Who is the best college football player ever?

I think we're going to hear this debate a lot as the sun sets on Tebow's career.

Herschel Walker is the best college player I have ever seen.

Curious what people's thoughts are...

 

When I saw the thread headline, Herschel Walker's name jumped into my head. Unbelievably dominant at Georgia. I'd agree with Mizzou -- best college player I ever saw.

 

I am too young to have seen Herschel Walker play.

Since I have been watching college ball (1993 or 1994) the best player I can remember seeing is Reggie Bush, but I don't think he is the best college player ever.

 

In my lifetime (36 years) off the top of my head and I'm sure I'm missing someone...

In no order...

Herschel Walker
Tim Tebow
Billy Sims
Matt Leinart
Bo Jackson
Brian Bosworth
Charles Woodson
Peyton Manning
Ricky Williams

 

I'm too young to remember Walker at Georgia but judging from the clips I've seen, it seems like he was another level.

Barry Sanders has to be up there, too.

 

I'd add my vote for Walker too. Still remember that article SI did on him at Georgia that showed him running without a shirt on.

I think we could probably come up with suggestions by position. Tough to compare Walker to Hugh Green or Ronnie Lott or Tebow or whomever.

 

Sanders really only had one year at OSU where he did anything and I think that's why he doesn't make many of these lists.

 

I just think that one year was too overwhelming to ignore.

 

No Jim Brown?

 

The first year I can really remember watching sports was 1980 (bits and pieces of memories before that) and I just remember how goddamn dominant Walker was. My Dad doesn't like college football but he made sure we were watching the Sugar Bowl that year, when Walker single-handedly led Georgia past Penn State (I think) for the national title.

Still, my choice is Gordon Lockbaum. [/suckitChris_L]

 

Actually Penn State beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl that year.

 

I wouldn't include Leinart. I guess it is a style thing, but never Leinart never made a play where I went "Holy shit!" Guys like Tebow or Ricky Williams made plays where it didn't matter if I was rooting for them or against them, I just sat in awe. I was rooting hard for Fresno State against USC, but I had to respect what Reggie Bush was doing out there. Vince Young deserves to go far, far, far ahead of Leinart.