COLIN BISH, STAFF WRITER
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
If you’re here from Part 1, welcome back! If you’re just now jumping in, this is part two of my series, where I rank the 100 best college football players from 2010 to 2023. But before reading this, I suggest reading Part 1, which you can find here. This week, I bring you the next ten players, from #90 to #81.
90. Quarterback Trevone Boykin, TCU
Boykin’s story is one of beautiful highs and self-inflicted lows. A native of Mesquite, Texas, Boykin struggled as TCU’s primary quarterback in 2012 and 2013. Boykin took the starting job for good in 2014, which did not backfire. Boykin tore apart opposing defenses, leading the Big 12 in completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns. He finished fourth in Heisman voting while leading his team to a 12-1 season and barely missing out on the inaugural College Football Playoffs. Boykin returned for his senior year in 2015, where he led TCU to another 10-win season while finishing another Heisman-worthy season. Unfortunately, Boykin was arrested after hitting a police officer at a San Antonio bar, being subsequently suspended from playing his final college game against Oregon in the Alamo Bowl. Boykin went undrafted and signed with the Seattle Seahawks but was released in 2018 after a report was made saying Boykin broke his girlfriend’s jaw in an altercation. On February 27, 2020, Boykin was sentenced to three years in prison for the assault and, after his release in 2023, signed with the Galgos de Tijuana of Mexico’s LFA.
89. Offensive lineman Mitch Hyatt, Clemson
Though relatively unknown outside of Clemson fans, Hyatt was one of the most consistent and dominant offensive linemen in recent college football history. After a decorated high school career for North Gwinnett, Hyatt became the first Clemson freshman to start on the offensive line for the season opener since 1944. It was all uphill from there, as Hyatt helped lead arguably the greatest stretch in Clemson football history; from 2015 to 2018, Clemson accumulated a record of 55-4, won two national championships and four straight ACC Championships. Hyatt himself racked up awards, being named first-team All-ACC from 2016 to 2018 and a consensus National All-American selection in 2018. Following his incredible senior season in 2018, Hyatt went undrafted and was signed by the Dallas Cowboys. Unfortunately, Hyatt could never find his footing and never saw regular-season action in the NFL.
88. Wide receiver Rome Odunze, Washington
Like most players on this list, Odunze did not have the best start to his college career. In fact, he played just 13 games in his first two seasons while the Huskies program began falling apart. Then came along Kalen DeBoer, who changed the tide for Washington football and Odunze especially. Odunze burst onto the season in 2022, catching 75 passes for 1145 yards and seven touchdowns. Returning for his redshirt junior year in 2023, Odunze was integral to the Huskies’ run to the National Championship game. Odunze led the PAC-12 in catches with 92 and was first in the nation in receiving yards with 1640; he also caught 13 touchdowns en route to being named a consensus All-American. In a draft class featuring Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers, Odunze was just as highly regarded, going on to be drafted by the Chicago Bears ninth overall in the most recent NFL Draft.
87. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Florida State
Ramsey’s ferocity and consistency set the tone for a highly successful NFL career. And no, I’m not talking about his trash-talking. His play did enough of the talk for him. Though stuck in a loaded defensive backs room, Ramsey showed great potential his freshman year in 2013, helping the Seminoles capture an undefeated season and a BCS National Championship. Ramsey returned for his sophomore year as a starter and announced his presence both physically and verbally. He accumulated 79 tackles, 10 for a loss, three sacks, two interceptions, 12 passes defended and two forced fumbles for the Seminoles, who finished the regular season 13-0 but fell flat against Oregon in the inaugural College Football Playoffs. Ramsey returned for his junior season in 2015. Though he didn’t stuff the stat sheet like 2014, nobody dared throw his way, lest Ramsey change the course of the game. And that’s not hyperbole, considering his game-sealing fumble-return touchdown against Boston College. Ramsey was selected fifth overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, where he played for three and a half seasons before being traded to the Rams in 2019. Ramsey helped Los Angeles win Super Bowl LVI before joining the Dolphins in 2023. Over his nine seasons, Ramsey made seven Pro Bowls, was named an All-Pro three times and won an aforementioned Super Bowl. Ramsey was drafted by Jacksonville.
86. Linebacker Devin White, LSU
Though LSU has always been known for the defensive backs, they also pump out talent in the front seven. Look no further than Devin White. Playing sparingly during his freshman season, White took over the starting linebacker role in 2017, where he thrived. White accumulated 133 total tackles, 14 for a loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception and three passes defended. White returned in 2018 to more consistent dominance, becoming the heart and soul of an LSU team that would go on to dominate college football after he departed. White made 123 tackles, 12 for a loss, three sacks, six passes defended and three forced fumbles in his last season at LSU. His final two games showed the skill, from his 17-tackle performance in a seven-overtime loss to Texas A&M and a destructive performance against UCF in the Fiesta Bowl. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected White fifth overall in the 2019 Draft, where he played for five years and helped them win a Super Bowl in 2020. White left Tampa after the 2023 season, where he would briefly sign with the Philadelphia Eagles before settling with Houston, where he plays today.
85. Quarterback Derek Carr, Fresno State
With David Carr’s dominance during his time at Fresno State, no one could have thought the Bulldogs would produce yet another highly-touted quarterback. Except they did, and, quite poetically, it was Carr’s younger brother, Derek. Derek Carr had to wait two years until 2011, when he got his opportunity, making the most of it. Carr led the Western Athletic Conference in multiple passing categories, including passing yards and touchdowns. Carr continued his dominance after moving to the Mountain West Conference in 2012, winning the 2012 MWC Offensive Player of the Year. However, 2013 would thrust Fresno State and Carr into the national spotlight. The Bulldogs went 11-2, being ranked as high as #15 in the AP Poll, through their top-10 scoring offense. Carr was the catalyst, leading Division-I FBS in completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns and passing yards per game. Following his college career, Oakland selected Carr in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Carr remained with the Raiders for nine seasons, making four Pro Bowls and finishing third in 2016 NFL MVP voting, before signing with the New Orleans Saints in 2023, where he currently plays.
84. Running back Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego State
How could the all-time rushing leader in Division-I FBS history not even crack the top 75? Well, that’s just how talented the players ahead are overall. And the running backs ahead have put up additionally great numbers in much tougher conferences. Pumphrey’s legacy should not be forgotten as much as it has been. He first emerged as a dominant rusher for the Aztecs, leading the Mountain West with 1867 rushing yards and scoring 20 times on the ground. Pumphrey took on a larger role the following year in 2015, rushing for 1653 yards and gaining 416 receiving yards, good enough to be named the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year award. He won the award again in his final season in 2016, leading Division-I FBS with 2133 yards. Pumphrey finished his career with 6405 rushing yards, breaking the record held by the legendary Ron Dayne against Houston in the 2016 Las Vegas Bowl. Although the Eagles drafted Pumphrey in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, he never saw NFL action.
83. Offensive lineman Cody O’Connell, Washington State
Another little-known offensive lineman, but often the smallest names are the most dominant of forces. Such was the case of Cody “The Continent” O’Connell. The native of small-town Wenatchee, Washington had to wait for his opportunity to play following a knee injury that caused him to redshirt the 2013 season. After playing primarily special teams the next two seasons, O’Connell earned a starting spot at guard in 2016. O’Connell bulldozed his opponents, being named an Outland Trophy and a unanimous All-American, the latter of which made him second Cougar with such an honor. O’Connell returned for one more year in 2017, continuing his dominance. He was once again named an All-American, this time consensus, and first-team All-PAC-12 while helping lead the second-best passing offense in the country. O’Connell attended rookie minicamp for the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Redskins, but was not signed.
82. Defensive end Derek Barnett, Tennessee
To give a player like Myles Garrett a run for his money as the best pass rusher in the nation is quite a feat. Derek Barnett did as such, bursting onto the scene after accumulating 72 tackles, 21 for a loss and 10 sacks his freshman season. Barnett took a small step back in 2015 but still managed to notch double-digit tackles for loss and sacks. But 2016 was his breakthrough year, vaulting him up draft boards and terrorizing opposing quarterbacks. Barnett finished with 56 tackles, an interception, five passes defended and two forced fumbles. He also led the Southeastern Conference in tackles for loss with 19 and sacks with 13, later being named a consensus All-American. Barnett was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, where he recovered a Tom Brady fumble that sealed Philly’s first-ever Super Bowl. Unfortunately, Barnett could never find consistency, eventually being traded mid-season to the Houston Texans in 2023.
81. Quarterback Case Keenum, Houston Though Keenum really only played in 2011, he set the table for a legendary college career with incredible seasons in 2008 and 2009. However, an injury in 2010 cut short his season, opening up a return in 2011. Keenum put Houston back on the college football map while establishing himself as an all-time great. The Cougars finished the season 13-1, finishing 18th in the final AP Poll while scoring 49.3 points per game. Their dominance came from Keenum, who led Division-I FBS in completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns and passing yards per game. Keenum left Division-I FBS as its all-time leader in completions, passing yards and touchdowns. Keenum surprisingly went undrafted in the 2012 Draft but remained in H-Town after signing with the Texans. He bounced around seven other teams over the past 11 seasons, his most notable being in 2017 with the Vikings, where he led Minnesota to a surprise NFC Championship run that included the infamous “Minneapolis Miracle.” Keenum returned to the Texans in 2023, where he is currently on the injured reserve list.
bishcj22@bonaventure.edu
