For the next couple weeks we will be counting down the top 15 Colorado football players since the 2005-2006 season. Of course, it’s not the most fun decade to be looking at, but I think the down period created an interesting challenge when creating this list.

As it always goes with these lists, there is not an exact formula to determine the top 15, I tried to weigh a player’s success at CU over all other factors, but of course things like NFL success and fan favorite status creeped into the decision making process.

I’m sure people will disagree with placement, or certain players being left off, but that’s part of the fun of these, so as we work down the list, let me know where you disagree!

#7 – Mason Crosby

Finding a spot on this  list for ol’ Mason was a bit of a challenge, not because he didn’t belong here, but just because it’s hard to compare him to the others on here. He certainly could be in the top five, and he could probably go as low as nine in my opinion, so I think he settled in nicely at six.

Crosby impacted the game in a way never before seen at Colorado, it seemed any time the Buffs got the ball, they were only a couple first downs away from field goal range, one of the few times you will ever see a kicker become a fan favorite.

Crosby’s leg is what made him so fascinating to fans, rumor had it he could make from nearly 75 yards in practice, but on the field we had to settle for a 60 yard long, and a 58-yarder at sea level, the longest at that level in NCAA history. In terms of accolades, Crosby had plenty, he is one of just seven two-time All-Americans in school history, and also one of seven three-time first-team All-Conference performers in school history.

Mason is the owner of 33 records in the Colorado record book, including the school’s all time scoring record (307 points), field goals made (66), field goals attempted (88), extra points made (109), extra point attempts (117), field goal percentage (75.0) and longest field goal made (60 yards).

After CU, Crosby was drafted in the sixth round by the Green Bay Packers, and has been their starting kicker ever since. A Super Bowl champion in 2011, Crosby is the Packers franchise leader in points in a season (141), holds the longest field goal (58), and is just 17 points away from becoming the all-time leader in points.

Previous players:

#8 – Nelson Spruce

#9 – Scotty McKnight

#10 – Jimmy Smith

#11 – Cody Hawkins

#12 – Hugh Charles

#13 – George Hypolite

#14 – Greg Henderson

#15 – David Bakhtiari