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The Greatest College Football Players By The Number: 41-50

Chris HumphreyJul 29, 2010

Who's the greatest?

This is the fifth slideshow in a series that will reveal the greatest college football players by the number jersey that person wore at their respective universities.

Let's continue with numbers 41 through 50...

Number 41: Keith Byars

1 of 10

Ohio State University from 1982-1984

- Second place in Heisman Voting in 1984
- Big Ten Conference MVP in 1984
- Ohio State football MVP
- 1984 First-Team All-America
- Ohio State's all-purpose yards leader
- Second-most touchdowns in Ohio State history

Number 42: Ronnie Lott

2 of 10

University of Southern California from 1977-1980

- College Football Hall of Fame
- 1978 national champion
- 1980 All-American
- 1979, 1980 Rose Bowl games

Number 43: Terry Kinard

3 of 10

Clemson University from 1978-1982

- College Football Hall of Fame
- 1981 national champion
- 1982 National Defensive Player of the Year
- Two-time First-Team Associated Press All-American
- Two-time All-American defensive back
- Clemson's career interception leader with 17

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Number 44: Jim Brown

4 of 10

Syracuse University from 1954-1956

- College Football Hall of Fame
- 1956 First-Team All-American
- Number 44 Retired at Syracuse
- 43 points against Colgate by scoring six touchdowns and seven PATs
- Finished fifth in Heisman voting in 1956
- 1956 Lambert Trophy winner

Number 45: Archie Griffin

5 of 10

Ohio State University from 1972-1975

- College Football Hall of Fame
- Two-time Heisman Trophy winner in 1974 and 1975
- Three-time First Team All-American
- Two-time pick as National Player of the Year
- Four-time Big Ten Conference champion
- Led the Big Ten in rushing three straight years
- Number 45 retired at Ohio State
- One of two players to start four Rose Bowl games in a career

Number 46: Bob Ferguson

6 of 10

Ohio State University from 1959-1961

- College Football Hall of Fame
- UPI Player of the Year (1961)
- 1961 Heisman Trophy runner-up
- 1961 Unanimous All-American selection
- Maxwell Award (1961)
- 1961 Ohio State football MVP
- Ohio State football All-Century Team in 2000

Number 47: Michael Irvin

7 of 10

University of Miami (FL) from 1985-1987

- 1987 national champion
- Set Miami records for career receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions
- Florida Sports Hall of Fame

Number 48: Gale Sayers

8 of 10

University of Kansas from 1962-1964

- College Football Hall of Fame
- Two-time All-American
- 2,000 yards rushing in his junior season

Number 49: Bob Chappuis

9 of 10

University of Michigan from 1942, 1946-1947

- College Football Hall of Fame
- 1947 All-American
- Finished second in Heisman Trophy voting in 1947
- Big Ten rushing champion in 1946
- Michigan MVP in 1946
- Big Ten single-season passer rating
- Single-season yards/completion ratio record

Number 50: Dick Butkus

10 of 10

University of Illinois from 1962-1964

- College Football Hall of Fame
- 1963 and 1964 unanimous All-American
- 1964 Big Ten's Most Valuable Player
- American Football Coaches Association Player of the Year in 1964.
- Finished sixth and shird in Heisman Trophy voting in 1963 and 1964, respectively
- Number 50 retired at Illinois

🚨 Mitchell Headed to 1st Conference Finals

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