Three Miami football players best to wear their jersey number in CFB history

The Athletic selected three legendary Miami football players on their list of the 99 best players to wear every jersey number in college football history. Number 26 safety Sean Taylor, number 52 LB Ray Lewis and number 76 DT Warren Sapp were all selected.

Three Miami football alums were selected to a list of the best players to wear their jersey number as published by The Athletic. Safety Sean Taylor at number 26, linebacker Ray Lewis 52 and defensive tackle Warren Sapp number 76 were all named the best players ever to wear their numbers.

Players began wearing numbers in college football in 1915 according to The Athletic. The selections of the 99 players on the list wearing the numbers 1-99 were selected solely on their collegiate accomplishments. The list began by The Athletic choosing players who in their words received the highest honors in college football.

Heisman Trophy winners and top contenders, consensus first-team All-Americans, (College Football) Hall of Fame inductees and other deserving awards were considered when choosing players for each jersey number. Amazingly, neither Taylor, Sapp, nor Lewis started for a national champion despite being selected.

Sean Taylor is one of if not the greatest safety in the history of college football. If not for his tragic murder Taylor would almost definitely have had a Pro Football Hall of Fame Career. Taylor began his Miami football career as the backup to Pro Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed on the deepest team in College Football history.

According to his biography for the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame, Taylor was one of only four true freshmen to play and make an impact in 2001. Playing mostly on special teams, Taylor made 26 tackles, 20 of which were solo. Taylor became a starter in 2002 and in 2003 he was one of the most dominant players in college football.