By Darin In the hallowed halls of college football, numbers don’t just identify players—they define dynasties. While certain digits are synonymous with powerhouse positions (think the classic quarterback 12 or running back 20), the number 3 holds a unique and electrifying place in the sport’s history. It’s a number often claimed by the most dynamic playmakers, the game-changers, and the athletes with the courage to demand the spotlight.
From legendary defensive backs who locked down entire halves of the field to electric receivers and record-shattering quarterbacks, the No. 3 has graced the jerseys of some of the most memorable talents to ever step onto the turf. These athletes didn’t just play the game; they changed it, often carrying their teams to national championships, Heisman ceremonies, and the top of the NFL Draft boards.
We are diving deep into the archives to rank the elite. Get ready to explore the careers, accolades, and unforgettable moments that solidified their status. Here is our definitive list of the best college football players to ever wear the iconic No. 3.
Schools that honor Jersey 3
Notre Dame‘s legendary #3 jersey has been worn by Joe Montana, Rick Meyer, Darius Walker, Ron Powlus, and Michael Floyd, all of whom were record-breaking offensive players.
Utah Tech Trailblazers: The program established an annual tradition of awarding the No. 3 jersey to a student-athlete who best emulates the leadership of former player Abraham Reinhardt, who passed away in 2019. This makes the number a symbol of specific character and leadership qualities within the team
USC Trojans: The number 3 was officially retired by USC for Heisman-winning quarterback Carson Palmer. In a rare move that speaks to its prestige, Palmer gave his blessing for standout transfer wide receiver Jordan Addison to wear the number in 2022, on the condition that he uphold the number’s legacy.
Hofstra retired Wayne Chrebet’s jersey 3
Notable Players Wearing #3:
- Joe Montana (Notre Dame): A Hall of Fame quarterback who wore #3 for the iconic Irish program, making it famous. In his junior season, he took the Irish to a National Championship win over Texas.
- Keyshawn Johnson (USC): A dominant wide receiver who also wore #3 for the Trojans. In two seasons at USC, Keyshawn had 2796 yards receiving with 16 TDs
- Sterling Shepard- Oklahoma – Shepard was a consistently explosive wide receiver for the Oklahoma Sooners, finishing his collegiate career among the program’s top three all-time leaders in both receptions and receiving yards. He provided a reliable, dynamic target for the Sooners’ offense throughout his four seasons in Norman.
- Jordan Addison – WR for Pitt (2020-21) & USC (2022) Jordan was drafted in the 1st round of the NFL Draft by Minnesota. His college resume has a Fred Biletnikoff Award (2021), Consensus All-American (2021), First-team All-Pac-12 (2022), and First-team All-ACC (2021). Addison had 3,134 career rec yards in College for a 14.3 yard average per catch, and 29 TDs.
- Trent Richardson – Alabama – collegiate career at Alabama was marked by historic dominance, culminating in the 2011 Doak Walker Award and a third-place finish in the Heisman Trophy voting as he powered the Crimson Tide to multiple BCS National Championships. He remains one of the most decorated running backs in Alabama history.
- Mike Sadler of Michigan State: 1st #studentathlete in #MSU history 2win 4x Academic All American honors. BiG 10 Conference Medal of Honor 2Xrecipient of Pingel Award from National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame’s Mich Chapter. This award has been renamed the Michael R. Sadler Award.
- Michael Thomas was a standout wide receiver for Ohio State from 2012 to 2015, notably contributing to the Buckeyes’ victory in the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship in 2014. He finished his collegiate career as a reliable target before being selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
- Marlin Jackson: Michigan – 2x All B1G 10 & consensus All-American- Jackson was a dynamic force in the Michigan Wolverines’ secondary, earning consensus All-American honors while demonstrating rare versatility by excelling at both cornerback and safety throughout his career. He was a foundational piece of the defense that captured two Big Ten championships.
- Frank Gore – Miami Hurricanes – Gore’s career at the University of Miami was a fierce battle against devastating knee injuries, but he repeatedly showed immense grit and talent to return to the field. He ultimately tallied nearly 2,000 rushing yards for the Hurricanes, proving his resilience before embarking on his legendary NFL journey.
- Quin Blanding: Virginia Cavaliers – A four-time All-ACC selection, Quin Blanding was a tackling machine for the Virginia Cavaliers, leaving the program as the ACC’s all-time leader in career tackles among defensive backs.
College Football Hall of Fame number 3s
- Charlie Berry was an All-America end for Lafayette College in the 1920s before embarking on a rare professional career as a high-level official in both the NFL and Major League Baseball.
- Kevin Faulk, a legendary LSU running back, set multiple school records for career rushing yards and touchdowns and finished fourth in the 1998 Heisman Trophy balloting.
- London Fletcher starred at Division III John Carroll University, where he was a consensus All-American linebacker and a two-time Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Player of the Year.
- Ralph Guglielmi was an All-America quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the mid-1950s and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
- Bill McColl was a consensus All-American defensive end at Stanford in the early 1950s, concurrently achieving recognition as an academic star and being named a Rhodes Scholar.
- Bill Morton was a standout defensive back for the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 1970s, earning All-Southwest Conference (SWC) honors during his collegiate career.
- Greg Myers was a two-time All-American safety for Colorado State, capping his career by winning the Jim Thorpe Award in 1995 as the nation’s best defensive back.
- Carson Palmer, the 2002 Heisman Trophy winner, finished his collegiate career at USC by leading the Trojans to an 11-2 record and a triumphant victory in the Orange Bowl.
- Adrian Peterson, Georgia Southern, retired Adrian Peterson’s Number 3 jersey.
- Anthony Poindexter was a two-time consensus All-American safety at Virginia, whose impactful collegiate career was tragically cut short by a severe knee injury during his senior season.
- Danny Woodhead became a Division II legend at Chadron State, where he broke numerous NCAA Division II rushing records and was a two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winner (Division II Heisman).
Top 5 College Football Jersey Number 3s
1) Carson Palmer
2) Joe Montana
3) Charlie Berry
5) Jordan Addison
