first in SEC history and 17th in FBS history. Tebow scored 145 touchdowns, which is also first in SEC history (12th in FBS history).
The Broncos drafted Tebow 25th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. Despite Tebow going 7-4 in 11 starts in 2011 and leading Denver to the playoffs, the team decided to go back to a more conventional offense in 2012, therefore leaving Tebow behind. He only lasted three seasons in the NFL before pursuing a professional baseball career.
