Tim Tebow, Cam Newton & the 25 Players College Football Misses the Most

Though 2011 has no shortage of stellar athletes gracing the collegiate gridiron, even the most present-minded fanatic can easily hearken back to days of yore and fondly remember tremendous players of the past.

Indeed, there is plenty of love to spread around in college football at this very moment, but that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten some of the guys that filled our previous seasons with delight, dread and wonderment.

And in the same way that we miss our old chums from our own glorious past, we yearn for the return of certain athletes that once upon a time made our Saturdays special.

We may pine for them because of their astrophysical performances, their overwhelming personalities, their contributions to our own favorite squads or even simply because we loved to hate them with every ounce of our being.

The following slideshow looks back a mere 25 years and pinpoints a scanty 25 players that college football misses the most.

Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska

Ndamukong Suh played defensive tackle for the Cornhuskers from 2005-09, and is the most decorated collegiate defensive player in recent years.

Suh simply took over games and made tuning in to watch the Black Shirts play defense well worth the time expended.

Suh’s career stats at Nebraska are stupendous: 214 total tackles (125 solo), 57 tackles for losses, 24 sacks (12 in his senior season alone), 15 deflected passes, four picks, three forced fumbles, 41 hurries, six blocked kicks and two TDs.

Suh proved that defense can be as thrilling to watch as racking up yards, which is quite an accomplishment in our offensively obsessed climate.

Peyton Manning, Tennessee

Before Peyton Manning became the toast of the NFL and one of the most celebrated professional QBs of all time, he was one of the biggest superstars in college football.

Manning played at Tennessee from 1995-97 and won 39 of the 45 games he started at the collegiate level.

As big as any hyped-up story in college football today was Manning’s decision in 1997 to stay for his senior season rather than participate in the NFL draft, which was a twist of fate that earned the Vols an 11-2 record.

Though Tennessee fell short of capturing a national title in Manning’s final season, they did score a thrilling victory over Auburn in the conference championship that featured a fantastic comeback from a 20-7 disadvantage that ultimately ended in a 30-29 Volunteers victory.

Manning also has that invaluable quality of having a throng of haters at his side at both levels of football fandom and you’ve simply gotta love all that delicious hate.

Rashaan Salaam, Colorado

Rashaan Salaam played RB at Colorado from 1992-94 and enjoyed a record-smashing senior year that ultimately earned him the Heisman Trophy.

Salaam’s scary speed and elusive running style led the ’94 Buffaloes to an 11-1 finish, a Fiesta Bowl blowout over Notre Dame (31-24) and a No. 3 finish in the AP.

Salaam’s record-setting final season in college ball included four back-to-back 200-plus rushing yard games and a final tally that included 2,055 yards and 24 TDs.

At the time, Rashaan Salaam was only the fourth back in NCAA history to go for over 2,000 yards in a season, and is currently No. 8 on the all-time list for yards in a season.

Salaam’s all-time best game performance came in 1994, when he gained 362 total yards against Texas in a 34-31 win over the Longhorns in Austin (Colorado beat Wisconsin, Michigan and Texas in consecutive games in ’94).

Chris Spielman, Ohio State

You’d be hard pressed to find a guy who played with more spirit and determination during his college career than did LB Chris Spielman did from 1985-88 at Ohio State.

Spielman was one of those guys who just has a nose for the ball. He captured the 1987 Lombardi Award and was a two-time First Team All-American.

Spielman’s career stats include 546 tackles, eight sacks and 11 INTs, and we miss him because he absolutely personified what college football is all about.

Tim Tebow, Florida

Tim Tebow managed to stir up as much collegiate level love and hate as any player in recent memory.

Tebow played QB at Florida from 2006-09 and on top of two BCS titles (2006-07 and 2008-09) he collected about as much celebratory hardware as any player in the past couple of decades.

Gators fans no doubt miss Tebow because his departure (and that of his teammates) signaled a palpable decline in the number of wins Florida has enjoyed since then, and the rest of the football nation can yearn for the passionate feelings he evoked.

Indicative of his actions that resulted in new levels of “man love” and desperate level of detestation was his over-publicized, yet highly passionate public address made after the 2008 singular loss to Ole Miss.

If you like squeaky clean combined with gritty, excellent play, and you have no opinion of the Gators in general, then you have to at least respect the guy. If not you may miss him just because he was fun to hate.

Vince Young, Texas

Perhaps the most exciting player ever to suit up for the Longhorns, Vince Young played QB for Texas from 2003-05, during which he led UT to a 34-4 record, which included the 2005-06 national championship.

Young was a thrilling playmaker, and his performance in the 2006 Rose Bowl is one of the most phenomenal in the history of postseason play.

Young was responsible for 467 total yards and three TDs in the Horns' win over USC for the national title, but the most thrilling performance came on the now infamous fourth down, nine-yard TD run with less than 20 seconds left on the game clock to ice the Trojans.

Vince Young is the kind of player you remember for the rest of your life.

Darren McFadden, Arkansas

McFadden played running back at Arkansas from 2005-07, and from his true freshman season through his final year as a junior, he set himself apart as arguably the greatest back in Razorbacks history.

It took McFadden only three seasons to accumulate 4,590 yards, making him second only to Georgia’s Hershel Walker in terms of all-time SEC leaders in rushing yards.

In total, McFadden was thrilling to watch run the ball from scrimmage as a receiver and as a kick returner.

Want another reason to hunger for another serving of Mr. McFadden?

He was 14/22 for 64.6 percent, 205 yards, seven TDs and one INT as a passer.

Chris Long, Virginia

Chris Long was a dominant defensive end at Virginia from 2004-07, and is one of the few guys from the “other side of the ball” to receive Heisman votes over the last decade.

Long was a key member of the 2007 Cavaliers team that went 9-4 and earned a Gator Bowl berth, both feats that represent high water marks for a Virginia program that hasn’t gone over five wins in a season since then (though they’ve already won four games in 2011).

Long made tuning into Virginia football well worth your time, and his career stats that included 187 tackles (90 solo), 43 tackles for a loss, 22 sacks, 17 pass deflections, one INT, three forced fumbles, 70 hurries and one TD sing the praises of his stellar career.

Chris Long was flat-out fired up in college, and his overwhelming enthusiasm combined with his athletic abilities was a treat to watch.

Warren Sapp, Miami

Warren Sapp played DT at Miami from 1992-94, and was absolutely one of the scariest defenders on the field during his celebrated three seasons at the “U.”

Sapp’s career totals include 176 tackles, 19.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and five deflected passes.

Sapp was nothing short of dominant in three years of college ball, and he was one of the talented guys on this list who made defense the most exciting part of the game.

Patrick White, West Virginia

Patrick White was the dual-threat QB at West Virginia who led the Mountaineers in a relatively recent “golden era,” which resulted in a 42-9 record from 2005-08.

White was the kind of QB that was beyond exciting to watch, and his list of record-setting performances are long and impressive.

The highlights include being 4-0 as a starter in bowl games and 2-0 in BCS bowl games and holding the NCAA career record for QB rushing yards, with 4, 480.

If Pat White had played for Oklahoma, Florida, USC or Ohio State, he would have won the Heisman (he finished No. 7 in his senior year) and been heralded as one of the greatest QBs of all time.

How exciting is it to have one of the most electrifying athletes in college football playing for a program that is not one of the “chosen” ones?

Missing you already.

Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma

Perhaps the best back in recent history, Adrian Peterson never stopped his legs from churning in his amazing three-year run at Oklahoma (2004-07).

Though his college career was somewhat marred by injuries, there is no doubt that if completely healthy Peterson would have smashed NCAA records and captured a Heisman (he finished in second place in the voting in his freshman year, which is the highest spot a first-year player has ever achieved).

Ryan Leaf, Washington State

When I think of Ryan Leaf, I immediately recall a disappointing NFL career that involved bizarre behavior on the part of a very talented athlete.

But as a college football enthusiast, when I think of Leaf I ought to instead look back to a college career that exploded with thrilling “first ever” results for a guy that led a once-hapless team to unexpected glory.

Ryan Leaf, the collegian, played QB for Washington State from 1995-97, where he led the Cougars to their first Pac-10 title in history (a feat that was repeated in 2002) and their first Rose Bowl appearance in 67 years.

Leaf finished third in the 1997 Heisman race (behind Michigan’s Charles Woodson and Tennessee’s Peyton Manning, both of whom are also on this list) and was selected as a First Team All-American.

Ryan Leaf was the kind of kid that came out of nowhere to lead a historically struggling team to a 10-win season, a feat that seems even more remarkable when you realize that at the time Washington State hadn’t won that many games in a season since 1929.

How do you not miss that?

Orlando Pace, Ohio State

The only offensive lineman on our illustrious “missing you” list, the Buckeyes' Orlando Pace managed to make playing OT seem glamorous.

Now, who else can claim that?

Pace played at Ohio State from 1993-96, and included in his lengthy list of accomplishments are the highest finish in the Heisman voting by a lineman since 1980, the only two-time winner of the Lombardi Award and one of only a dozen athletes ever to capture both a Lombardi and Outland Trophy in a career.

Perhaps his most impressive stat (and offensive tackles are extraordinarily difficult to statistically gauge) is the fact that he didn’t allow a sack in his final two collegiate years.

Pace brought the term “pancake block” en vogue, and is considered by many pigskin heads to be the finest offensive lineman to have ever graced the college ranks.

How do you not miss a lineman who receives media attention?

Marshall Faulk, San Diego State

Though Marshall Faulk’s collegiate career achievements are somewhat masked by the fact he played for the Aztecs, his freshman season was one for the ages.

Faulk ran for 1,429 yards and 23 TDs in his freshman year (1991), which included a second-game performance (vs. Pacific) where he rushed for 386 yards and seven TDs on only 37 carries (let that sink in).

Faulk’s name is associated with at least 15 NCAA FBS records, which include being the all-time career points per game leader with 12.1 (1991-93).

Faulk was as prolific a runner and receiver as anyone in the history of college football, and even though current Aztec rushing phenom RB Ronnie Hillman is on fire (he topped Faulk’s freshman mark with 1,532 yards in his first year in 2010), there will always be only one Marshall Faulk.

Gordon Lockbaum, Holy Cross

Gordon Lockbaum is more than likely the guy on this list who has you thinking, “who the heck is he?”

Well, if you’ve never heard of Lockbaum, he played both RB and CB at Holy Cross from 1984-87, and besides gaining First Team All-American honors on offense, defense and special teams, he is the only guy from a Division I-AA (now FCS) school who has received Heisman votes in recent memory.

That’s right, Lockbaum finished fifth in the 1986 Heisman voting and third in 1987.

Think about it. How good would a guy from Holy Cross have to be to receive top five Heisman votes for two consecutive years?

The 1987 Crusaders went a perfect 11-0 on their way to a Patriot League Championship, defeating Army 34-24 in the season opener.

We miss Lockbaum because we yearn for a college football nation with a playing field that is truly equalized, and we pine for players who overcome all the odds in the world to accomplish the unthinkable.

Cam Newton, Auburn

Cam Newton literally came out of nowhere to capture the college football nation by surprise in a 2010 run that ended with a BCS title for Auburn and a Heisman for Newton.

The reasoning behind pining for Newton is at least two-pronged, and includes missing his phenomenal on-field play and the drama that went alongside it.

Yes, if you miss the controversy surrounding a father trying to shop a son to the highest bidder, then you no doubt yearn for the very brief Newton era at Auburn (even though 2011 is as chock-full of hullabaloo as any season in the past).

I think the real basis for craving more Cam is the way he took over everything, from a single play to an entire game, and then a season.

The guy was so amped up with swagger and so gifted that you’d be lying if you said you weren’t bedazzled by him at least at some level (or you’re a Tide fan or affiliated with another SEC team, which is totally understandable).

Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech

Michael Crabtree’s whistle-stop tour through college football was brief, but his two seasons at Texas Tech (2007-09) were nothing short of thrilling.

It all came down to combining the athletic skills of Crabtree with the offensive mind of Red Raiders coach Mike Leach, which in the end resulted in an offensive explosion that spawned a 20-6 record and a slew of individual and team awards.

Many times what was exciting about Crabtree was what he did after the catch, which was something that many of Leach’s receiving disciples had in common, with Crabtree at the head of the class.

The most glorified illustration of Crabtree as the YAC (yards after the catch) master was in the 2008 Texas Tech victory over Texas, in which he pulled in a Graham Harrell pass, spun gracefully away from defenders and scampered in for an unlikely last-minute score to ice the No. 1 Longhorns.

Stacked on top of the athletic prowess was Crabtree’s vibrant and confident personality, which at the time fit in well with a Red Raider nation that felt as if they were finally climbing Mount National Respect.

Michael Vick, Virginia Tech

Michael Vick’s time at Virginia Tech was oh-so brief, but in only two years he managed to both capture the awe of the nation and lead his team to a 22-2 mark and a national championship appearance as a freshman and sophomore.

Vick racked up 3279 yards passing and 21 TDs, along with 1216 yards rushing and 17 TDs on the ground in only two seasons.

Vick was one of the most thrilling players in the recent history of college football, and though the Hokies continue to pump out multi-talented QBs, they haven’t yet quite matched the overall package of Vick.

Seneca Wallace, Iowa State

Yet another stupendous athlete playing at a smaller school, Iowa State’s Seneca Wallace was awe-striking on a national level.

Wallace played QB for the Cyclones from 2001-02, and though his stats certainly won’t bowl you over, his athleticism was spellbinding.

Wallace led Iowa State to bowl berths in both seasons (losses to Alabama and Boise State), and was under center for the Cyclones' thrilling 2002 comeback victory over Iowa, in which they turned a 24-7 hole at half into a 36-31 road victory.

The play that Wallace is best remembered for has been dubbed “the Run,” which featured a 12-yard TD run that included approximately 130 yards of breathtaking parallel rushing, resulting in a score that sealed a 31-17 win over Texas Tech.

Wallace’s unique combination of athletic gifts and big-play, big-game timing can be likened to that of Charles Woodson, who had the benefit of playing on a much larger stage.

Raghib Ismail, Notre Dame

“The Rocket” was as explosive and electrifying a player as anyone who ever laced em’ up in the college game.

Raghib Ismail played flanker for the Irish from 1988-90, racking up 4,187 all-purpose yards and 15 TDs.

Notre Dame went 33-4 during Ismail’s collegiate career, and he was a key part of Lou Holtz’s 1988 national championship team, where he contributed 12 catches for 331 yards and two TDs and 12 kickoff returns for 433 yards and two more TDs.

Of all of Ismail’s speedy feats, he is probably best known for returning two kickoffs for TDs in a game twice in his career, first against Rice in 1988, and even more famously in 1989 against Michigan (in a narrow 24-19 Irish win).

Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma

“The Boz” has enjoyed as many haters as any guy in the modern era of college football.

Yes, Bosworth had it all, he played for Switzer’s dominant Sooners, he was interestingly coiffed and he was outspoken and overall, a vibrantly colorful, if not obnoxious, individual.

But Bosworth could back it all up with outstanding play, and he is the only LB to capture back-to-back Butkus awards (1985-86) in history.

Despite all the antics, “the Boz” was a beast, a fact that was exemplified by his Oklahoma school-record 22 tackles in the 1986 loss to Miami.

Even if you dislike Bosworth, he was fun to have around in the greatest of all our team sports.

Ladainian Tomlinson, TCU

Another outstanding back, Tomlinson managed to make the big stage in college football via a much smaller vehicle: a TCU program that was still in the WAC.

The Horned Frogs took a chance on Tomlinson in 1997, which paid off huge dividends that included their first bowl win in 41 years, when they knocked off USC in the 1998 Sun Bowl.

Tomlinson led the nation in rushing in both his junior and senior years (1999 and 2000), and still holds the NCAA FBS record for most rushing yards gained in a single game, with 406 vs. UTEP in ’99.

Tomlinson was one of the pre-Gary Patterson players that began to put the Horned Frogs back on the map, and boy, was he amazing to watch.

Shaun Alexander, Alabama

I personally don’t remember a guy who was more explosively scary (with a deceivingly wide upper body) than Shaun Alexander was at Alabama.

Though Alexander didn’t necessarily play during the Tide’s glory years (1996-99) he still holds more than a handful of rushing records at Alabama, and was involved in game-winning performances that led to the 1999 SEC title.

I miss guys like this, because they almost seem to bridge some sort of invisible gap between the players of the old days and those of present-day college football.

Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State

Barry Sanders’ 1988 season at Oklahoma State represents the greatest single-season rushing performance in the history of college football.

Sanders (who played for the Cowboys from 1986-88) rushed for 2,628 yards, earned 3,248 total yards and when the dust settled, had scored 234 points, which equals a whopping 39 TDs.

And remember, these are season totals, not career numbers.

Sanders averaged over 200 yards per game in ’88. He rushed for 200 yards in five consecutive games and rushed for over 300 yards in five games.

What’s even more astonishing is the fact that Sanders’ 222-yard, five-touchdown performance in the 1988 62-14 beat-down of Wyoming in the Holiday Bowl is not included in the above numbers.

Barry Sanders holds a boat-load of records in the NCAA FBS record book, and though I’ve always thought he was the greatest NFL back I ever watched play, his college numbers and a Heisman trophy at Oklahoma State are hard to beat.

He may be the greatest player on this entire list.

Charles Woodson, Michigan

It’s fairly easy to make a case for why we might yearn for more Charles Woodson. There has simply been no one like him since he moved on to the NFL back in 1998.

Woodson, who captured the Heisman Trophy after his junior season, primarily played CB for the Wolverines from 1995-97, and also returned punts and served as a WR.

Woodson’s Heisman was significant in several ways, most notably as he is the last non-RB or QB to win the award, and also is the only chiefly defensive player to ever win the coveted bronze statuette.

Charles Woodson’s collegiate resume is jam-packed with sizzling stats, but what was most impressive about him was his knack for timing his best performances at precisely the moment that they would have the most impact.

We miss Woodson because he was an unreal athlete, and he reminds us of a day when the Heisman race was indeed wide open, and perhaps less scientific as today’s almost formula-driven criteria.