ESPN: The Best College Football Players Of All Time By Jersey Number

by Staff Reporter

July 6, 20268 Comments

Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

With the help of ESPN Research, a panel of college football experts attempted to pick the best players of all time by jersey number.

LSU's Joe Burrow was selected as the best college football player to wear No. 9:

quote:
9. Joe Burrow, QB, Ohio State/LSU | 2015-19
Trophy case: Heisman Trophy, national championship, unanimous All-American, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Manning Award

Number to know: 6,039. Burrow set the NCAA single-season record for total yardage with 6,039 yards during his Heisman Trophy-winning campaign in 2019. Burrow won the Heisman with 93.8% of the vote, the largest margin in history.

A three-year reserve at Ohio State, then a two-year starter at LSU, Burrow unfurled one of the most decorated individual seasons in college football history in 2019. He was the face of the Tigers' dominant, 15-0 national title run that fall, when Burrow set NCAA records in total yards (6,039) and touchdowns (65), posted the largest margin of victory in the history of the Heisman Trophy voting and scooped up just about every national award available to a quarterback. Burrow saved his best for last, accounting for 956 yards and 12 touchdowns in playoff wins over Oklahoma and Clemson. The No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL draft, he remains the only SEC quarterback to throw for at least 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a season.

Three others: WR Peter Warrick, Florida State; QB Steve McNair, Alcorn State; QB Bryce Young, Alabama -- Eli Lederman

Several other LSU players were mentioned at other numbers:

1. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pitt | 2002-03
Also considered: WR Ja'Marr Chase, LSU

7. Michael Vick, QB, Virginia Tech | 1999-2000
Also considered: DB Patrick Peterson, LSU

37. Doak Walker, HB/DB/K, SMU | 1945, 1947-49
Also considered: Tommy Casanova, LSU

66. William 'Refrigerator' Perry, DT, Clemson | 1981-84
Also considered: Alan Faneca, RG, LSU

72. Bronko Nagurski, DT/FB, Minnesota | 1927-29
Also considered: DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU

82. Leon Hart, E, Notre Dame | 1946-49
Also considered: Wendell Davis, WR, LSU

Filed Under: LSU Football

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Jedi•13 hours

Wendell Davis getting the love. One of my all-time favs

randybobandy•13 hours

Faneca had a hall of fame career. Fridge was........big.

Fbohn1•9 hours

No. 4 not having Charles Alexander - 2X All-American, 2X Heisman finalist, 9 SEC records… and much more… as at least “others considered” (while you have Dalvin Cook & Jeremiah Loave) is a swing and a miss. Deshaun Watson was the winner.

Bill W Tiger•7 hours

No Billy Cannon votes with the number 20!!!!!

bapple•9 hours

If Tyrann Mathieu had another year without the dismissal he probably would have been mentioned for #7.

IM_4_LSU•13 hours

Not going to lie as good as Patrick Peterson was, having Michael Vick over him is probably the right move. He was so much fun to watch in College and his pro career.

denvertiger•10 hours

You're getting dv's but I think this is right. Peterson was a phenom but Vick was generational. Against the freaks at FSU during the NC game it was oddly obvious that he was the best athlete on the field...by far. That's saying something.

tiger109•2 hours

No question Vick. Down voters are to young to remember or wearing purple bifocals.

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