Fox analyst Joel Klatt unveiled his All‑21st Century college football team on July 13, assembling a 23‑player lineup that spans 14 different position groups. The announcement came during his popular show, where he detailed the criteria and process behind each selection.
The Making of Klatt's All‑21st Century List
The roster reads like a who’s‑who of the era, featuring dominant performers such as Vince Young, Adrian Peterson, Aaron Donald, Luke Keuchly, Micah Parsons, Patrick Surtain II and many others. Each player was chosen for a combination of statistical dominance, impact on the game and longevity of excellence.
Among the wide receivers, Klatt weighed several historic candidates — including Larry Fitzgerald, DeVonta Smith, Michael Crabtree and Julio Jones — before ultimately favoring Jones for his impact in a run‑heavy offense during a particularly competitive SEC period.
He also highlighted Caleb Downs as the smartest player he ever covered, yet opted to slot Tyrann Mathieu and Minkah Fitzpatrick at the nickelback position, underscoring the depth of talent he considered.
The Buckeye Exclusion
Notably, despite Ohio State’s two national championships this century, a string of Heisman candidates and a pipeline that has produced numerous first‑round NFL draft picks, no Buckeye made the final cut. Klatt had Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs on the final shortlist for wide receiver but ultimately excluded them.
The omission has sparked discussion among fans and commentators about the criteria Klatt used, with many questioning how a program so consistently successful could be left out of the all‑time elite.