Great on great

Who is the best college football player ever? The Mag asked a few of the greatest for their opinions.

Updated: September 20, 2011, 11:20 AM ET
ESPN The Magazine

This story appears in the Oct. 3 issue of ESPN The Magazine.

They say it takes one to know one, so in an attempt to determine the best college football player ever, we asked the oldest living Heisman winner to name the best player he's ever seen. Then we went to that guy and asked the same question, then approached his pick and asked again ... and we kept going until a name came up twice. The players might not surprise you, but the path through history almost certainly will.

Johnny Lujack, Notre Dame, Quarterback

1947 Heisman, 1947 AP Male Athlete of the Year, 1960 College Football Hall of Fame inductee

His pick: Roger Staubach

"He was a great leader and a great player. He won the Heisman in his junior year. He went into the service and then went with the Dallas Cowboys and had an awfully good career."


To find out who football greats like Roger Staubach, Jerry Rice and Barry Sanders call the greatest college player ever, become an ESPN Insider today!

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