https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...-led-by-deshaun-watson-cam-newton/2771766001/
Pretty sad Pat Mahomes, the NFLs MVP in the first year he started, can't make that all decade best college football player list. He didn't even make "just outside" the 10 best list
Guess the defense wasn't entirely to blame for those mediocre records.
Deshaun Watson headlines college football's best players of the decade
Paul Myerberg
USA TODAY
Compiling a list of the best college football players of the 2010s demands a brief trip down memory lane. Remember the 2010 season, when Auburn quarterback Cam Newton took the Bowl Subdivision in storm? How about former Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon, who dominated the Big 12 for two seasons despite the focus of every opposing defensive game plan?
Or what about the more recent past: Tagovailoa, Watson, Bosa, Barkley and others? It’s been a fruitful decade for college football in terms of pure star power, with a long and memorable list of Heisman Trophy winners, All-America skill players and dominant defenders.
To celebrate the decade that was, the USA TODAY Sports college football staff picked the 10 best players of the 2010s. From quarterbacks to defensive tackles, here are the stars we'll remember:
1. Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson (2014-16)
Watson led Clemson to one national championship and played for another in becoming the key player behind the program’s development into the decade’s other dynasty, along with Alabama. After missing part of his freshman season after a knee injury, Watson had a combined 10,436 yards of total offense across his final two seasons with a combined record of 28-2. In terms of his immediate and long-term impact, Watson was the decade’s most influential figure.
Clemson-LSU title game has place in history at stake
BIG COMEBACK:How Clemson pulled off its thrilling finish against Ohio State
FOUR IS FINE:LSU's blowout in Peach Bowl is reason Playoff should not expand
2. Auburn quarterback Cam Newton (2010)
He was only at Auburn for a year, after starting his college career at Florida and taking a quick detour through a Texas junior college. But what a year it was: Newton won the Heisman, led Auburn to the national championship and crammed together a library of memorable performances, none more indelible than his comeback in the Iron Bowl against Alabama to keep the Tigers’ unbeaten season alive.
3. Penn State running back Saquon Barkley (2015-17)
He cracked the 1,000-yard mark in each of his three seasons with the Nittany Lions, as the face of Penn State’s leap into annual New Year’s Six bowl contention under coach James Franklin. His most prolific rushing season came as a sophomore, with 1,496 yards on 5.5 yards per carry, but he was even better as a junior, with 1,271 yards on 5.9 yards per carry with 632 receiving yards and two return scores. Barkley was one of the most impressive physical talents to come through college football since Bo Jackson.
4. Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield (2013-17)
Well, Oklahoma and Texas Tech quarterback Baker Mayfield, since the future Heisman winner began his career as a walk-on for the Red Raiders before a magical three-year run with the Sooners. It was at OU that Mayfield crafted a legend, capping it all with the Heisman as a senior after throwing for 4,627 yards and 43 touchdowns with an FBS-record 198.9 efficiency rating. Along the way, he led the Sooners to two College Football Playoff appearances.
5. Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o (2009-12)
Te’o ended his college career under the cloud created by the catfishing scheme that came to light just after the Fighting Irish lost to Alabama in the championship game. That’s unfortunate: Te’o was the most recognizable linebacker of the decade and the most awarded, too, bringing home the Maxwell, Bednarik, Nagurski, Butkus, Lombardi and the Walter Camp.as a senior and finishing second in the Heisman voting. Overall, he finished with a four-year total of 437 tackles to rank third on Notre Dame’s all-time list.
6. Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (2017-19)
His national introduction came via a looping touchdown pass down the left sideline to lead Alabama past Georgia in overtime for the national championship. His sophomore season was a beauty: Tagovailoa seemed destined for the Heisman before being passed near the wire by Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray. While his junior year ended early due to injury, Tagovailoa has already earned his place among the most productive and proficient passers in college football history.
7. Ohio State defensive lineman Joey Bosa (2013-15)
The elder Bosa brother stepped right into a key role for Ohio State and menaced offensive game plans for three years before going third overall in the 2016 draft, to the relief of offensive tackles and offensive coordinators in the Big Ten and elsewhere. His best year came as a sophomore, when Bosa finished with 21½ tackles for loss and 13½ sacks in helping lead the Buckeyes to the national championship.
8. Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston (2013-14)
The two-year starter was a revelation as a redshirt freshman, with 4,057 passing yards and 40 touchdowns in winning the Heisman and leading Florida State to the national championship. He wasn’t quite as effective the following season, even if Winston did lead the Seminoles to another unbeaten regular season and the national semifinals of the inaugural College Football Playoff before taking off for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In just two seasons, Winston accounted for 7,964 yards and 65 touchdowns, though his 18 interceptions as a sophomore foreshadowed the same issues in the NFL.
9. Pittsburgh defensive lineman Aaron Donald (2010-13)
As good as he’s been in the NFL — and Donald is headed to the Hall of Fame when all is said and done — he was equally disruptive in the middle for the Panthers, as a bowling-ball defensive tackle with the combination of speed, strength and a first step that was simply unfair for college offensive linemen. He ended his career with 66 tackles for loss and 29½ sacks, with a ridiculous, eye-popping 28½ tackles for loss coming during his All-America senior season.
10. Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon (2009-11)
A failed NFL career has clouded what was a ridiculous three-season stint with the Cowboys. After making only a slight splash as a freshman in 2009, Blackmon won the Biletnikoff as the nation’s top receiver in each of the next seasons. He made 111 catches for 1,782 yards as a sophomore and had 122 grabs for another 1,522 yards as a junior with a career total of 41 scores. Blackmon was unstoppable and the top receiver of the decade.
And the five just outside the cut: Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, Alabama linebacker Rueben Foster, Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.
Pretty sad Pat Mahomes, the NFLs MVP in the first year he started, can't make that all decade best college football player list. He didn't even make "just outside" the 10 best list
Guess the defense wasn't entirely to blame for those mediocre records.Deshaun Watson headlines college football's best players of the decade
Paul Myerberg
USA TODAY
Compiling a list of the best college football players of the 2010s demands a brief trip down memory lane. Remember the 2010 season, when Auburn quarterback Cam Newton took the Bowl Subdivision in storm? How about former Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon, who dominated the Big 12 for two seasons despite the focus of every opposing defensive game plan?
Or what about the more recent past: Tagovailoa, Watson, Bosa, Barkley and others? It’s been a fruitful decade for college football in terms of pure star power, with a long and memorable list of Heisman Trophy winners, All-America skill players and dominant defenders.
To celebrate the decade that was, the USA TODAY Sports college football staff picked the 10 best players of the 2010s. From quarterbacks to defensive tackles, here are the stars we'll remember:
1. Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson (2014-16)
Watson led Clemson to one national championship and played for another in becoming the key player behind the program’s development into the decade’s other dynasty, along with Alabama. After missing part of his freshman season after a knee injury, Watson had a combined 10,436 yards of total offense across his final two seasons with a combined record of 28-2. In terms of his immediate and long-term impact, Watson was the decade’s most influential figure.
Clemson-LSU title game has place in history at stake
BIG COMEBACK:How Clemson pulled off its thrilling finish against Ohio State
FOUR IS FINE:LSU's blowout in Peach Bowl is reason Playoff should not expand
2. Auburn quarterback Cam Newton (2010)
He was only at Auburn for a year, after starting his college career at Florida and taking a quick detour through a Texas junior college. But what a year it was: Newton won the Heisman, led Auburn to the national championship and crammed together a library of memorable performances, none more indelible than his comeback in the Iron Bowl against Alabama to keep the Tigers’ unbeaten season alive.
3. Penn State running back Saquon Barkley (2015-17)
He cracked the 1,000-yard mark in each of his three seasons with the Nittany Lions, as the face of Penn State’s leap into annual New Year’s Six bowl contention under coach James Franklin. His most prolific rushing season came as a sophomore, with 1,496 yards on 5.5 yards per carry, but he was even better as a junior, with 1,271 yards on 5.9 yards per carry with 632 receiving yards and two return scores. Barkley was one of the most impressive physical talents to come through college football since Bo Jackson.
4. Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield (2013-17)
Well, Oklahoma and Texas Tech quarterback Baker Mayfield, since the future Heisman winner began his career as a walk-on for the Red Raiders before a magical three-year run with the Sooners. It was at OU that Mayfield crafted a legend, capping it all with the Heisman as a senior after throwing for 4,627 yards and 43 touchdowns with an FBS-record 198.9 efficiency rating. Along the way, he led the Sooners to two College Football Playoff appearances.
5. Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o (2009-12)
Te’o ended his college career under the cloud created by the catfishing scheme that came to light just after the Fighting Irish lost to Alabama in the championship game. That’s unfortunate: Te’o was the most recognizable linebacker of the decade and the most awarded, too, bringing home the Maxwell, Bednarik, Nagurski, Butkus, Lombardi and the Walter Camp.as a senior and finishing second in the Heisman voting. Overall, he finished with a four-year total of 437 tackles to rank third on Notre Dame’s all-time list.
6. Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (2017-19)
His national introduction came via a looping touchdown pass down the left sideline to lead Alabama past Georgia in overtime for the national championship. His sophomore season was a beauty: Tagovailoa seemed destined for the Heisman before being passed near the wire by Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray. While his junior year ended early due to injury, Tagovailoa has already earned his place among the most productive and proficient passers in college football history.
7. Ohio State defensive lineman Joey Bosa (2013-15)
The elder Bosa brother stepped right into a key role for Ohio State and menaced offensive game plans for three years before going third overall in the 2016 draft, to the relief of offensive tackles and offensive coordinators in the Big Ten and elsewhere. His best year came as a sophomore, when Bosa finished with 21½ tackles for loss and 13½ sacks in helping lead the Buckeyes to the national championship.
8. Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston (2013-14)
The two-year starter was a revelation as a redshirt freshman, with 4,057 passing yards and 40 touchdowns in winning the Heisman and leading Florida State to the national championship. He wasn’t quite as effective the following season, even if Winston did lead the Seminoles to another unbeaten regular season and the national semifinals of the inaugural College Football Playoff before taking off for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In just two seasons, Winston accounted for 7,964 yards and 65 touchdowns, though his 18 interceptions as a sophomore foreshadowed the same issues in the NFL.
9. Pittsburgh defensive lineman Aaron Donald (2010-13)
As good as he’s been in the NFL — and Donald is headed to the Hall of Fame when all is said and done — he was equally disruptive in the middle for the Panthers, as a bowling-ball defensive tackle with the combination of speed, strength and a first step that was simply unfair for college offensive linemen. He ended his career with 66 tackles for loss and 29½ sacks, with a ridiculous, eye-popping 28½ tackles for loss coming during his All-America senior season.
10. Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon (2009-11)
A failed NFL career has clouded what was a ridiculous three-season stint with the Cowboys. After making only a slight splash as a freshman in 2009, Blackmon won the Biletnikoff as the nation’s top receiver in each of the next seasons. He made 111 catches for 1,782 yards as a sophomore and had 122 grabs for another 1,522 yards as a junior with a career total of 41 scores. Blackmon was unstoppable and the top receiver of the decade.
And the five just outside the cut: Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, Alabama linebacker Rueben Foster, Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.
