ESPN Names Two Badgers in Top 25 Players of the 21st Century

The Badgers have had some incredible football players throughout the years since 2000. Melvin Gordon, JJ Watt and Russell Wilson could certainly be considered for the some of the best. But two other Badgers stood above the rest as ESPN listed their top 25 players of the 21st century.

Offensive tackle Joe Thomas was listed at number 12 in the rankings. An all-time Badger great and ironman in the NFL, Thomas is in both the college and NFL Hall of Fames. Here's what Bill Connelly of ESPN had to say about the Badger legend.

Even though almost no one in the sport has produced as many road-grading linemen as Wisconsin over the last 30 or so years, Thomas stands out among all those awesome Badgers. An all-conference shot putter and discus thrower on the side, the Brookfield, Wisconsin, native moved into the starting lineup at left tackle as a true sophomore in 2004 and was one of the best in the nation in 2005. In 2006, returning to school after tearing his ACL in the bowl game the year before, he was untouchable. He blocked for a 1,500-yard rusher for the second straight year and became the first Badger to win the Outland Trophy.

Last but not least, running back Jonathan Taylor slipped in to the rankings at number 25. With the fourth most rushing yards in NCAA history, Taylor was an unstoppable force. ESPN loves Taylor's body of work.

A two-time, 2,000-yard rusher, Taylor was an inevitable presence. He rushed for 223 yards in his second career game, he carried the ball at least 18 times in 35 games, he rushed for at least 100 yards on 32 occasions, and he topped 200 yards 12 times. And in a triple-overtime win over Purdue in 2018, he painted his masterpiece: 33 carries, 321 yards and 3 touchdowns, including an 80-yarder and the game-winner.

To have two Badgers make an all-century team is pretty impressive. No other Big Ten team had more than one player make the list and only Oklahoma had more players represented.