By Darin An exploration of the illustrious history surrounding college football players who have donned the coveted number one jersey reveals a tapestry woven with remarkable talent and excellence. This discussion delves into the significance of this number across various prestigious institutions, where it is often reserved for those players who epitomize the highest standards of athletic prowess and leadership. We examine the traditions upheld by schools such as the Temple Owls and NC State Wolfpack, which assign the number one to individuals displaying exceptional work ethic and tenacity, thereby setting a benchmark for their peers. Notably, this episode serves as the inauguration of a series dedicated to chronicling the history of college football jersey numbers, with a particular focus on number one, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive exploration of all jerseys in the coming year.
Transitioning from institutional practices, we embark on a retrospective journey, highlighting contemporary athletes who have made indelible marks while wearing the number one. The likes of Kaden Fordham and Skyler Bell are celebrated for their outstanding contributions in the recent 2025 season, demonstrating the ongoing legacy of excellence associated with this number. Furthermore, we delve into a historical perspective, paying homage to legendary figures such as Anthony Carter and Larry Fitzgerald, whose achievements have set the standard for success in college football. This reflective analysis not only honors past icons but also inspires current and future generations of athletes who aspire to embody the spirit of the number one jersey.
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Transcript
Who are the greatest players in college football history that wore the number one jersey on their chest?
Speaker A:We have the answers to this question and more coming up in just a moment.
Speaker B:This is the Pigskin Daily History Dispatch, a podcast that covers the anniversaries of American football events throughout history.
Speaker B:Your host, Darren Hayes is podcasting from America's North Shore to bring you the memories of the gridiron one day at a time.
Speaker A:Before we get into our episode today, let's take the time to drill that football right into the like and subscribe button on your console so you know exactly when the notifications come up of the latest releases of Pixkin Dispatch podcast for some more great football history.
Speaker A:Now on to our episode.
Speaker A:Hello my football friends.
Speaker A:This is Darren.
Speaker A:He's a pigskindispatch.com welcome once again to the Pig Pen, your portal to positive football history.
Speaker A:College football jersey is one that many people don't really talk about because players only wear them for maybe a year, two, four at the most, and it's really a hard thing to get a finger on.
Speaker A:But we have had some great football players.
Speaker A:es that we're going to do for:Speaker A:The end of:Speaker A:And today's episode we're going to cover jersey number one.
Speaker A:So I think probably a good place to start before we give you the top players of jersey number one is to go through a few schools have the specialized jersey number one to be a special player that they have on their roster.
Speaker A:The Temple Owls, they have the players who wear the single digit jerseys.
Speaker A:A1 through 9 are considered by their coaches and teammates to be the toughest and hardest workers on a team.
Speaker A:Number one being the El Prima Alpha dog.
Speaker A:ack is another one that since:Speaker A:The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have it as a sort of moving target number.
Speaker A:It's not assigned permanently, but it's giving out on a weekly basis to the player who best exemplifies the program's values both on and off the field.
Speaker A:The Michigan Wolverines say the number one jersey has historically been associated with the elite wide receivers with the expectation that player will perform at a high level and potentially contend for awards like the Belitnikov Award and maybe even the Heisman.
Speaker A:Florida Gators also look in value number one in the jersey.
Speaker A:It's considered a prestige number and is not given away recklessly.
Speaker A:A prestigious number often worn by the playmakers of the Gators.
Speaker A:Not given out every single year.
Speaker A:That's a big important thing there too.
Speaker A:Now, there were some notable players here these past few seasons.
Speaker A:I'm talking the:Speaker A:loss and two interceptions in:Speaker A:Skyler Bell of Yukon in:Speaker A:receptions,:Speaker A:Number one Colin Simmons is an edge that played for Texas.
Speaker A:to the number one during the:Speaker A:nd a half tackles for loss in:Speaker A:Roman Henby was a running back.
Speaker A:e's number one for Indiana in:Speaker A:We'll see him here in the next the College Football Playoff.
Speaker A:He is well accounted for with over 900 yards and six rushing touchdowns for the Hoosiers.
Speaker A:Horton played for Alabama in:Speaker A:y Texas Tech wide receiver in:Speaker A:He had 676 receiving yards and six TDS through the year.
Speaker A:Branch was a usc transfer in:Speaker A:Played wide receiver for the University of Georgia and this Bulldog had 744 yards receiving, five scoring touchdowns.
Speaker A:Caught wearing that UNO jersey.
Speaker A:wide receiver for Ole Miss in:Speaker A:sack registered so far in his:Speaker A:So that's, you know,:Speaker A:We had some notables back in:Speaker A:de receiver for Indiana in in:Speaker A:receiver for the Hoosiers in:Speaker A:anged the number one for that:Speaker A:So there's our modern players the last couple years that have wore it.
Speaker A:Now I think maybe we ought to go on the honor roll.
Speaker A:And who is the best player to wear jersey number one?
Speaker A:Well, many people think it might be this man.
Speaker A:e receiver from Michigan from:Speaker A:A guy by the name of Anthony Carter, widely considered the best player in college football history that wore the number one jersey.
Speaker A:Carter was a three time All American who set numerous receiving records at Michigan despite playing in a run heavy offense back there.
Speaker A:For I believe Bo Schembeckler was a coach back then.
Speaker A:This guy is going to be no stranger to because he had quite an NFL career too.
Speaker A:receiver for Pittsburgh from:Speaker A:So he's right on the tails of Anthony Carter.
Speaker A:Now this is a personal favorite of mine.
Speaker A:We're going to go wait in the wayback machine 100 years ago.
Speaker A:ord, famously playing in that:Speaker A:He was later inducted in the College Football hall of Fame.
Speaker A:Had a great pro career too with the Duluth, the Eskimos and even on the Chicago Cardinals.
Speaker A:, serving as a captain of the:Speaker A:in the Harland Hill Trophy in:Speaker A:And lastly our last hall of Fame College Football hall of Famer that wore the number one jersey was David Williams, a two time consensus I'm All American wide receiver for Illinois.
Speaker A:r in Big Ten history with two:Speaker A:Those are all some great candidates.
Speaker A:They're in the hall of Fame.
Speaker A:But.
Speaker A:But we have another player that the WAR number one that won a Heisman Trophy and he's the only player in Heisman trophy history that won the Heisman while wearing the number one jersey.
Speaker A:y, quarterback of Oklahoma in:Speaker A:Murray won that Heisman in:Speaker A:Definitely big numbers to boost it up there to do that.
Speaker A:So I think you really have three guys that are vying for the the best ever win a number.
Speaker A:Anthony Carter, Larry Fitzgerald, Ernie Nevers.
Speaker A:Many people will discount Ernie Nevers, but I think his importance to the game.
Speaker A:d have been a Heisman back in:Speaker A:So you have those four guys who are playing outstanding and you also had a guy by the name of Red Grange that was playing some pretty good football for Illinois.
Speaker A:So that would have been an interesting Heisman vote for that.
Speaker A:But Nevers might have got there with his play, but that late season injury might have took him out of contention.
Speaker A:But it's great to talk about, great to look at and honor these people that were the number one from the last, you know, over 100 years of wearing jerseys in an NCAA.
Speaker A:So have I missed anybody?
Speaker A:Is there somebody who should be on your list?
Speaker A:If so, why don't you email us.
Speaker A:Pigs can dispatch gmail.com they won't get to get on this podcast in this YouTube video, but we will list them on our page of the college football jersey number one on pixie and dispatch.com so send us a line if you you feel we miss somebody.
Speaker A:We'll research it and get some information out there about them.
Speaker A:So hope you're enjoying this.
Speaker A:And we have 99 more numbers to cover here in the next year.
Speaker A:So we'll be doing a couple of these every week as long as our as well as our normal programming here in Pixican dispatch to bring you the portal to football history.
Speaker A:Till next time everybody.
Speaker A:Have a great gridiron day.
Speaker A:That's all the football history we have today, folks.
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