With the college football season right around the corner, one thing is guaranteed – people are once again talking about Tim Tebow, the quarterback for the Florida Gators. If you listen to the media, Tebow is too good to be true. Not only is he a talented football player, he’s also incredibly humble, very philanthropic and just an all-around good guy.
I was watching tv a couple of weeks ago and heard a journalist jokingly report that Tebow had just counted to infinity twice. That’s the superman-like persona he’s acquired.
On the football field, it’s hard to argue with his greatness. In his three years at Florida, he’s won two NCAA National Championships, won the Heisman Trophy in 2007 and is a two-time All-American. He’s also won the Maxwell Award as the nation’s top collegiate player twice, one of only two players to achieve that feat.
So is Tebow the greatest college player ever? If he wins a second Heisman or leads the Gators to a third national title in four years, it will be hard to dispute. In the meantime, below are a few more greats to consider…
Archie Griffin….He was a running back at Ohio State from 1972-75 and was a three-time All-American. He is the only player to win the Heisman Trophy twice and the only player to start in four Rose Bowls. He rushed for one thousand yards three times – 1,428 yards as a sophomore, 1,620 yards as a junior and 1,357 yards as a senior. He set an NCAA rushing record of 31 consecutive 100-yard games rushing. His career rushing total of 5,177 yards was an NCAA record at the time.
Herschel Walker…A running back at Georgia from 1980-83, Walker set an NCAA freshman rushing record and led Georgia to the NCAA National Championship in 1980. He was a consensus All-American for three consecutive years and set 10 NCAA records, 15 SEC records and 30 Georgia all-time records. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1982.
Dick Butkus…Considered among the greatest linebackers in college football history, Butkus played linebacker at Illinois from 1962-64. He was named the Big 10 MVP in 1963 and the AFCA Player of the Year in 1964. Butkus also finished sixth in Heisman Trophy balloting in 1963 and third in 1964, a remarkable achievement given his position. He is one of only two players to have his number retired by Illinois and is the namesake for the award given annually to the nation’s top collegiate linebacker.
Tony Dorsett…He was a running back at Pittsburgh from 1973-76 and led the Panthers to a NCAA National Championship in 1976, a year in which he also won the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Award and the UPI Player of the Year. Dorsett was a three-time All-American and finished his college career with 6,082 total rushing yards, a NCAA record at the time. In 2007, he was ranked #7 on ESPN’s Top 25 Players In College Football History list.
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