As college football transitions from the BCS to the College Football Playoff, Athlon Sports put out the Top 100 College Football players of the BCS era and nine players with Minnesota ties made the list.
The list compiled players who played from 1998-2013, the BCS era.
Vikings running back Adrian Peterson topped the list of players with Minnesota ties. The University of Oklahoma graduate ranked fourth on the list, ranking behind Vince Young, Tim Tebow and Ndamukong Suh. The article called Peterson the BCS version of Bo Jackson or Herschel Walker. He is third on Oklahoma’s all-time rushing list and has the all-time NCAA true freshman rushing record after rushing for 1,925 yards during his freshman season. Peterson is the only current Viking on the list.
The only University of Minnesota player to make the list was Greg Eslinger, former center and Outland Trophy winner. Eslinger ranked 34th on the list. He played for the Gophers from 2002-2005, making the All-American team twice, including a unanimous selection in 2005. In each of Eslinger’s four seasons, the Gophers made it to a bowl game and won each of the four bowl games he played in.
Well deserved. Terrific player. RT @JoeCStrib Eslinger ranks 34th on Athlon's list of top players from the BCS era: http://t.co/Fzc1K9nStS
— Chip Scoggins (@chipscoggins) May 29, 2014
Former Academy of Holy Angels star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald checked in at No. 5. Fitzgerald, who now stars in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, was a dominant threat in college at Pittsburgh.
Wayzata native and Ohio State grad James Laurinaitis also made the list, coming in at No. 22. Laurinaitis made two trips to the BCS National Championship during his time with the Buckeyes. He is currently a linebacker for the St. Louis Rams, finishing the 2013 season with 3.5 sacks and 2 interceptions.
Five former Vikings also made the list. Bryant McKinnie from the University of Miami ranked 10th, EJ Henderson from the University of Maryland ranked 45th, Antoine Winfield from Ohio State ranked 60th, Percy Harvin from the University of Florida ranked 67th and Steve Hutchinson from the University of Michigan ranked 71st.
