University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Greats Featured Among ESPN’s Best College Football Players by Jersey Number
7/3/2026 1:32:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Pitt's rich football tradition was prominently recognized by ESPN in its ranking of the best college football players of all time by jersey number.
The Panthers placed four former standouts on the list, with Larry Fitzgerald Jr., Tony Dorsett, Aaron Donald and Hugh Green each selected as the greatest college football player to wear their respective number.
Fitzgerald Jr. was named the top player to ever wear No. 1 following one of the most spectacular receiving careers in college football history. In just two seasons at Pitt from 2002-03, he caught 161 passes for 2,677 yards and 34 touchdowns. Fitzgerald Jr. won the 2003 Biletnikoff Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year honor, was a unanimous All-American and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. His streak of 18 consecutive games with a touchdown reception remains an NCAA record.
Dorsett earned the nod at No. 33 after a legendary Pitt career that culminated with the 1976 Heisman Trophy and national championship. A three-time first-team All-American, Dorsett rushed for 6,082 career yards, setting an NCAA record that stood for 22 years. During his senior season, he powered Pitt to a perfect 12-0 record and the program's ninth national title.
Donald was selected as the greatest No. 97 after one of the most dominant defensive seasons in college football history. As a senior in 2013, Donald swept the nation's major defensive awards, winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Rotary Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy. He led the country with 28.5 tackles for loss and finished his Pitt career with a school-record 66 TFLs.
Green rounded out Pitt's honorees as ESPN's choice for No. 99. One of the most decorated defensive players in college football history, Green was a three-time All-American and the 1980 recipient of the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award and Rotary Lombardi Award. He finished second in the 1980 Heisman Trophy voting, the highest finish ever by a strictly defensive player.
Pitt was also represented among ESPN's additional selections, with Dan Marino listed among the top players to wear No. 13, Mark May among No. 73, Jimbo Covert among No. 75, Bill Fralic among No. 79, Antonio Bryant among No. 80, Mike Ditka among No. 89 and Joe Schmidt among No. 65.
The full ESPN list ranked the top college football player for every jersey number from 0 through 99.
