In the midst of the NFL free agency, its hard not to react to the big names in the spotlight (L. Collins, OBJ, Le'Veon, etc.). With the departures of these big names, but more specifically Le'Veon, it got me thinking back to when Steelers had the Big 3 (Ben, AB, Le'Veon) and if there was such trip in college.
Given QB/RB/WR trio, what would be your college big 3?
For me (least since I started really following CFB back in 2009):
1) D.Watson / W. Gallman / D. Cain
2) Mariota / DAT / J. Huff
3) T. Lawerence / Etieene / J. Ross (<-- probably a pre-mature trio but from last year's performance, how can you not)
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Vick/Stith/Davis
Vick, Suggs, Davis
Leinart/Bush/Jarrett
Geno Smith/Noel Devine/Tavon Austin
You can do better for WVU
White, Slaton, Reynaud
Bulger, Zereoue, Becht
Both groups had incredible FBs Schmitt and Ours
2014 Ohio State:
QB: JT Barrett (Cardale Jones in the playoffs)
RB: Ezekiel Elliott
WR: Michael Thomas
Zeke and Michael Thomas are now both top 5 in their respective positions in the NFL. The QBs from this trio didn't pan out in the NFL, but both were top tier in college.
OOOOooooOOoooOO forgot about OSU!! Forgot that was a nasty year for them.
Yeah I (and prob most others) focus more on the QB being the centerpiece, where Zeke was really the anchor for the other 2. As far as I can remember, Pryor and C. jones were the last QBs drafted for OSU
Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, and Dwayne Jarrett were pretty damn unstoppable.
Yeah. About that...
Without that bullshit Pass Interference, they wouldn't have made it past the first game in 2004 without a loss
Mike William's was good too
Edit: NVM
Deshaun Watson and Deandre Hopkins never played together. Hopkins senior season was 2012 and Watson was a freshman in 2014. Gallman was also a freshman in 2014.
Yea I spoke too soon, that's why I edited it
2000 Miami Hurricanes. Ken Dorsey/James Jackson (Clinton Portis backup)/Santana Moss AND Reggie Wayne (With Jeremy Shockey Fr TE)
The 2001 Miami team still may be the most talented team ever. There were 17 or 18 future first round picks. They had Willis McGahee, Clinton Portis and Frank Gore all as RBs on that roster. And the secondary included Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, Antrel Rolle, Phillip Buchanan and Mike Rumph.
If you look at their roster more than half of it is names even the most casual NFL fan would recognize.
That running back room had 4 NFL draft picks (Gore, Portis, McGahee, and Davenport)
Some other crazy stats from that roster:
-19 out of 22 starters were drafted
-38 total players drafted
-6 first team All-Americans in 2001 and several more would become first teamers during their careers
-14!! first team All Big East in 2001 alone
charlie ward, warrick dunn, and Tamarick Vanover is probably my favorite trios of all time.
marcus vick, Brandon ore and josh morgan are a close 2nd. followed by tyrod and any of our 3 rbs Williams, evans, or Wilson, with either danny coale or jarret boykin.
and even though im not a big zeke fan this is a pretty bad ass trio. Braxton miller, zeke Elliot, and Michael Thomas.
Matt Flynn, Jacob Hester, Early Doucet
Boyd/Spiller/Hopkins was a pretty good one at the college level for Clemson too.
Matt Stafford/ Knowshon Moreno/ AJ Green all started on the 2008-2009 UGA team as well. Stafford was #1 in 2009, Moreno was #12 in 2009, and Green was #4 in 2011.
Julio Jones and Mark Ingram were both 1st round picks. Hard to beat those 2 for best WR/RB combo
Unfortunately, their QB was Greg McElroy. Who was a 7th round pick but is an all-american announcer
Herschel Walker / Herschel Walker / Herschel Walker
Vince Young, Cedric Benson, Roy Williams
Jason White, Adrian Peterson, Mark Clayton
Dylan, Dylan, Dylan
how could you leave out Dylan
Well, he doesn't spit hot fire.
Tyrod, DW4/RW/DE (take your pick), Danny Coale/Boykin
What do I win?
Brady, Athony Thomas, Tai Streets wasnt bad either, or Brian Griese as QB.
Also 2004-2007 Michigan had a number of WRs to go with Henne and Hart.
In terms of NFL success as well as college the best one I can think of in recent years is Jamies/Freeman/Benjamin. There are a lot of good duos over the years but surprisingly few trios, there's usually one position missing from the equation.
Mike's Burger with Bacon, extra patty and fries/Beer/Catan
Justin Robinson, Nickel Alexander-Walker, and Kerry Blackshear, Jr.
If we leave off WR
Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams is one of the top backfields ever in college IMO.
Courtney Taylor at WR also had a great season and this squad had a tremendous 2004 season.
Ill go with Nesbitt, Dwyer and Bey Bey Thomas /s
Struggling not to down vote you.
Edit: I will agree that Nesbitt, a pocket passer in high school was the best at running the option for Paul Johnson.
Chad Pennington
Doug Chapman
Randy Moss
I'm also leaving off WRs.
Jason Campbell, Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown (AUB)
Darren McFadden, Felix Jones, Mitch Mustain (ARK)
Leinart, White, Bush (USCw)
then Tyrod, Rmfw, DW
Rasheed Marshall, Avon Cobourne, Quincey Wilson
Mike Gundy, Thurman Thomas, Barry Sanders
Yeah I dig the Tyrod Trio and the OkSt guys. Not sure I'd put those WVU kids in there though.
What about Percy Harvin, Tim Tebow, Aaron Hernandez?
Edit: I've been watching this on a loop for the last half an hour.
Going no running backs is interesting. LSU had Laundry and ODB Jr but no QB. Going back to the Miami team mentioned above would have some one, TEs for Miami were great, bubba Frank's, Sockley, Winslow Jr. Andre Joshnson was there, Santana Moss too (not all in 2001)
Peyton Manning, Jamal Lewis, Peerless Price
Gary Bertier, Julius Campbell, Petey Jones.