Long before Deion Sanders arrived at the University of Colorado, the program already had a long history full of championships and elite college football players.
In the early days of the Big 8, now the Big 12, the Buffaloes were a powerhouse. led by Byron “Whizzer” White. Decades later, names like Darian Hagan, Kordell Stewart, Michael Westbrook, and Eric Bieniemy would bring the program back to the national spotlight and even win a national championship.
These men on this list helped establish the Colorado program and while some names may be familiar to some, there will be others that have been forgotten to time. Here are the top 10 Colorado Buffaloes football players of all time.
10. Herb Orvis, defensive end
Herb Orvis was an All-American defensive end in 1971. Known for his toughness, he was also twice named All-Big 8 selection and named to the conference’s 1970s All-Decade Team. He is also part of the Buffs All-Century Team and has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
9. Kordell Stewart, quarterback
Kordell Stewart is one of the most prolific players in Colorado Buffaloes‘ history. Stewart holds the school record for most passes completed, most passing yards, and most touchdown passes. He was named second-team All-American and led the Buffs to an 11-1 record in 1994. What cemented his legacy with the Buffs was the Hail Mary touchdown pass he threw to Michael Westbrook against the Michigan Wolverines to win in The Big House. Stewart would end his college career with over 6,400 passing yards and 33 touchdowns.
8. Joe Romig, linebacker
Joe Romig was one of the best defensive players in Colorado history. He was named the UPI Lineman of the Year for the 1961 season and also received the Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy that season. He was named to All-Big Eight Conference teams each of his varsity seasons and he was a consensus All-American during his junior and senior seasons. Romig is also a Rhodes Scholar who studied at Oxford. He would later become a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and Academic All-American Hall of Fame.
7. Bobby Anderson, running back/quarterback
Bobby Anderson played at Colorado between 1967 and 1969 and became a true dual-threat quarterback, leading the team in both rushing and passing as a sophomore and junior. So accomplished at both positions, he was a consensus first-team All-American at tailback as a senior while the AP named him an honorable mention All-American at quarterback as a sophomore. He earned first-team All-Big Eight honors at both positions as well. Anderson rushed for a bowl-record 254 yards against Alabama in the Liberty Bowl. He ended his college career with 4,565 yards of total offense, a Big Eight record at the time. Anderson is now a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
6. Darian Hagan, quarterback
An option quarterback for the Buffs between 1988 and 1991, Hagan took over for quarterback Sal Aunese, who died from stomach cancer. The team dedicated the 1989 season to him and Hagan made the most of it, becoming the sixth player in Division I-A history to gain over 1,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in the same season. Hagan was the QB when Colorado won the national title in 1990, not to mention three-straight Big Eight championships. His record as quarterback was 28–5–2 (20–0–1 in the Big Eight). He finished fifth in the 1989 Heisman Trophy voting. Hagan was inducted into the University of Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002 after finishing his career with 3,801 passing yards and 2,007 rushing yards.
5. Michael Westbrook, wide receiver
Michael Westbrook is arguably the best wide receiver in Colorado history. Westbrook may be more known for catching that Hail Mary from Kordell Stewart to defeat Michigan, but he was more than that. He was a two-time All-American, a national champion, and is the Buffs’ all-time leader in receptions (167) and receiving yards (2,548). Westbrook played seven years in the NFL and then became interested in martial arts after he retired from football. Westbrook is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
4. Eric Bieniemy, running back
The younger generation may know Eric Bieniemy as the offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Washington Commanders. However, he was also one of the greatest running backs in Buffs’ history. Bieniemy is still Colorado’s all-time leading rusher, with 3,940 yards, rushing touchdowns (42), and all-purpose yards (4,351). He is a national champion and was a unanimous first-team All-American in 1990 when he rushed for 1,628 yards and 17 touchdowns. Bieniemy also earned first-team All-Big Eight honors twice.
3. Alfred Williams, outside linebacker
Alfred Williams played a huge part in that Colorado defense that won the national championship in 1990. He was a two-time All-American and a Butkus Award winner. Williams was the Big Eight defensive player of the year twice and still ranks as CU’s all-time leader in sacks (35) and tackles for loss (59). In 2010, Williams was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. After Colorado, he would play in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos, helping the latter win two Super Bowls.
2. Rashaan Salaam, running back
You can make the argument that Rashaan Salaam deserves to be No. 1 on this list. Salaam is the school’s first and only Heisman winner and was a unanimous All-American in 1994. That season, Salaam rushed for 2,055 yards and 24 touchdowns, also winning the Doak Walker Award, the Walter Camp Trophy for Player of the Year, and was named Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year. Salaam would go on to play many years in the NFL but died tragically at the age of 42 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His life and his accomplishments with the Buffaloes are still celebrated as he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022.
1. Byron “Whizzer” White, halfback
The first Colorado Buffaloes star was Byron “Whizzer” White. A leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy in 1937, he led the nation in rushing (1,121 yards), total offense (1,596), all-purpose yards (1,970), and scoring (122 points). Colorado’s first All-American, he led the team to an 8-0 record and Cotton Bowl berth that season as well. While he shined as a halfback, he also handled kick returns, punted, and even played some defense, intercepting eight passes during his college career. White also led the CU basketball team to the NIT and played baseball, hitting .400 for the Buffs. White not only went on to become a Rhodes Scholar but served as a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1962 until 1993. Not a shabby career and life.
