ESPN: Two Wisconsin Badgers among college football's greatest players since 2000

Wisconsin legends offensive tackle Joe Thomas and running back Jonathan Taylor both made ESPN’s Bill Connelly’s recent list of the top 25 college football players since 2000

Thomas made the list at No. 12, while Taylor snuck in at No. 25. They fell far from the list’s headliners of Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh, Texas Tech and Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield, Florida and Auburn QB Cam Newton, Texas QB Vince Young and Miami S Ed Reed.

Connelly writes that Thomas ‘stands out’ among Wisconsin’s storied history of offensive linemen. The NFL Hall of Fame left tackle won the Outland Trophy in 2006, was named a unanimous All-American that year, was a two-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection and had his entire career honored by a recent induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

He was impressively listed ahead of Buffalo LB Khalil Mack, Pittsburgh DT Aaron Donald and Georgia DE David Pollack.

Taylor, meanwhile, rightfully made the list despite only playing three collegiate seasons. His three years included totals of 6,174 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns, plus 407 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. The all-time great running back left for the NFL after boasting two Doak Walker Awards (2018, 2019), two first-team All-America selections (2018-2019) and three first-team All-Big Ten selections (2017, 2018, 2019).

Both legendary Badgers have backed up their collegiate performance at the NFL level, a further indication of their greatness at their respective positions.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

2024 Preseason Previews

Big Ten Team Previews: Indiana Hoosiers — Purdue Boilermakers — Illinois Fighting Illini — Northwestern Wildcats — Minnesota Golden Gophers — Nebraska Cornhuskers — Iowa Hawkeyes — Rutgers Scarlet Knights — Maryland Terrapins — Michigan State Spartans — USC Trojans — UCLA Bruins — Washington Huskies — Michigan Wolverines — Penn State Nittany Lions — Ohio State Buckeyes — Oregon Ducks — Wisconsin Badgers

Big Ten Position Previews: Quarterbacks — Running Backs — Wide Receivers — Offensive Lines — Tight Ends — Defensive Line — Linebackers — Cornerbacks — Safeties

Wisconsin Position Previews: Quarterback — Running Back