All-time college great search narrowing
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of college football, USA TODAY Sports set out on a mission, and it’s one we need your help to accomplish.
We want to identify the *best* college football player of all time. Thanks to the American Football Coaches Association and 14 former college football coaches, we are getting closer.
For Week 2 results, see the accompanying Dorsett Region bracket winners graphic.
Week 3 of the 10-week tournament is underway, with four four-player matchups from the Walker Region, named after the No. 1 seed. Voting continues through noon ET Saturday at sports.usatoday.com.
Once the field is whittled to 16 players, we will switch to a March Madness-style head-tohead format to determine the greatest college football player of all time.
Here is the Week 3 Walker bracket:
No. 1 Herschel Walker vs. No. 16 Kenny Easley vs. No. 8 Reggie White vs. No. 9 Tim Brown
No. 1 Herschel Walker, Georgia RB, 1980-82: Named an All-American in each of his three seasons as a running back at Georgia, earning the Heisman Trophy in 1982. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999, and he holds the record for career rushing yards in the Southeastern Conference with 5,259.
No. 16 Kenny Easley, UCLA DB, 1977-80: Was named allPac 10 four times and an AllAmerican three times. He had 19 interceptions and 374 tackles in four years as a Bruin. Easley was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991.
No. 8 Reggie White, Tennessee DL, 1980-83: Holds the record for career sacks at Tennessee (32). He also accumulated almost 300 tackles and four fumble recoveries as a Volunteer. But he’s best known for his 1983 senior season, during which he had 15 sacks to be named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, a consensus AllAmerican and a Lombardi Award finalist.
No. 9 Tim Brown, Notre Dame WR-RB, 1984-87: The two-time All-American made college football history in 1987 as the first wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy. Known as “Touchdown Timmy,” Brown set 19 Notre Dame records during his career, including what’s still the most all-purpose yards in a season with 1,937 yards. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009.
No. 2 Bo Jackson vs. No. 15 Randy Gradishar vs. No. 7 Jerry Rice vs. No. 10 Randy White
No. 2 Bo Jackson, Auburn RB, 1982-85: Was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996. He rushed for 4,303 yards and 43 touchdowns in his career at Auburn, including 1,786 yards and 17 touchdowns to win the Heisman Trophy in 1985.
No. 15 Randy Gradishar, Ohio State LB, 1971-73: The three-year starter helped lead the Buckeyes to a 25-6-1 record that included two Big Ten championships and a Rose Bowl victory. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998 after a career with 320 total tackles and two consensus All-American honors in 1972 and ’73.
No. 7 Jerry Rice, Mississippi Valley State WR, 1982-85: Brought Mississippi Valley State into national prominence during his college career, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006. He tallied 301 catches, 4,693 yards and 50 touchdown receptions, which was an NCAA record passed in 2006.
No. 10 Randy White, Maryland DT, 1971-74: Is considered one of the best defensive players in Maryland football history. He had All-American seasons in 1973 and ’74. He was named the ACC Player of the Year and winner of both the Vince Lombardi Award and John Outland Trophy in 1974. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994. until being
No. 3 Barry Sanders vs. No. 14 Mike Singletary vs. No. 6 Dave Rimington vs. No. 11 Keith Jackson
No. 3 Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State RB, 1986-88: Though he didn’t break out until his final season at Oklahoma State, Sanders set the precedent for college running backs in 1985. He set NCAA records that still hold today with 2,628 rushing yards and 37 rushing touchdowns that year. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
No. 14 Mike Singletary, Baylor LB, 1977-80: Though the NCAA record book has Texas Tech’s Lawrence Flugence as the all-time leader for singleseason tackles at 193, Singletary had 232 tackles in 1978 — the record book didn’t include tackles until 2000. Singletary was named a consensus AllAmerican in 1979 and 1980. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995.
No. 6 Dave Rimington, Nebraska C, 1980-83: Made history as the only player to win the Outland Trophy, awarded to the best interior lineman in college football, twice (1981 and ’82). While attention usually goes to quarterbacks, receivers and running backs, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997, and now the best center is awarded the Rimington Trophy in his name.
No. 11 Keith Jackson, Oklahoma TE, 1984-87: Inducted in 2001, Jackson is one of the few tight ends in the College Football Hall of Fame. He was named a consensus All-American in his junior and senior seasons, averaging 28.8 yards per reception in 1986 as a junior and 27.5 yards per reception in 1987.
No. 4 Marcus Allen vs. No. 13 John Elway vs. No. 5 Deion Sanders vs. No. 12 Lee Roy Selmon
No. 4 Marcus Allen, Southern California RB, 1979-81: Finished his college career by winning the 1981 Heisman Award, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and being named the Pac-10 Player of the Year. Allen was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
No. 13 John Elway, Stanford QB, 1979-82: Held the Stanford career passing yards record with 9,349 until 1991, and he held the record for touchdown passes with 77 until 2009. He was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year in 1980 and ’82, also winning the Sammy Baugh Trophy and being named an All-American in ’82. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
No. 5 Deion Sanders, Florida State DB, 1985-88: “Prime Time” played football, baseball and track at Florida State, and his performance on turf earned him College Football Hall of Fame honors in 2011. Sanders won the Thorpe Award in his senior season and was named an All-American twice.
No. 12 Lee Roy Selmon, Oklahoma DT, 1973-76: Lost just one game in his three years as a starter at Oklahoma, winning two national championships during that span. In 1975, he established himself as the best defensive lineman in college football, winning the John Outland Trophy and Vince Lombardi Award. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988.