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For over 154 years, college football has been one of the favored pastimes in the US. And, since its inception way back in 1869, there have been plenty of players who have made the grade and gone on to achieve greatness. We’ve compiled a list of those who probably have the edge and have earned the status of one of the greatest college football players ever. These are definitely five of the top running backs of all time.
Archie Griffin is the only college player in history to have won the prestigious Heisman Trophy twice, and this is why many class him as the most outstanding college player ever to live. When a team, with Griffin's being Ohio State, has a player as good as him on their roster, they're expected to be successful, which is reflected in the NFL betting online. Griffin, an accomplished running back, also won four Big Ten Conference titles.
If people don’t think Griffin was the best college football player of all time, they will likely believe Herschel Walker was. He won a Heisman Trophy and a Maxwell Award, and he also helped Georgia go an entire season undefeated, which saw them become national champions in 1980. What Walker achieved at Georgia as a running back was quite remarkable, with a stunning 994 carries across 33 games.
If you go back to 1988, you will find the most dominant force in college football was Barry Sanders of Oklahoma State. Sanders, a future Hall of Famer, had an explosive playing style, represented by 2,628 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns. Even though Sanders’ workload was incredibly high, he was always the chosen punt and kickoff returner. Throughout his college career, Sanders broke records, and he certainly couldn’t be beaten where rushing yards were concerned.
Bo Jackson was a sportsman who could try his hand at and be successful at anything and everything. From starring at centrefield in Auburn’s baseball team to being a four-year starter on the football team, the running back had it all and then some. Like others included in this list, Jackson was a recipient of the Heisman Trophy and also received the honor of being declared the unanimous first-team All-America.
Earl Campbell is a Hall of Famer in both college football and as a pro, which tells you everything you need to know about the man whose college career ended with him posting 4,443 rushing yards and 40 rushing touchdowns in just 40 appearances. As far as personal accolades go, Campbell was the first Texas player to win the Heisman Trophy, and there’s also a statue of the man himself outside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
College football will always be among the most popular sports in the US and beyond. Each year it seems to gain popularity, which is because of some of the great players on show. Those mentioned above achieved undoubted and unquestionable greatness, and they act as examples many college football players want to follow.