Former Notre Dame Fighting Irish football star Quenton Nelson just landed a spot on a seriously exclusive list: best college players since the year 2000. College football analyst Joel Klatt dropped his "All-21st Century" list of the top offensive players, and yeah, it is a who's who of absolute legends. Nelson, an interior line powerhouse, made the cut, and that puts him in some ridiculously rare air.
The "All-21st Century" Club Is Insane
Let's be real, an "All-21st Century" team is a huge deal. We're talking about players who defined an era, guys who changed the game forever. Klatt's list of offensive talent since 2000 is stacked, and the breakdown shows just how precise he got with it. You've got one quarterback, one running back, three wide receivers, one tight end, two offensive tackles, two guards, one center, and an extra athlete slot. Think about the thousands of incredible players who've come through college football since 2000. To even get considered for a list like this, you have to be absolutely elite. It is an unreal honor.Nelson's Place Among the Best
When you hear names like Vince Young, the legendary quarterback, and Adrian Peterson, the unstoppable running back, are on this list, you know the company is incredible. Nelson, entering his ninth NFL season with the Indianapolis Colts, grabbed one of those two guard spots. That's a testament to his sheer dominance in the trenches. He played three seasons at Notre Dame from 2015 to 2017, and in that time, he absolutely showed out, earning an All-American nod. For an offensive lineman to stand out enough to make an "All-21st Century" list alongside skill position giants, you know he was something special. He didn't just play; he absolutely mauled people. This isn't just about Nelson's college career, either. Making a list like this, especially as he's heading into his ninth year in the pros, solidifies his legacy as one of the true greats of his generation. It's a huge nod to the impact he had, and honestly, it just makes you appreciate how many monsters have played college football this century.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.