BY: COLIN BISH, STAFF WRITER
60. Tight end Brock Bowers, Georgia
From the moment Bowers stepped foot in Athens, you could tell he was going to be special. The native of Napa, California made an immediate impact for Georgia’s national championship squad in 2021. He caught 56 passes for 882 yards and 13 touchdowns, one of those scores being a key play in the Bulldogs’ title victory over Alabama. This was all as a true freshman; he had two more seasons at least to improve his game. Bowers took a big step forward in 2022, helping Georgia repeat as national champs with 63 catches for 942 yards and seven touchdowns. But he never got total national recognition; Bowers missed out on consensus All-American honors to Colorado State’s Trey McBride in 2021 and Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer the following year. But even an injury couldn’t stop Bowers from proving his full worth. Bowers sprained his ankle in a game against Vanderbilt, which limited him to 10 games. Still, he caught 56 passes for 714 yards and six touchdowns on a Georgia team that just missed out on three-peating, but still finished 13-1. Oh, and he was named an All-American. Unanimously. While missing four of his team’s 14 games. After college, Bowers was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft and would have the greatest rookie tight end season in NFL history.
59. Running back Travis Etienne, Clemson
The late 2010’s Clemson squads will be remembered chiefly for their vaunted defenses and Trevor Lawrence’s beautiful golden locks. But the cog that made the machine a bulldozer was one running back: Travis Etienne. Coming out of Jennings, Louisiana, Etienne made his mark immediately by leading the Tigers in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns as a true freshman. However, their 2017 season came to an end at the hands of Alabama, which certainly seemed to fuel Etienne with revenge. With new freshman phenom quarterback Lawrence at the helm, Etienne burst through opposing defenses, leading the ACC in rushing yards with 1658, yards per carry with 8.1 and led the nation in total scrimmage touchdowns with 26. The Tigers gave the Tide a taste of their own medicine, dominating Saban’s squad 44-16 en route to a national championship. Returning with Lawrence for 2019, Etienne put up another dominant campaign with 1615 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. Their quest to repeat continued with a gritty 29-23 win over Ohio State in the CFP semifinals, but they ultimately came up short against LSU. Though he could have gone to the NFL, Etienne returned for his senior season amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in hopes of capturing another championship. Though the limited games saw his performance dip, he still played great with 914 rushing yards with 14 touchdowns while also making an impact through the air with 48 catches for 588 yards. However, Etienne’s career would not end with a title after Ohio State got their revenge in a 49-28 Sugar Bowl rout. Etienne would go on to be drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, reuniting with Lawrence in Duval County. When it was all said and done, Etienne finished as the all-time conference leader in career rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns and total points scored.
58. Quarterback C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Two years of playing time isn’t enough to warrant a placement on this list, right? Well, not when you make your mark as one of the best players in your program’s history (don’t worry, we’ll see this happen again). Such is the case for C.J. Stroud, who redshirted after sitting behind Justin Fields in 2020. Stroud showed the talent that was rumored of him, completing 72% of his passes for 4435 yards and 44 touchdowns to six interceptions in 2021. His magnum opus came against Utah in the Rose Bowl, where he broke Rose Bowl records in passing yards (573) and passing touchdowns (six). As just a redshirt freshman, Stroud finished fourth in the Heisman race, so the best was yet to come. Though the young quarterback took a step back, he still played amazingly, completing 66% of passes for 3688 yards and 41 touchdowns to six interceptions. This coming all while missing his star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Buckeyes made the 2022 College Football Playoff, even after being thrashed at home by Michigan. They faced up against the Georgia Bulldogs, with Stroud again dominating in a big game with 348 passing yards and four touchdowns. But it wasn’t enough; a last-second field goal miss ended Ohio State’s season and Stroud’s college career. Stroud later declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, with the Houston Texans selecting him second overall. He would win Offensive Rookie of the Year and cement himself as Houston’s franchise quarterback.
57. Cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Cincinnati
Though Gardner’s nickname came from his childhood love of fast food dipping sauces, he’s since personified “Sauce” in his savvy and elite defensive play. Gardner committed to Cincinnati out of Martin Luther King High in Detroit, where he immediately showed his limitless potential. Gardner notched 31 tackles, three interceptions, two of them returned for a touchdown and eight passes defended as a freshman for the AAC runners-up. He came into 2020 atop the depth chart, and delivered for a Cincinnati team that finished undefeated in the regular season with 28 tackles, three interceptions and six passes defended. 2021 is where everything came full circle for both Cincinnati and Gardner. Led by head coach Luke Fickell, a sneaky good offense and dominant defense, the Bearcats finished the regular season 13-0, American Conference champions and the first Group of Five team to make the College Football Playoff. At the head of it all: Sauce. Gardner finished with 40 tackles, five for a loss, three sacks, three interceptions and four passes defended while being named a consensus All-American. In total, Gardner played over 2000 snaps in his college career. He never allowed a single touchdown. For his efforts, Gardner was selected fourth overall by the New York Jets in the 2022 Draft. Having garnered Darrelle Revis comparisons, Gardner made those true by being named the 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year and making the All-Pro team that same year and in 2023.
56. Defensive end Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
If there’s any player more deserving of the label “generational talent,” it’s Garrett. He was projected, from the jump at James Martin High in Arlington, to make an immediate impact. As the number one overall recruit in the class of 2014, Garrett committed to Texas A&M, seeing instant playing time. He finished the year with 53 tackles, 14 for a loss and 11.5 sacks. Equally he showed up in big games, blocking a kick that was returned for a touchdown in a 41-38 upset over then-#3 Auburn. Garrett didn’t slow down his sophomore year, putting up greater numbers in 2015 with 59 tackles, 19.5 for loss, 12.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. Funny enough, he caught one interception against Ole Miss, which is his only interception between college and the pros. Garrett capped off a stellar career in College Station with a bit of a down year, but still turned in 33 tackles, 15 for a loss, 8.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 11 games. Despite a high ankle sprain limiting his playing time, Garrett was still named All-SEC and a unanimous All-American. As we’ve seen, Garrett went on to be drafted first overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2017 draft, becoming one of the best defensive players of his generation.
55. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
There were signs that Donald had the talent to be a Pro Bowl-level talent. But one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history as an undersized defensive tackle? That’s how absurd Donald’s story is. Coming out of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, Donald saw limited action as a reserve defensive end for the Pittsburgh Panthers his freshman year. Only a year later would he be able to make his mark; Donald burst onto the scene with 45 tackles, 16 for a loss, 11 sacks and a forced fumble. The following year, Pitt’s last season in the Big East, Donald earned first-team all-conference honors by posting 64 tackles, 18.5 for loss, 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Despite moving to the ACC, with stronger competition, Donald rose to the occasion. The senior interior lineman was a force in the backfield, notching 59 tackles, a staggering 28.5 for loss, 11 sacks and four forced fumbles. If any play were to summarize Donald’s dominance at both levels, it would have to be his tackle for loss against Duke. It may seem small, but I beg you: watch the video. It’s one of the most impressive displays of athleticism at any level of football. And, well, after college, we all saw what became of Donald. Ten Pro Bowls, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, eight first-team All-Pro selections, a Super Bowl title and soon-to-be gold jacket in Canton, Ohio.
54. Quarterback Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois
One of the most underrated pastimes of college football has no doubt been “MACtion.” You know, the random weekday Mid-American Conference games that become all-time classics. Such a conference has posted many greats in this sport; one of the more recent examples being the ultra-talented Lynch. Coming out of Chicago, Lynch redshirted for 2009 and sat behind Chandler Harnish for both 2010 and 2011. Finally, Lynch got his chance in 2012, which he made the absolute most out of. Under Dave Doeren, now head coach at North Carolina State, Lynch completed 60% of passes for 3138 yards and 25 touchdowns to six interceptions. But his impact came on the ground, rushing 294 times for 1815 yards and 19 touchdowns. Lynch and co. led the Huskies to a 12-1 regular season and conference title, earning a BCS bowl berth in the Orange Bowl against Florida State. In just his first full year at starter, Lynch already broke the single-season record for quarterback rushing yards in a season. Then, in 2013, his final year and under new head coach Rod Carey, Lynch broke his own record by rushing for 1920 yards and 23 touchdowns. He improved his passing accuracy, completing 63% of them for 2892 yards and 24 touchdowns to eight interceptions. However, despite an undefeated regular season, the Huskies missed out on consecutive BCS bowls with a 47-27 conference championship loss to Bowling Green. Lynch finished 2013 third in Heisman voting, and though his NFL career was short-lived, he currently resides as the head coach at Mount Carmel High, his alma mater.
53. Wide receiver Corey Davis, Western Michigan
The MAC is so nice, I had to include them in this list twice. If you thought Lynch was legendary, wait until you hear about Davis. His story rarely happened; growing up in Wheaton, Illinois, Davis struggled academically and lived in a two-bedroom apartment with his family. But, the family of former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Dan Graham, of whom he was good friends with his son, took him into their home to help get his grades straight. After graduating high school, Davis committed to his only Division-I scholarship offer: Western Michigan. From there, his college career became legendary. Davis broke freshman school records in catches (67) and receiving yards (941) while catching six scores. He took his game up a notch and a half in 2014, catching 78 passes for 1408 yards and 14 touchdowns. Davis, once again, only got better as the years went by, catching 90 passes for 1436 yards and 12 touchdowns. It all came to a head for both Davis and the Broncos in 2016. Western Michigan finished 2016 undefeated, 13-0, as conference champions. The head of it all? Who else but Davis, finally receiving national recognition as a first-team All-American with 97 catches for 1500 yards and 19 touchdowns. He made history not just at Kalamazoo, but nationally too, breaking former Nevada receiver Trevor Insley’s career receiving yards record with 5285. Davis went on to be drafted by the Tennessee Titans fifth overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, and though he showed flashes in both 2018 and 2020, he was eventually out of the League by 2022 after two years with the New York Jets. But don’t let the conclusion deter you; let the lesson be that you are important in your development, but you will need the right people around you to make it all come together.
52. Running back Dalvin Cook, Florida State
Considering the vast history of legends residing in Florida State football’s history, it’s fantastic that Cook ranks among the best of them. Coming from Miami Central, Cook initially committed to Clemson and Florida before settling in Tallahassee. As a freshman, Cook became a key contributor to Jimbo Fisher’s defending national champions. He led the Seminoles in rushing yards with 1008 and scoring eight touchdowns. Cook returned his sophomore year in what was a retooling year for Florida State after the departure of Heisman winner Jameis Winston. So, Cook took over the reins as the premier offensive weapon. Cook rushed 229 times for 1691 yards and 19 touchdowns, good enough for 7.4 yards per carry. However, Cook’s efforts could not put the Seminoles over the hump in bowl games, having lost the Rose Bowl his freshman year to Oregon and the Peach Bowl the following year to Houston. So, 2016 would be the year Cook would go out with a bang. In a unanimous All-American season, Cook rushed for 1765 yards and 19 touchdowns for 6.1 yards per carry. One of his best performances came against eventual national champion Clemson, gashing a vaunted defense for 169 yards and four touchdowns. Cook would finally get a bowl win against Michigan in the Orange Bowl, 33-32. He would shortly after declare for the 2017 NFL Draft, getting drafted by the Minnesota Vikings and making four straight Pro Bowls from 2019 to 2022.
51. Defensive tackle Jalen Carter, Georgia
Coming out of Apopka, Florida, Carter was a key piece in the national resurgence of Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs. He played little his freshman year, making 14 tackles and three for a loss, but then he saw his chance to shine in 2021. Alongside fellow monster interior lineman Jordan Davis, Carter helped aid one of the greatest defenses in college football history. Nearly every starter, including a few reserves, would be drafted into the NFL from this vaunted 2021 Bulldogs defensive core. Carter notched 37 tackles, nine for a loss and three sacks in his sophomore year, helping lead Georgia to a national title. With defensive leaders such as Davis, linebacker Nakobe Dean, and edge rusher Nolan Smith leaving for the draft, Carter took the mantle as top dog. And he carried that title with pride and aggression, being named a unanimous All-American after totaling 32 tackles, seven for loss, three sacks, three passes defended and two forced fumbles. Like many on this list, Carter had a knack for the spotlight, dominating then-#1 Tennessee with four tackles, two for a loss, a sack and two forced fumbles. His efforts helped Georgia to repeat itself as a national champion, while Carter would go on to be drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2023 NFL Draft. He was also recently a key contributor in their Super Bowl domination over the Kansas City Chiefs.
