Offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie and Safety Ed Reed are among the top 10 players named by Bill Connelly of ESPN in his "College football's top 25 players of the 21st century" posted on Monday." Reed is ranked fifth and McKinnie eighth in the rankings by Connelly.
Connelly lists "Key accomplishments" and posted a short synopsis for each of his top 25 players. The only players ranked ahead of Reed are Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, quarterback Baker Mayfield from Baker Mayfield, Texas Tech and Oklahoma, Florida and Auburn QB Cam Newton and Texas QB Vince Young.
Florida QB Tim Tebow was sixth and USC running back Reggie Bush seventh ranked in between Reed and McKinnie. Reed and Suh are the only defensive players ranked in the top 10. McKinnie and Suh are the only linemen ranked in the top 10. Joe Thomas of Wisconsin is the only other OT ranked in Connelley's top 25.
Reed is only one of eight defensive players on Connelly's top 25 players of the 21st century. Tyrann Mathieu of LSU and Roy Williams of Oklahoma are the only other safeties in Connelly's top 25 in addition to Reed.
Well, I've ranked QBs, RBs, WRs and defenders, and you thought all those lists were perfect. There was only one thing left to do: Mash them all together (with OLs) into one list.
— Bill Connelly (@ESPN_BillC) July 29, 2024
THE TOP 25 CFB PLAYERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY
[immediately mutes conversation]https://t.co/2hCQdajJx0
Connelly called Reed "The most memorable player from one of college football's most memorable teams." Miami finished 23-1 in McKinnie and Reed's last two seasons with one National Championship. McKinnie and Reed were foundational players who earned multiple All-America honors and National awards.
With McKinnie leading the way, Connelly said "during its early 2000s renaissance (Miami had the) most devastating offensive line in college football." McKinnie famously did not allow a sack during his two-year college career. McKinnie was the first of the great Miami players from 2000 and 2001 to be a first-round NFL Draft Pick.
The Minnesota Vikings selected McKinnie seventh overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. Tight end Jeremy Shockey and cornerback Philip Buchanon preceded Reed in the 2002 NFL Draft before Reed was taken 24th overall by the Baltimore Ravens where he won a Superbowl and had a Hall of Fame career.