When the 2025 college football season begins, Bleacher Report has taken a retrospective look at the sport’s most influential players since 2000. Their rankings feature the top 25 college football athletes of the century as determined by their staff of experts.
Among those listed is Joe Thomas, who played left tackle for Wisconsin. The article notes Thomas’s dominance on the offensive line and his impact on team performance: “Before his tremendous NFL career on the Cleveland Browns, Joe Thomas locked down the left side of Wisconsin’s offensive line. And I mean absolutely dominated.” The report highlights that specific statistics for Thomas are limited, but it references Wisconsin’s strong rushing game during his tenure and their successful record: “Wisconsin had a 1,500-yard rusher in each of the last two years and totaled 31 wins during his three seasons as a starter.” The recognition also acknowledges Thomas’s post-collegiate honors, stating, “The left tackle entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 2019 and joined the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023.”
Other featured athletes include Tim Tebow (Florida), Cam Newton (Auburn), Reggie Bush (USC), Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska), Vince Young (Texas), Ed Reed (Miami), and Larry Fitzgerald (Pitt). Each player’s achievements are summarized along with national accolades such as Heisman Trophies or major award wins.
Players were ranked based on expert analysis spanning changes in conference realignment, rules surrounding Name/Image/Likeness compensation, and evolving playoff systems over the past quarter-century. The publication provided honorable mentions to notable players such as Adrian Peterson, Chase Young, Derrick Henry, and Johnny Manziel.
This ranking offers both a reflection on individual talent and how these athletes shaped college football’s landscape from 2000 to present.
