LSU Top 35 of Last 35 Years

The football magazines are out and Athlon posted their Top 50 players of the last 50 years.  It’s an interesting list and got me thinking about some great LSU players from the past.  I went with 35 years because I attended my first LSU game on October 23, 1982.  So I have personally seen everyone on this list.  Please feel free to comment or email (prowler257@aol.com) me with your own lists.  I will be glad to post them on the blog.

My criteria for the list included a host of factors.  I considered statistics, awards, career achievements versus single season excellence and my memories of seeing these players in person and on TV.

1	Kevin Faulk 1995-1998	RB	#1 in LSU history in career rushing yards; #1 in LSU history in career rushing TD’s; #1 in LSU history in career All-Purpose yards; #3 in SEC history in career rushing yards.  Named All-SEC in 1996-1998 and 1995 SEC Offensive Freshman of the Year. Gerry DiNardo's most important recruit, Faulk was a game changer from day one.  He could do it all and was the catalyst for LSU's eventual resurgence as a national power.
2	Leonard Fournette 2014-2016	RB	#4 in LSU history in career rushing yards; #1 in LSU history career yards per carry; LSU single season rushing record, five 200+ yard rushing games; 2015 First-Team All-American. If you want to put him 1st I can't argue.  Fournette was a once in a generation talent that puts him in a league with Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson and Adrian Peterson.
3	Patrick Peterson 2008-2010	CB	2010 - Winner of the Thorpe Award, Bednarik Award; First-Team All-American (consensus), SEC Defensive Player of the Year (SEC Coaches), SEC Special Teams Player of the Year (SEC Coaches), First-Team All-SEC (SEC Coaches, AP), First-Team All-SEC Special Teams (SEC Coaches) Another incredibly talented player from day one.  Peterson holds the LSU single season record for KO return yards and scored 2 TD's on punt returns during his LSU career.
4	Tyrann Mathieu 2009-2011	CB	2011- Heisman Finalist, Bednarik Award Winner,  Walter Camp National Player of the Year Finalist, First-Team All-American at Cornerback, SEC Defensive Player of the Year (AP), First-Team All-SEC (SEC Coaches, AP) The "Honey Badger" exploded on college football during LSU's 2011 march to the National Title Game.  In only two seasons, Mathieu set the SEC record with 11 forced fumbles.  He took over punt return duties late in 2011 and had two returns for TD’s.
5	Glenn Dorsey 2004-2007	DT	Most decorated defensive player in LSU history. 2007 - Nagurski Award Winner, Lombardi Award Winner, Outland Trophy Winner, Lott Award Winner; First-Team All-American (consensus), SEC Defensive Player of the Year (SEC Coaches, AP), First-Team All-SEC (SEC Coaches, AP) 2006 - First-Team All-American, First-Team All-SEC (AP, SEC Coaches) Selected 5th overall in 2008 NFL Draft
6	Tommy Hodson 1986-1989	QB	#1 in LSU history in career attempts, completions, passing yards and TD’s; Most wins by a QB in LSU history; Maybe not the most physically gifted QB in LSU’s history, Hodson was by far the best player at his position over the last 35 years. He led LSU to two SEC titles in 1986 and 1988.
7	Dalton Hilliard 1982-1985	RB	#2 in LSU history in career rushing yards and TD’s, #1 in LSU career rushing attempts, #3 in LSU history in career 100 rushing games. Hilliard was a powerful RB that could catch out the backfield and make defenders miss.
8	Josh Reed 1998-2001	WR	2001 - Biletnikoff Award winner, #18 in NCAA history single season receiving yards, First Team All-American, First Team All-SEC A converted running back, Reed teamed with Rohan Davey to bring LSU its first outright SEC Title since 1986.  Reed holds LSU records for single game, season and career receiving yards.
9	Morris Claiborne 2009-2011	CB	2011 - Thorpe Award winner; First-Team All-American (unanimous consensus), SEC Defensive Player of the Year (SEC Coaches), First-Team All-SEC (Coaches, AP)
10	Alan Faneca 1995-1997	OL	Started 36 straight games at right guard for LSU form 1995-1997.  1995 Freshman All-SEC; 1997 First Team All-American, Jacobs Award winner, Outland Trophy Finalist (1st in LSU history)
11	LaRon Landry 2003-2006	S	#3 in LSU history in career interceptions, #7 in career tackles, 2003 All-SEC Freshman, 2005 First-Team All-SEC, 2006 First-Team All-American, Selected #6 overall in the 2007 NFL Draft Landry combined speed and power to improve every season he played at LSU.
12	JaMarcus Russell 2003-2006	QB	#3 in LSU history in career passing yards; 3rd most wins in LSU history by a QB; #2 in LSU history in TD passes and career completion percentage.  2006 First-Team All-SEC, Manning Award Winner; Drafted #1 in the 2007 NFL Draft
13	Wendell Davis 1984-1987	WR	1986 and 1987 First-Team All-American and All-SEC, 1987 SEC player of the year.  Ranks #2 in LSU history in career yards receiving, single season yards receiving, and single season receptions.  He ranks #1 in career receptions.
14	Corey Webster 2001-2004	CB	2003 and 2004 First-Team All-American, 2002-2004 First-Team All-SEC; #1 in LSU history in career passes defended, #2 in LSU history career interceptions.
15	Marcus Spears 2001-2004	DE	2004 First-Team All-American, 2003 and 2004 All-SEC.  Ranks #1 in LSU history for single game tackles for loss, #4 in single season tackles for loss and single season sack total, and 6th in career sacks.
16	Bradie James 1999-2002	LB	2002 First-Team All-American, 2001-2002 First-Team All-SEC.  Holds LSU single season record for tackles and #2 in career tackles.
17	Odell Beckham 2011-2013	WR	2013 Hornung Award winner, 2013 First-Team All-American and All-SEC.  #1 in LSU history in single season all-purpose yards, #5 in LSU history in career all-purpose yards, #2 in LSU history single season KO return yards.  Selected #12 overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. Beckham fully blossomed in 2103 as LSU’s all-purpose threat.
18	Domanick Davis 1999-2002	RB	#1 in LSU history in career KO return yards and Punt return yards, #1 in SEC history in total kick return yards, #2 in LSU history in career all-purpose yards. Davis could do it all for LSU and was a key player in LSU’s 2001 SEC Title.
19	Anthony McFarland 1995-1998	DT	1998 First-Team All-American, 1995 SEC Co-Defensive Freshman of the year.  #1 in LSU history in career tackles for loss, #3 in LSU history single season tackles for loss In the same recruiting class with Kevin Faulk, McFarland was an impact player from day one.
20	Ben Wilkerson 2001-2004	C	2004 Rimington Trophy Winner, 2004 First-Team All-American, 2003 & 2004 First-Team All-SEC
21	Nacho Albergamo 1984-1987	C	1987 First-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC.
22	Rohan Davey 1998-2001	QB	Davey is here for his 2001 break out senior season. Had six 300 yard passing games in 2001, an LSU record. (seven 300 yard passing games for his career which puts him #1 in LSU history), holds the single game yardage passing record, (vs. Alabama).  #1 is LSU history in single season passing attempts and yards, #3 single season completions, #7 single season TD passes.  Five of LSU’s top 10 highest passing yards games belong to Davey.
23	Eric Martin 1981-1984	WR	1983 First-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC, #3 in LSU history in career receiving yards, 100-yard games and consecutive games with a reception,  #7 in career receptions and single season receiving yards
24	Chad Lavalais 2000-2003	DT	2003 - First-Team All-American, SEC Defensive Player of the Year.  8th in LSU history career tackles for loss. Lavalais was disruptive a DT as I have ever seen.  His career numbers don’t stack up against some other players, but his 2003 performance was brilliant.
25	David LaFleur 1993-1996	TE	1996 First-Team All-American, 1994 & 1996 First Team All-SEC
26	Harvey Williams 1986-1990	RB	#5 in LSU history in career rushing yards and #6 in career yards per carry, #9 in career rushing TD’s
27	Ron Sancho 1985-1988	LB	#2 in LSU history in career sacks, #6 in career tackles for loss.
28	Gabe Northern 1992-1995	DE	Ranks #1 in LSU history for single game tackles for loss, #1 single season tackles for loss, #3 career tackles for loss, #2 single season sacks, #3 career sacks
29	Eddie Kennison 1993-1995	WR	1993 SEC All-Freshman Team; #6 in LSU history with 32 consecutive games with a reception,  #9 in LSU history in career all-purpose yards, #3 in career punt return yards, holds the record for the longest punt return in LSU history (100 yards), #4  in career KO return yards. Another dynamic all-around player, Kennison could solo in an LSU highlight clip.
30	Herman Johnson 2004-2008	OL	2008 First-Team All-American, 2007 & 2008 First-Team All-SEC
31	Kevin Minter 2009-2012	LB	2012 First-Team All-American & First-Team All-SEC; 4th in LSU history single season tackles, 9th single season tackles for loss.
32	Greg Jackson 1985-1988	S	1988 First-Team All-American; tied for 3rd place in LSU history single season INT’s, tied for 4th place in LSU history career INT’s
33	Zach Mettenberger 2011-2013	QB	Led the most prolific offense in LSU history in 2013.  #7 in LSU history in career pass attempts, #6 career pass completions, #3 career completion percentage, #5 career TD’s, #2 in career 300 yard passing games, LSU single game record with 5 TD passes,
34	Michael Brooks 1983-1986	LB	1985 First-Team All-American; 10th in LSU history in career sacks and single season sacks, 5th in LSU history in single game tackles for loss and career tackles for loss.
35	Brad Wing 2010-2012	P	2011 First-Team All-American & First-Team All-SEC, #1 in LSU history in career punting average. Had a brilliant 2011 season and was a true weapon for the Tigers.