Greatest college football player you've ever seen?

[ddsmit]

Lee Roy Jordon but wouldn't it be nice to have Johnny Davis nowdays. A really tough and durable FB!

 

[Crimson Hawk]

Seems like I remember that Johnny Davis never lost yardage on a carry in his term at The Capstone. While that may not be fact, he was surely one hard nosed back.

 

[rolltideas]

Freddie K.

 

[red55]

Terry Bradshaw was a man among boys at Louisiana Tech. He's the best I've ever seen play personally. Archie Manning at Ole Miss was close.

 

[BAMA_SECond2Nun]

Offense: Bo Jackson / Defense: Biscuit

;-)

 

[torsten]

Ty Detmer

 

[Hawk324]

Lee Roy Jordon but wouldn't it be nice to have Johnny Davis nowdays. A really tough and durable FB!

I've seen Johnny Davis bust through a line and drag 5 or 6 men into the endzone. He was terrific!

 

[Bamalaw92]

Anybody know any history regarding Vincent Bo Jackson's decision to go to the barn over Bama?

In Bo's own words:

Q. Did you pick Auburn to play in front of hometown friends and family?
A. Being the 8th out of 10 kids, and being the one that stayed in trouble, I sort of became a momma’s boy. I wanted to stay close enough so mom could see me play—where I could go home if I needed to. I was always an Alabama fan growing up, but when the Alabama recruiter told me I would probably not be able to play until the end of my sophomore year, or the beginning of my junior year. I said to him in a not so polite way—screw you.

http://www.nsca-lift.org/interview/BoJackson.shtml

 

[BigTex]

Best for Bama had to be Derrick Thomas. He was dynamite !!

Best that didnt play for Bama I would say was Johnny Rogers. Heisman winner in the early 70's for the cornhuskers. He could win a game on his own with his speed and agility.

 

[bat123]

Seems like I remember that Johnny Davis never lost yardage on a carry in his term at The Capstone. While that may not be fact, he was surely one hard nosed back.

Yep he did in his Senior season but you are correct he was a great one, for sure one of my favorites

 

[SaintDeuce]

80's: Derrick Thomas
90's: Michael Vick
00: LaDainian Tomlinson

 

[bamablitzkrieg]

Major Applewhite

Major Applewhite... He may not have been the best athlete but he was the best college quarterback that i have ever seen play.

I will neve forgive the coach at bama for not recruiting that kid as a high school senior!

 

[drsmithofga]

In Bo's own words:

Q. Did you pick Auburn to play in front of hometown friends and family?
A. Being the 8th out of 10 kids, and being the one that stayed in trouble, I sort of became a momma’s boy. I wanted to stay close enough so mom could see me play—where I could go home if I needed to. I was always an Alabama fan growing up, but when the Alabama recruiter told me I would probably not be able to play until the end of my sophomore year, or the beginning of my junior year. I said to him in a not so polite way—screw you.

http://www.nsca-lift.org/interview/BoJackson.shtml

Thanks for the article, Bamalaw. I played against Bo in high school and that was such a mystery why his McAdory coach didn't utilize him anymore than he did. Bo was truly gifted as a high school athlete. Some of his yardage came as a result of the defense just standing in awe of his size and speed. Anyone who has witnessed at 220 lb. man running at 4.4 speed will know the feeling of being awestruck. The coach at McAdory HS used another smaller back more than he did Bo his senior year (Mack?). If Bo had been given the chance to play as much as he deserved, he may have been the most heavily recruited athlete in history. As it was, the Alabama recruiter (was it Donohue?) didn't have a clue back in 1981/82, that is if he was evaluating RB talent.

 

[BAMARICH]

I like going with the player...

Of the decade (it's so much easier). Since I can only remember back to the 80's, here's my list (and the 10 cents its worth):
* 80's
- Offense - Tim Brown (was a solitary wrecking crew in many ways)
- Defense - Derrick Thomas (can't remember much more on D)
* 90's
- Offense - Ron Dayne (4-year starter; 1,000 + every year)
- Defense - Ray Lewis (monster LB for Miami)
* 2000's
- Offense - Timmy Chang (4-year starter; all-time NCAA passing leader)
- Defense - Tommy Harris (DT at OU was scary even with double-teams)

Sorry, I know that including a Domer in this list subjects me to being removed from TideFans.

 

[Hawk324]

In Bo's own words:

Q. Did you pick Auburn to play in front of hometown friends and family?
A. Being the 8th out of 10 kids, and being the one that stayed in trouble, I sort of became a momma’s boy. I wanted to stay close enough so mom could see me play—where I could go home if I needed to. I was always an Alabama fan growing up, but when the Alabama recruiter told me I would probably not be able to play until the end of my sophomore year, or the beginning of my junior year. I said to him in a not so polite way—screw you.

http://www.nsca-lift.org/interview/BoJackson.shtml

Yep, that's the story I heard too, and it's one that sticks in a lot of Bama fans' craw. We think "Gee...if not for those few words, Bo might have been ours".

However, in defense of the Bama staff back then, we were in pretty good shape. I think the RB's we had were Ricky Moore (947 yds in '83), Paul Carruth (782 yds in '84), Gene Jelks (588 in '85 but we know he was fast and powerful) and Bobby Humphrey (1471 yds in '86). Not sure if Murry Hill had arrived yet and there were probably other very good backs (Kerry Goode?), so I suspect we were in very good shape and that's what led to the comment made to Jackson. I think I read recently that some coaches or NCAA folks are concerned that players are coming to school expecting the coaches to shake up their rotations and guarantee the new players will start. (Not saying Bo was a prima-donna or anything, but our coaches probably were wary of this and were trying to recruit while not making any guarantees). Who knew Bo was Superman back then? High School defenses are worlds apart from major college defenses. I doubt Pat Dye was really sure how good he was until later on. Bo shocked the college world during his football career.

Ah well...we've had a slew of great backs. What about Shaun Alexander? Bobby Humphrey? Siran Stacy? What if Kerry Goode had not blown a knee? Would he have won a Heisman? I dunno, but man, he was great!

 

[KayBee]

Of the decade (it's so much easier). Since I can only remember back to the 80's, here's my list (and the 10 cents its worth):
* 80's
- Offense - Tim Brown (was a solitary wrecking crew in many ways)
- Defense - Derrick Thomas (can't remember much more on D)
* 90's
- Offense - Ron Dayne (4-year starter; 1,000 + every year)
- Defense - Ray Lewis (monster LB for Miami)
* 2000's
- Offense - Timmy Chang (4-year starter; all-time NCAA passing leader)
- Defense - Tommy Harris (DT at OU was scary even with double-teams)

Sorry, I know that including a Domer in this list subjects me to being removed from TideFans.

Timmy Chang is the definition of "product of a system"

I have seen this dude play in person and I could throw a football as far as he can....maybe not with as much as accuracy or in a tight spiral but the dude is completely overrated

 

[KayBee]

I think somebody might have mentioned him earlier but I think the most underrated player EVER was fullback Dustin McClintock

he didn't get many carries and unless you follow 'Bama football you will have no idea who this guy is but he was quintessential to 'Bama in the mid-90's

I remember attending a game and he didn't play the first quarter (injury/suspension, I'm not sure which) but the first five plays he was in, the stadium announcer said "[insert RB name] carries for [insert yardage] behind the blocking of McClintock"

that defines his career perfectly....he was I tihnk the best at what he did of anybody that's ever played

 

[BamaTodd]

Thanks for the article, Bamalaw. I played against Bo in high school and that was such a mystery why his McAdory coach didn't utilize him anymore than he did. Bo was truly gifted as a high school athlete. Some of his yardage came as a result of the defense just standing in awe of his size and speed. Anyone who has witnessed at 220 lb. man running at 4.4 speed will know the feeling of being awestruck. The coach at McAdory HS used another smaller back more than he did Bo his senior year (Mack?). If Bo had been given the chance to play as much as he deserved, he may have been the most heavily recruited athlete in history. As it was, the Alabama recruiter (was it Donohue?) didn't have a clue back in 1981/82, that is if he was evaluating RB talent.

Bo started at D-end in high school. They rested him when McAdory was on offense, and played him sparingly. Yes, if he had played full time at RB, he would have been one of the most highly recruited players ever.

My dad went to McAdory in the 1960's, so he decided to go to a high school playoff game at McAdory to see Bo play back in the early 80's. He said that it was a tight game, 6 points or so, and the Jackets were ahead and backed up against their own goal line. They didn't have a good punter, so the coach decided to take a safety. Bo was the kick-off guy. Instead of punting from the 20 for the free kick following the safety, they let Bo tee it up on the 20 and kick. Dad said he split the uprights 90 yard away. McAdory went on to win.

 

[Bama-94-00]

Ricky Moore

However, in defense of the Bama staff back then, we were in pretty good shape. I think the RB's we had were Ricky Moore (947 yds in '83), Paul Carruth (782 yds in '84), Gene Jelks (588 in '85 but we know he was fast and powerful) and Bobby Humphrey (1471 yds in '86). ...

Ricky Moore was a fullback. The others are halfbacks.

 

[drsmithofga]

Bo started at D-end in high school. They rested him when McAdory was on offense, and played him sparingly. Yes, if he had played full time at RB, he would have been one of the most highly recruited players ever.

Bo was in the offensive backfield most of that night at Legion field. He had two touchdown runs over 50 yards called back because of penalties. In the game against us (he was quoted later at Auburn to have said), one play that night was his favorite play in his high school career. He was blocking downfield for the tailback and took out four defensive players with one body block.

Also, while playing baseball at Auburn, he smashed a ball to the pitcher, causing the pitcher to duck. The ball went over the center field fence on a line drive 420 or more feet away.