The 20 Best Leaps In College Football

Now that we know Sam Bradford isn't made of titanium alloy, this try-for-a-touchdown leap against an overmatched Oklahoma State team looks like suicide.

At the time, it just showed what a competitor Bradford was, and will continue to be, once that shoulder heals.

Get well soon, Slammin' Sam. We're already bored of the Longhorns.

Continuing in the vein of quarterbacks with incredible moxie and possibly-limited rationale, this is Cade Mcnown, UCLA quarterback, riding atop a wave of Washington State defensive linemen past the plane of the endzone.

As a Michigan fan, it's hard not to watch this clip of Sam McGuffie skyin' fools as though he's your ex-girlfriend. You just wonder what he's up to nowadays, and wish he would call sometime.

Sigh.

There were a lot of leaps this weekend, did you notice that?

Maybe touchdowns leaps are like celebrity deaths.

Here's Golden Tate, crowd-surfing in the wrong crowd. He's probably just trying to get to the first row of fans.

This is Herschel Walker's winning touchdown in a slugfest against the Florida Gators in 1981, as well as his 47th carry of the game, a record for Georgia running backs.

Herschel Walker wrote the book on touchdown leaps, playa. He also wrote the book on dissociative personality disorder.

Which means this leap actually counted for seven touchdowns. That's what'sc called paddin' stats, son.

Leaping over people was all the rage back in 2008 (remember?). And Beanie Wells was the coolest kid in class.

What's stopping him from becoming one of the best NFL running backs of all time?

Oh, that's right: he has ankles an eighty-year-old woman wouldn't trust.

As far as innovation goes, there's no player experimenting more with the gaudy accessorization of touchdowns than Reggie Bush.

This guy is the iPhone-cover inventor of touchdown leaps.

By special request:

We're pretty sure Deuce McAllister means "magnificent leap" in Cajun French. Either that or "reckless abandon".

Not 100%. But pretty sure.

The best is the one at 3:44.

Jahvid Best averages 1.2 touchdowns per carry.

All we can do is watch and learn.

There's a special place in running back heaven for Mike Hart, who will never play a reasonable down for the NFL, but was one of the greatest running backs in college football history playing for the Michigan Wolverines.

Here he is leaping over the pile to score on the Irish in 2006. You can barely see him, he's s'dang small.

Look at the Oklahoma State offensive line cave in the Cowboys defense here. Thing of beauty, that.

Barry Sanders found a million ways to score a touchdown, and retired before he could decide on a favorite.

Ortege Jenkins for the game-winner to beat the Dub in 1998.

Sooner Spencer Tillman leaps from the five yard line against Nebraska in 1983.

Don't be too surprised; there was less gravity back then.

Fear Him.

Pete Carroll must put something in the water considering how many players of his wind up upside down flipping into the endzone.

Guess that's how you win forever.

Watch Carson Palmer's flip at the 4:30 mark.

In 2007, Notre Dame's decided schematic advantage couldn't possibly have factored in cornerback Ram Vela's magnificent leap over the cut block on the attempted fourth down conversion.

Navy would go on to win this game in triple overtime, 46-44.

Leaps are not only the property of the offense, as Lavar Arrington shows in this leap to shut down the Illini on 4th and 1.

First thing that comes to mind when thinking about gaudy touchdown leaps is this great clip of the vaunted Georgia running back, Knowshon Moreno, taking it in against Arizona State last year.

I remember being surprised that Knowshon didn't turn into a star and ascend into the night sky after this leap was complete. God knows he tried:

Like this slideshow? Want more college football history? Make sure to check out ten worst losses USC has suffered under Pete Carroll.