IAA/FCS players of the decade for the '00s

[Pwns]

These are the four main ones that stick out to me...I'm talking about anyone whose last year of eligibility was no earlier than 2000 and no later than 2009.

4. Ricky Santos
Just because he was a four-year starter, had excellent numbers, and had a 3-0 record against FBS teams (even though they weren't very good FBS teams, UNH beat all of them by double digits)

3. Brian Westbrook
Because of his ridiculous numbers from running and receiving yards. Also probably among the best NFL prospects to come out of the FCS in the last decade.

2. Armanti Edwards
Because he won the NC as a true-freshman and made it back-to-back NCs in 2007, was the QB in the biggest FBS/IA win ever, and has two Payton Trophies. It's hard to believe with all this that he is number 2 but he is.

And my player of the decade is...

1. Adrian Peterson
Just because his rushing numbers are absolutely mind-blowing. If playoff games were counted retrospectively as they should be, he has 9,145 career rushing yards which would be the all-division record and would shatter the DI record of 6,443. Also, he shattered the record of 31 consecutive games with 100+ yards rushing with 49.

[happyappy99]

Peterson is probably the best college running back I've ever watched. I was constantly impressed with him and I was happy that App was able to hold him to his one game under 100 yards rushing.

However,my natural bias would lead me to make AE #1

[GannonFan]

I always thought Westbrook brought more to the table than Peterson - return game, catching the ball out of the backfield, etc. And Westbrook's teams were nowhere near the level as Peterson's were - the surrounding cast around Peterson was often overlooked.

From QB's, over a career, AE was very good and stands up there. If Flacco had more years in FCS I'd throw him up there - and frankly, from just a one year standpoint, he was a phenom - probably the best passing QB I've ever seen at this level, and that goes way beyond just one decade.

[SpeedkingATL]

These are the four main ones that stick out to me...I'm talking about anyone whose last year of eligibility was no earlier than 2000 and no later than 2009.

4. Ricky Santos
Just because he was a four-year starter had, excellent numbers, and had a 3-0 record against FBS teams (even though they weren't very good FBS teams, UNH beat all of them by double digits)

3. Brian Westbrook
Because of his ridiculous numbers from running and receiving yards. Also probably among the best NFL prospects to come out of the FCS in the last decade.

2. Armanti Edwards
Because he won the NC as a true-freshman and made it back-to-back NCs in 2007, was the QB in the biggest FBS/IA win ever, and has two Payton Trophies. It's hard to believe with all this that he is number 2 but he is.

And my player of the decade is...

1. Adrian Peterson
Just because his rushing numbers are absolutely mind-blowing. If playoff games were counted retrospectively as they should be, he has 9,145 career rushing yards which would be the all-division record and would shatter the DI record of 6,443. Also, he shattered the record of 31 consecutive games with 100+ yards rushing with 49.

Hard to argue with that four. I would put AE on par with AP and would have been interested what Foster could have done if playing QB for Erk Russell for 4 years.

[dbackjon]

Of those four, AE stands apart, IMHO

[AZGrizFan]

BEST player - AP
Most VALUABLE player - AE

[Pwns]

I always thought Westbrook brought more to the table than Peterson - return game, catching the ball out of the backfield, etc. And Westbrook's teams were nowhere near the level as Peterson's were - the surrounding cast around Peterson was often overlooked.

From QB's, over a career, AE was very good and stands up there. If Flacco had more years in FCS I'd throw him up there - and frankly, from just a one year standpoint, he was a phenom - probably the best passing QB I've ever seen at this level, and that goes way beyond just one decade.

A fair point about Nova versus GSU...there's always some subjectivity to this, and you can argue so-and-so might be in consideration had they been in better circumstances. There are a lot of examples...

What would Tony Romo's numbers be like at a more elite FCS program?
Would Richie Williams have accomplished more if App. State had installed the spread sooner?
What if Jayson Foster had had three years starting in the flexbone, instead of having to run 3 different offenses in his career?
And the point about Flacco is also valid and applies to this as well.

There's no question GSU had more talent than Nova from '98 to '01, but AP had about as many career rushing yards as Westbrook did total yards. And when AP wasn't playing GSU just wasn't the same. The game I remember the most that we played without AP was the 45-10 a**-kicking we got in Greenville after we had already clinched the SoCon championship in 2000.

[ASUMountaineer]

I always thought Westbrook brought more to the table than Peterson - return game, catching the ball out of the backfield, etc. And Westbrook's teams were nowhere near the level as Peterson's were - the surrounding cast around Peterson was often overlooked.

From QB's, over a career, AE was very good and stands up there. If Flacco had more years in FCS I'd throw him up there - and frankly, from just a one year standpoint, he was a phenom - probably the best passing QB I've ever seen at this level, and that goes way beyond just one decade.

A fair point about Nova versus GSU...there's always some subjectivity to this, and you can argue so-and-so might be in consideration had they been in better circumstances. There are a lot of examples...

What would Tony Romo's numbers be like at a more elite FCS program?
Would Richie Williams have accomplished more if App. State had installed the spread sooner?
What if Jayson Foster had had three years starting in the flexbone, instead of having to run 3 different offenses in his career?
And the point about Flacco is also valid and applies to this as well.

There's no question GSU had more talent than Nova from '98 to '01, but AP had about as many career rushing yards as Westbrook did total yards. And when AP wasn't playing GSU just wasn't the same. The game I remember the most that we played without AP was the 45-10 a**-kicking we got in Greenville after we had already clinched the SoCon championship in 2000.

Man, I wish we could have found that out.

[clenz]

I only throw this out there because of the two FCS records that he holds, and what he did to UNH.

Eric Sanders. He holds the career completion % record at 69.9 and the single season completion % at 75%, I believe. He wasn't the biggest, fastest, didn't have the biggest arm, but what he did have was the ability to make something from nothing...a lot.

[Willie]

They may not deserve to be on the list but John Edwards and Yohance Humphrey for Montana should at least be mentioned for 2001.

[ASUMountaineer]

I only throw this out there because of the two FCS records that he holds, and what he did to UNH.

Eric Sanders. He holds the career completion % record at 69.9 and the single season completion % at 75%, I believe. He wasn't the biggest, fastest, didn't have the biggest arm, but what he did have was the ability to make something from nothing...a lot.

Sorry, I couldn't resist. In all honesty, I saw him play a few times...excellent QB. It's nice to see him back at UNI this season.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I only throw this out there because of the two FCS records that he holds, and what he did to UNH.

Eric Sanders. He holds the career completion % record at 69.9 and the single season completion % at 75%, I believe. He wasn't the biggest, fastest, didn't have the biggest arm, but what he did have was the ability to make something from nothing...a lot.

Sorry, I couldn't resist. In all honesty, I saw him play a few times...excellent QB. It's nice to see him back at UNI this season.

I sure hope UNI has changed their UNIs, because those just look god-awful. Purple helmets, blue jerseys and black pants?

[Silenoz]

AE and it's not close

2 Paytons
2 championships
Win over Michigan

That's like double anyone else's claims

[Fact]

Adrian Peterson's gaudy numbers (while spectacular) need to be taken with a grain of salt.. They are the equivalent of a run n' shoot quarterback. Brian Westbrook was playing at the same time as Peterson (in a pass heavy offense) on worse teams and still won the Payton over Peterson in 2001. I have never before seen a player that was both the best runner and receiver on his college team and that's exactly what Brian was. Back when Westbrook was at Villanova our coaches had a stupid rule where they didn't allow any 300 pounders on the offensive line, so you essentially have a Barry Sanders situation.
All Time NCAA All Purpose Yardage Leader
Only Player in NCAA History to Run for 1,000 yards and have 1,000 receiving in the same season
Was only on one really good team

[Mvemjsunpx]

They may not deserve to be on the list but John Edwards and Yohance Humphrey for Montana should at least be mentioned for 2001.

Yohance Humphery? Yes.

John Edwards? No way. Look at his stats: they aren't any better than average for a starting QB.

[Saint3333]

If I had a choice tomorrow for any player for four years AE every time.

[bobbythekidd]

If I had a choice tomorrow for any player for four years AE every time.

Now THAT would be an interesting topic.

[Griz Growler]

I would make the point that Charles Roberts of Sacramento State was as good as Adrian Peterson. He had similarly mind boggling numbers and he didn't play in a triple option offense, or have anywhere near the kind of talent helping him out. Because he played on a team that wasn't relevant or in championship contention he is kind of forgotten. But he was simply amazing as well.

[BearIt]

Jared Allen at Idaho State. His senior year he had 17.5 Sacks, 102 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 6 forced fumbles and 9 pass deflections.
They had back to back 8 win seasons while he was there. An 8 win season at ISU is way more impressive than Montana, GSU or App State championship games.

[dbackjon]

Jared Allen at Idaho State. His senior year he had 17.5 Sacks, 102 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 6 forced fumbles and 9 pass deflections.
They had back to back 8 win seasons while he was there. An 8 win season at ISU is way more impressive than Montana, GSU or App State championships games.

Great point!

[jmu-fan-1981]

Adrian Peterson's (of the Chicago Bears variety) biggest claim to fame is sharing the same name as one of the most dominant RBs in the NFL. I know the gSU Peterson probably gets drafted by Morons every single fantasy football season simply because donks think he is 'Purple Jesus'.

I'll go with AE #1. and i'll replace AP with Jared Allen.

[93henfan]

[Rob Iola]

No Mike "Pops" Adams or Mondoe "MONDOE!!!" Davis?

[jmu-fan-1981]

I want to see Flacco's numbers against JMU. Same goes for Tim Hightower...

THAT is the reason why they are not top 5 FCS players. They never won big against big competition.

[93henfan]

I want to see Flacco's numbers against JMU.

2007 - Flacco beats JMU, passing for 257 yards.
2006 - Flacco passes for 291 yards in a loss.

It doesn't look like JMU phased him too much. He was also 3-1 in the playoffs with a championship game appearance, so I'm not sure where the "big competition" comment is coming from. If there were any doubts, I'd think winning more playoff games than any rookie QB in NFL history the following year would have erased them.

Btw, I don't disagree with previous posts. In terms of FCS accomplishments, guys with four years starting and multiple FCS championships should be tops.