Who Is the Best No. 5 in College Football History?
Fox College Football posted this graphic asking who the best No. 5 in college football history is. I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to not only answer this question, but provide an explanation for one of my hottest college football takes that is absolutely correct.
All the simpletons will say Reggie Bush, because they've seen an awesome highlight tape and know he won a Heisman Trophy. But here's the thing: Reggie Bush wasn't that great. This is the college football take Brandon Walker and I agree upon most, which is how I know it's right. If he and I agree on anything, it's the truth.
Now I'm not saying Bush wasn't good — he certainly was. But relative to the hype and attention he receives and the way people talk about him, he really wasn't all that. He was a good player on a team which had a Heisman-winning quarterback, another NFL running back and multiple NFL receivers. His performance was the product of a well-oiled machine which ran to perfection.
Now, as for who I believe is the best No. 5 in college football history, of the players in that graphic, I think it comes down to LaDanian Tomlinson, Christian McCaffrey and Jameis Winston — although I find it offensive Darren McFadden isn't even listed, as I'd have him right near the top of that list as well.
I think at the end of the day, the answer is Tomlinson. He rushed for more than 4,000 yards in his junior and senior seasons alone — Bush rushed for less than 3,200 in all three years — and scored a robust 56 touchdowns in four years. I'd also be willing to hear the argument for McCaffrey, whose numbers in his final two seasons were also better than the entirety of Bush's college career. I'd listen to the argument for almost any player on that list.
But the point is that the best No. 5 in college football was not, nor will it ever be, Reggie Bush.