The Deuce’s Dynasty: Ranking College Football’s Most Legendary Number 2s

In college football, a jersey number is more than just identification; it’s a symbol. It can denote a position, a tradition, or, most often, a legacy. Few numbers boast the sheer star power and positional diversity of Number 2. From Heisman winners to defensive legends and unstoppable all-purpose weapons, this digit has been a magnet for generational talent.

While names like Cam Newton and Charles Woodson instantly spring to mind, the conversation about the best to ever don the double-deuce must begin with the original electric weapon: David Palmer, aptly nicknamed “The Deuce.”

The Explosive Catalyst: David Palmer, The Deuce

Before the era of positionless football became mainstream, there was David Palmer, the human highlight reel for the Alabama Crimson Tide in the early 1990s. Palmer wasn't just a wide receiver; he was an offensive coordinator's dream—a dangerous runner, a reliable pass-catcher, and even a wildcat quarterback before the term existed.

Palmer's dominance was immediate and explosive. In only his fourth collegiate game against Vanderbilt, he racked up 212 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, marking his first punt return score of the season. Just two weeks later, against Tulane, he found the end zone three times, highlighted by a breathtaking 69-yard punt return. This sheer, unfiltered explosiveness earned him the moniker "The Deuce" and cemented his status as one of college football’s most exciting players of that era. Palmer set an impossibly high standard for anyone wearing the number at Alabama, a tradition that current stars like Ryan Williams continue today.

The Heisman Hierarchy and Generational Talent

If Palmer set the bar for versatility, the Heisman winners who followed wearing No. 2 made it untouchable.

Charles Woodson (Michigan) remains one of the most unique and historically significant Heisman winners. In 1997, he became the only primarily defensive player to capture the trophy, leveraging his exceptional play as a cornerback, his impact as a wide receiver, and his dazzling skill as a punt returner to lead the Wolverines to a National Championship. Woodson truly defined the term "impact player."

A decade later, Cam Newton arrived at Auburn for one of the most dominant single seasons in history (2010). After transferring, Newton became an unstoppable force, combining an elite passing arm with unbelievable power and speed in the running game. He won the Heisman, led the Tigers to an undefeated season, and captured the BCS National Championship, delivering a performance that redefined the dual-threat quarterback position.

The third Heisman winner to wear No. 2, Derrick Henry (Alabama), demonstrated unparalleled dominance at running back in 2015. Henry captured the Heisman, Doak Walker, and Maxwell Awards after rushing for an SEC-record 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns, powering the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Versatility Beyond Measure

The legacy of Number 2 is defined not just by Heisman winners but by elite performers across every position.

Defensively, the number has been legendary. Deion Sanders (Florida State) remains arguably the most exciting college defensive back ever, capturing the 1988 Jim Thorpe Award. Mike Doss (Ohio State) stands as one of only eight Buckeyes to earn three-time All-American honors, serving as the defensive anchor for the 2002 National Championship team. More recently, Patrick Surtain (Alabama) secured unanimous All-American status and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award before leading the Tide to a national title in 2021.

Then there are the ultimate Swiss Army knives, like Adoree’ Jackson (USC), who, like Woodson, won the Jim Thorpe Award as a cornerback while excelling on offense and special teams, and Sammy Watkins (Clemson), who is one of only two players in Tigers history with over 5,000 all-purpose yards and scored a touchdown via catch, run, return, and pass.

Traditions of Honor

The significance of the jersey is reinforced by the traditions built around it. Eastern Michigan University (EMU) retires the number 2 in honor of the late wide receiver Demarius Reed, but it is annually awarded to the team’s best or senior receiver, signifying the responsibility of upholding Reed's legacy. Similarly, South Carolina retired the number for Sterling Sharpe, who earned First-team All-American honors twice, placing him among a select few in the program’s history. Even Shannon Sharpe, Sterling's brother, built his own Hall of Fame career after dominating at Savannah State while wearing the jersey.

The players who wore No. 2 were not just statistics; they were game-changers, record-breakers, and cultural icons.

Our Top 5 Players to Wear Number 2 in College Football History

After weighing the Heisman trophies, national championships, and positional dominance, our list of the greatest college football players to wear the number 2 includes:

1. Charles Woodson(Michigan)
2. Cam Newton(Auburn)
3. Deion Sanders(Florida State)
4. Derrick Henry(Alabama)
5. Mike Doss(Ohio State)

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David was about as explosive as a college football player as they come.

In his fourth collegiate game against Vanderbilt, he exploded for 212 all purpose yards, two touchdowns, including his first punt return.

He went all the way back for a touchdown.

Now later against Tulane, David Palmer found the end zone three times, highlighted by a 69 yard punt return.

That's one reason why they called him the Deuce.

Alabama Crimson Ties Uber Talented Weapon David Palmer is just one of the best of jersey number two in college football history.

Does he make our list of top five?

We'll see in just a moment of some more great number twos in college football history.

This is the Pigskin Daily History Dispatch, a podcast that covers the anniversaries of American football events throughout history.

Your host Darren Hayes is podcasting from America's North Shore to bring you the memories of the gridiron one day at a time.

Well my football friends, welcome to the Pigskin Dispatch.

Your portal deposit football history and our college series on the greatest jersey number twos in college football history.

It's a big task, we know.

Just think about how many thousands of players for over the last 100 or so years that have wore the number two in college football.

There's a lot, thousands upon thousands.

But we're going to take and narrow down some of the greatest, most significant players in modern times and some from antiquity and narrow them down to a top five that we'll have up on the end of this show.

So stay tuned with us.

Let's go through and bring you some of the candidates in the history of college football.

Jersey number two.

Now there are some schools in college football that hold the jersey number two in very high regards.

Some have it for different reasons.

One is Eastern Michigan University who has the number two retired, but they do bring it out for special occasions.

But a new tradition of this retired jersey has really become to quite honor this wide receiver.

The best senior wide receiver each year, symbolizing Reed's legacy and and earns it through performance gets to wear that jersey number two on game day.

Great job Eastern Michigan.

Way to remember your lost one.

Ohio State University has a proud tradition and they've had some great number twos through history.

Among some other great performances, he recorded four sacks, five tackles for loss, two force fumbles and led the Buckeyes to a 387 victory over a number 13 team in the nation.

Not too shabby in Big Ten play.

Another OSU great standout was Mike Doss, a safety for Ohio State who is only one of eight players in school history to earn a three time All American honors.

He did it as a DB position Mike Dossier Definitely one of the great ones in Buckeye history or the Deuce.

Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State was a very good player.

He was consensus first team All American in his senior year and a recipient of the Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back, helping Ohio State to four Big Ten championships during his career and being a prominent president in two BCS National Championship games and in 13 NFL seasons with the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles.

He garnered two Super bowl rings.

Great football career for Mr. Jenkins.

He compiled 301 carries for 2,003 yards and 21 touchdowns that season, making him one of the best to wear number two in college football history.

Alabama is another school that really has some great players that were the number two.

Now we talked about David Palmer and what a great career he has as he was known as the Deuce.

It was a human highlight reel for the Crimson Tide.

He was a starting receiver, runner and even quarterback in the early 90s and really a great player.

Jalen Hurts, a Super bowl champion well, he wore the number two back at Alabama before he transferred to Oklahoma.

The quarterback at Alabama, he led the team to multiple national championships.

It was known for his dual threat ability and clutch performances while wearing that number two.

Ryan Williams, a wide receiver at Alabama, has worn the number two with distinction and continues the tradition of standout players for the crimson tide.

He was bypassed as a conservative run play.

Instead, Clements executed a gutsy play action pass from the goal line, delivering a perfect strike to to Robin Weber who sealed the victory and crushed Alabama's comeback victory.

Now there are more great number twos in college football histories at other schools.

He was a return specialist.

Chris Canty, a quarterback at Kansas State.

Great career for him.

Derek Strait of Oklahoma were the number two for the Sooners.

And Sammy Watkins, a great wide receiver out of Clemson who had an outstanding career as not only a collegian but but as a pro too, winning a Super bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs.

We'll talk a little bit more a little bit more about him in just a moment.

And Jamar Fletcher of Wisconsin, who wore that number two proudly.

Now there's some schools that had some players so great that they retired the number.

And his impact was recognized by the university who retired his number two jerseys, an honor given only to three players and in Gamecock history.

Now this goes beyond just having your number retired.

How about some Heisman winners that were the number two?

Well, we've got a handful of them.

One of them is Charles Woodson, a cornerback from Michigan who played multiple positions.

He was the only defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy when he did it.

But you know, since Mr. Travis just won it a couple years ago and he excelled as a corner receiver returner and solidifying his spot arguably as the best ever to wear the number two.

We'll find out in just a moment about that.

Cam Newton, A quarterback out of Auburn.

That year he won the Heisman Trophy and led the Tigers to an undefeated season and a BCS national championship in January.

Derek Henry.

We know him as a great running back for the Ravens now and formerly of the Tennessee Titans.

His performance earned him the Heisman Trophy, the D.O.

walker Award, the Maxwell Award, while leading the Crimson Tide to the National College Football Playoff national championship.

Known as Johnny Football, he combined dazzling improvisation and record breaking passing rushing totals making one of the most exciting and dominant players in SEC history.

And that's why A and M retired his number two after his career was over.

Now those are the numbers that are retired, but we also have some College Football hall of Famers that were the number two we've already talked about.

Deion Sanders.

No doubt he was in in the College Football hall of Fame after his brilliant performance at Florida.

His number has been retired.

Number two, Joe Keeche.

He was a two time All North Central Conference selection and contributed to two NCC National Championship teams.

Mike Doss, who we talked a little bit about, was a dominant safety for Ohio State and he earned three consecutive consensus All American honors before his career was over.

His bust is in Canton.

Not in Canton, but in Atlanta for the College Football hall of Fame by the National Football Foundation.

Definitely a great player for the Longhorns and in the NFL.

Now with so many to choose from, who could be the top five that we're going to choose for number twos in college football history?

Well, we're going to bring it like this.

At number five we're going to bring Ohio State's Mike Dawson those multiple All American selections and just outstanding play as a versatile player puts Mike Dawson at a number five spot and the greatest number twos.

Derek Henry, that big back from Alabama, well King Henry earns the number four spot.

Our best number twos in college football history.

Right in front of him is Deion Sanders, the prime time who came with his Florida State credentials of DB returner and just all around great player, super athlete puts him at number three and a best number twos in college football history.

And at number one, we're going to put another Heisman winner, Charles Woodson, who with the Michigan Wolverines showed that defensive backs that are super talented can play offense returner, just about anything else and make themselves super valuable to a team like the Michigan Wolverines did that year and win a Heisman Trophy.

So there you have it.

There's our top five.

You know, there's the electric playmakers, from David Palmer to Charles Woodson, to the general talents such as Cam Newton and Derrick Henry, Jersey number two has been worn with distinction by some of college football's most memorable icons.

His legacy runs deep and across many schools, errors and positions symbolizing excellence and electrifying performances.

The impact of these athletes not only lives in the record books, but also in the traditions and honors and forward by each new wear have that expectation of being number two to be the top dog on a team.

Hope you enjoyed this little bit of football history discussing all these great players in college football history and hope you stay tuned with our series as we move on to number threes on our next episode on this.

But stay tuned for more football history on our regular programming here on Pixkin dispatch.com till next time everybody.

Have a great gridiron day.

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