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List the best College players who were busts in the NFL (1 Viewer)

Righetti

Righetti

Footballguy
there is a thread about the biggest NFL draft busts in the decade which got me to thinking

who are the best college players who just did not make it in the NFL, because of skill-set, work ethic, hold-out etc.

Lets keep it to the last 20 years

 
Danny Weurffel was drafted in the 4th round, so he would not be considered a bust.

Now, if this was a thread on greatest CFB players not transitioning well into the NFL, that would be different.

 
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I am sure there are a bunch. Off the top of my head I can think of these...

Eric Crouch

Rashaan Salaam

Ron Dayne

Brian Bosworth

Tommie Frazier (maybe not a bust, but not NFL star and was major college star)

Steve Emtman

Courtney Brown

 
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mcintyre1 said:
I'll add yet another Husker to the list:Lawrence Phillips
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:confused: Good one. I always thought he was going to make a great RB in NFL while watching him in college. He had all the tools to be a star except one. A brain.
 
Harrington is the biggest for me in the last 10 yrs. I thought that guy would be a big time qb for a long time.

 
FantasyTrader said:
Once upon a time, Peter Warrick was going to redefine the WR position. :thumbup: But he was electric in college.
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Which is why I was absolutely stunned when Ginn went so high. He was very similar to Warrick, but even less polished, so I am not sure why Cameron and Co felt he would be able to do what Warrick could not do. On top of that the example (Warrick) was drafted about 10 years ago...it is not like this was back in '87.
 
Easy......Tony Mandarich. SI called this guy "the best offensive line prospect ever" heading in to the 1989 NFL draft.

 
Tough for me to call Ki-Jana a bust because of that injury. And he did eventually have a 10-TD season.

Pains me to see Andre Woodson of Kentucky bust out, considering he was, at one point, being looked at as an early 1st-rounder.

Speaking of UK QBs, depending on your definition of 'biggest', Jared "Pillsbury Throwboy" Lorenzen would be high on the list.

 
WampusCat43 said:
Tough for me to call Ki-Jana a bust because of that injury. And he did eventually have a 10-TD season.Pains me to see Andre Woodson of Kentucky bust out, considering he was, at one point, being looked at as an early 1st-rounder.Speaking of UK QBs, depending on your definition of 'biggest', Jared "Pillsbury Throwboy" Lorenzen would be high on the list.
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Re: :own3d: Pillsbury Throwboy - that never gets old.You could sorta smell bust on Woodson real early on in the draft process. I remember getting the sense when I was helping Sig, Faletti and Cec cover some prospects in LA (notably his teammate Stevie Johnson) that the wide receivers were covering some real flaws with him.Turns out, yes - yes they were.I don't know he went high enough to 'bust' though. Unless you count predraft problems as busting.
 
RB Troy Davis from Iowa State. Second to Danny Weurffel in the 1996 Heisman race. Drafted in 1997 by the Saints, just like Weurffel. Didn't he rush for 2,400+ yds in his last college season?

EDIT: Maybe 2,400+ yds from scrimmage ... Davis holds the Iowa State record of 2,185 yds rushing in a single season.

 
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ADP said:
I am sure there are a bunch. Off the top of my head I can think of these...

Eric Crouch

Rashaan Salaam

Ron Dayne

Brian Bosworth

Tommie Frazier (maybe not a bust, but not NFL star and was major college star)

Steve Emtman

Courtney Brown
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Frazier was never drafted in the NFL due to a serious blood clot in his left leg, a side effect of Crohn’s disease.[3]
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He never was even drafted and didn't play due to a disease. I don't think he belongs in a bust thread.
 
Cincy Bengals 1st round picks

Year, Overall Pick #, Player

'92, 6th, Klingler

'95, 1, Ki-Jana

'99, 3, Akili Smith

'00, 4, Peter Warrick

'04, 26, Chris Perry

 
How about Tim biakabatuka (SP?)

Michael Westbrook

Reggie Williams

Hershal Walker(wasn't even close to what he was in college)

Bo Jackson(same as walker)

Rick Mirer

 
tdmills said:
Michael WestbrookHerschel Walker (wasn't even close to what he was in college)Bo Jackson (same as walker)
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These guys all produced in the NFL, though ... even if not for long spells. Simply falling short of college production is not enough to be an all-time bust :thumbup:
 
Completely forgot to mention: former Bears WR David Terrell.

What the heck happened to that guy?

 
tdmills said:
How about Tim biakabatuka (SP?)

Michael Westbrook

Reggie Williams

Hershal Walker(wasn't even close to what he was in college)

Bo Jackson(same as walker)

Rick Mirer
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Dominated the USFL for what, 3 years? Still holds the pro single season rushing record.
 
Bull Dozier said:
tdmills said:
How about Tim biakabatuka (SP?)

Michael Westbrook

Reggie Williams

Hershal Walker(wasn't even close to what he was in college)

Bo Jackson(same as walker)

Rick Mirer
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Dominated the USFL for what, 3 years? Still holds the pro single season rushing record.
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Not to mention the fact that Herschel was almost singlehandedly responsible for the 90's Cowboys dynasty when they traded him for like a million draft picks to the Vikes. I think that acquisition worked out pretty well for Dallas.
 
Bull Dozier said:
tdmills said:
How about Tim biakabatuka (SP?)

Michael Westbrook

Reggie Williams

Hershal Walker(wasn't even close to what he was in college)

Bo Jackson(same as walker)

Rick Mirer
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Dominated the USFL for what, 3 years? Still holds the pro single season rushing record.
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I was comparing it to his hype machine that was UGA and then NFL production.....he failed to live up to those expectations and the expectations of the Vikings.
 
Doug B said:
tdmills said:
Michael WestbrookHerschel Walker (wasn't even close to what he was in college)Bo Jackson (same as walker)
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These guys all produced in the NFL, though ... even if not for long spells. Simply falling short of college production is not enough to be an all-time bust ;)
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While I agree.....the level of hype and college productions for some vs others is waaaay different.More expectations for Peyton Manning coming out vs Alex Smith, although both number one picks.I think Bo Jackson is completely overrated....take out one MNF game(which hyped him up more) and he didn't much in the NFL.... compare that to him being one of the greatest athletes....bla bla bla.
 
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tdmills said:
I think Bo Jackson is completely overrated....take out one MNF game(which hyped him up more) and he didn't much in the NFL.... compare that to him being one of the greatest athletes....bla bla bla.
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Someone never played Tecmo Super Bowl.
 
Joey Harrington seemed like the textbook "All American" who was going to be a superstar quarterback as well as a superstar media personality.

Another local player who seemed like a can't-miss prospect (to me, at least) was former OSU RB Ken Simonton. He was a 2-time All-Pac-10 RB in the '90s, and was named to several All-American teams. I thought for sure he'd at least have a solid NFL career......but he barely had a cup of coffee in the pros.

 
TommyGilmore said:
Joey Harrington seemed like the textbook "All American" who was going to be a superstar quarterback as well as a superstar media personality.

Another local player who seemed like a can't-miss prospect (to me, at least) was former OSU RB Ken Simonton. He was a 2-time All-Pac-10 RB in the '90s, and was named to several All-American teams. I thought for sure he'd at least have a solid NFL career......but he barely had a cup of coffee in the pros.
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Joey Harrington Heisman
 
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Dewayne Robertson (Herm Edwards should never be allowed anyhwere near a draft board or to comment on one)

Cade McNown

Troy Edwards

Aaron Gibson

William Green (Clevleand Browns)

Erasamus James

Reggie Bush (based on draft position; expectations; being outperformed consistently by lesser skilled teammates)

 
I think to be a bust you have to be projected to go high, so my first choice wouldn't fit, although I would rank him as the greatest college football player statistically to not produce in the NFL (Klingler might be in there as well, but I think its detmer).

Ty Detmer

Highest Draft pick not to produce?

lots of em...

Mirer stands out. He fooled em, couldnt make the throw, the read, or the run.

Leaf has to be in there, he could make the read but couldn't decipher it, he could make the throw but only to an area not a target.

Couch, Akili, who else from that draft? Wasn't there like 6 taken in round 1?

Ken O'Brien? 24th pick overall, UC Davis. That is a bust of a pick, could have had him 2-3 rounds later...and if I am not mistaken, Marino was available at the time.

 
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