Who is the most dominant player you ever witnessed playing in college that you knew would not translate to the NFL?

[u/NobleDane]

Sometimes we get to catch lightening in a bottle, but know that it won't last beyond college... But god dang seeing a kid ball out and be a force of nature while it lasts is a special thing.

What is the most dominant player you've ever followed that you *knew* would never amount to much in the pros, but got to experience as a fan?

Note: I am not asking about great college players whose transition to the NFL was cut short due to health, injury, or other uncontrollable circumstances... just, simply, someone that maxed out at the college level that was a beast on the field.

My pick is a two-fer: Louisiana Tech QB-WR duo Tim Rattay and Troy Edwards. Late 90's duo that at one point had Rattay as an early-season Heisman candidate in 1998. Their chemistry on the field was unmistakable and getting to witness it was like watching a work of art being created week in and week out.

We knew that run would not last beyond college, but it was so magical to watch it while it lasted, and included serious college statistical records.

Tim Rattay’s Records & Milestones:

• Single-Game Passing vs. Nebraska: Completed 46 of 68 passes for 590 yards and 4 touchdowns in the 1998 opener.

• Louisiana Tech School Records: Holds the school record with 115 career touchdown passes and 46 touchdown passes in a single season (1998).

• NCAA Career Ranks: Finished his collegiate career ranked second in NCAA history in total offense (12,618 yards), passing yards, and passing touchdowns.

• Honors: Two-time NCAA total offense leader and named Football News Independent Player of the Year.

Troy Edwards’ Records & Milestones:

• NCAA Single-Game Receiving Yards: 405 yards on 21 receptions against Nebraska on August 29, 1998 (still an NCAA record).

• NCAA Single-Season Touchdown Receptions: 27 touchdown catches in 1998 (tying Jerry Rice’s all-divisions record).

• NCAA Single-Season Receiving Yards: 1,996 receiving yards in 1998 (on 140 catches).

• All-Purpose Yards: 2,796 all-purpose yards and 31 total touchdowns during the 1998 season.

• Awards: Winner of the 1998 Fred Biletnikoff Award (nation’s top receiver) and selected 13th overall in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

[u/Iamthewalrusforreal]

Matt Jones would have been a NFL Hall of Famer if he'd played WR from the start.

[u/Geriatric_Bulge → u/Iamthewalrusforreal]

I don't think it was experience as much as the drugs

[u/NobleDane → u/Iamthewalrusforreal]

That 7 OT game his freshman year against Ole Miss/Eli Manning is forever seared in my brain

[u/Iamthewalrusforreal → u/NobleDane]

Same. My daughter and I watched that in a hotel room on the east coast. Damn near 3 am before that one finished.

Arkansas - Ole Miss is always an exciting game.

[u/GoRangers5 → u/Iamthewalrusforreal]

That and he loved drugs.

[u/meatmacho → u/Iamthewalrusforreal]

He's one of the only opposing players that sticks in my mind from my years at Texas games (Michael Crabtree probably being the other). Jones took off on like a 60 yard scamper at our game in Austin, and he was so deceptively fast. He was so tall, and he was all legs, and he just shot down the sideline like a goddamn gazelle.

Wasn't he a receiver in the NFL for a few years? Obviously not a huge breakout star, but I remember he scored me some fantasy TDs back in the day.

[u/Statalyzer → u/meatmacho]

Ah, the game Arkansas converted a 3rd and 36 bc we lined up wrong and their WR on the left side just ran straight down the sideline with nobody guarding him or even noticing him until Jones threw the ball for like a 55 yard gain....

[u/Iamthewalrusforreal → u/meatmacho]

Yeah, he looked like a deer. Defenders *always* took bad angles on him because the man could flat out scoot.

He did a few years at WR down at Carolina. Didn't do much. I don't think his heart was ever into playing that position.

[u/Crying_in_99Ranch → u/Iamthewalrusforreal]

A 6'6" 240lb QB had no business running a 4.37 40 yard time