ESPN Ranks College Football's Top 25 Players Of The 21st Century

On Monday, ESPN writer Bill Connelly released his rankings of College football's top 25 players of the 21st century.

Joe Burrow landed at No. 9, and Tyrann Mathieu was ranked No. 23.

For whatever reason, Connelly included "Ohio State" with Joe Burrow despite the fact that everything he accomplished on a football field in college happened at LSU.

quote:

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9. QB Joe Burrow, Ohio State/LSU
Key accomplishments: 2019 Heisman Trophy, 2019 Davey O'Brien Award, 2019 Walter Camp Award, 2019 Maxwell Award, 2019 AP national player of the year, 2019 unanimous All-American, 2019 SEC offensive player of the year, 2019 first-team all-SEC, 2019 national champion; 8,852 career passing yards and 78 TDs, 820 rushing yards and 13 TDs.

You can find plenty of people who think 2019 LSU was the greatest team of the century, maybe of all time. I'm not here to relitigate that argument, but I'll say this much: LSU was definitely one of the coolest teams ever, and the guy behind center had a lot to do with that. After finding a different level late in 2018, his first season as LSU starter, Burrow started 2019 in fifth gear and stayed there all year. He completed an otherworldly 76% of his passes at more than 14 yards per completion, he threw for at least 320 yards 13 times, and he produced the most incredible two-game CFP performance you'll ever see: 60-for-88 passing for 956 yards, 12 touchdowns and no interceptions.

23. S Tyrann Mathieu, LSU
Key accomplishments: 2011 Chuck Bednarik Award, 2011 consensus All-American, 2011 SEC defensive player of the year, 2011 first-team All-SEC; 133 tackles, 16 TFLs, six sacks, 8 interceptions, 12 breakups, 11 forced fumbles, 8 fumble recoveries, 4 touchdowns.

The Honey Badger makes this list despite playing only two collegiate seasons. But he made the most of his opportunities, posting some of the best numbers we've ever seen from a true freshman in 2010 (8.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles), then raising his game and playing a key role in one of the most iconic defenses -- and maybe the most iconic secondary -- of the 21st century.

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Here's the complete list:

1. Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska, DL
2. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma, QB
3. Cam Newton, Auburn, QB
4. Vince Young, Texas, QB
5. Ed Reed, Miami, DB
6. Tim Tebow, Florida, QB
7. Reggie Bush, USC, RB
8. Bryan McKinnie, Miami, OL
9. Joe Burrow, LSU, QB
10. Larry Fitzgerald, Pitt, WR
11. Terrell Suggs, Arizona State, DE
12. Joe Thomas, Wisconsin, OL
13. Khalil Mack, Buffalo, LB
14. Aaron Donald, Pitt, DT
15. David Pollack, Georgia, DE
16. Deshaun Watson, Clemson, QB
17. Roy Williams, Oklahoma, DB
18. Kyler Murray, Oklahoma, QB
19. DeVonta Smith, Alabama, WR
20. Lamar Jackson, Louisville, QB
21. Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State, WR
22. Will Anderson Jr., Alabama, LB
23. Tyrann Mathieu, LSU, DB
24. Julius Peppers, North Carolina, DE
25. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin, RB