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Best NFL player by position, by P-5 conference

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  • Here is My  Mid American Conf.   All NFL team.    It actually stacks up pretty darn well with the P-5 :

    Offense: 

    Quarterback:    Ben Roethlisberger,  Miami, Oh  (will be HOF

    RB  Kareem Hunt   Toledo   (alternate full career:  Michael Turner No. Illinois)

    WR:   Antonio Brown  Central Michigan    (note, Marshall was in MAC when Randy Moss played...but is not now and I am just going by current lineup)

    TE:  Antonio Gates  Kent St.  (possible HOF?)

    OT:  Joe Staley  Cent. Michigan

    OC/C:  Brandon Brooks  Miami Oh.   (currently active )

    Defense:

    DE:   Jason Taylor,   Akron   HOF

    DT:  Andy Harmon  Kent State

    OLB:  Khalil Mack   Buffalo.....(on track for HOF?)

    MLB:  Jack Lambert  Kent St.   HOF

    Safety:  Emlen Tunnell   Toledo   HOF

    Cornerback: Dwight Smith, Akron    (2 Super Bowl Ints)

    Special Teams:    Josh Cribbs  Kent St.    (If they would reserve slots in HOF for ST players...Cribbs would be high on the list)

    Utility:  Julian Edelman Kent St. 

    @the-gipper said:

    OT:  Joe Staley  Cent. Michigan .... OT Eric Fisher Cent. Mich.//// KC  (central does know how to recruit some good back-2-back Tackles)

    OC/C:  Brandon Brooks  Miami Oh.   (currently active ) ... OG -TJ Lang Eastern Mich. ////GB 

    Defense:

    OLB:  Khalil Mack   Buffalo.....(on track for HOF?) ... OLB- James Harrison ? Kent ST.// 5 PB's & 2 SB rings//// (could be jailed, in the bumble-bee 3rd jersey by now)

    Cornerback: Dwight Smith, Akron    (2 Super Bowl Ints) .... CB- Jimmy Ward N. Illinois// 49'ers  

    Good list Gip.... I could only find these MAC men^^ that might raise a small position debate...  

  • @the-gipper said:

    OT:  Joe Staley  Cent. Michigan .... OT Eric Fisher Cent. Mich.//// KC  (central does know how to recruit some good back-2-back Tackles)

    OC/C:  Brandon Brooks  Miami Oh.   (currently active ) ... OG -TJ Lang Eastern Mich. ////GB 

    Defense:

    OLB:  Khalil Mack   Buffalo.....(on track for HOF?) ... OLB- James Harrison ? Kent ST.// 5 PB's & 2 SB rings//// (could be jailed, in the bumble-bee 3rd jersey by now)

    Cornerback: Dwight Smith, Akron    (2 Super Bowl Ints) .... CB- Jimmy Ward N. Illinois// 49'ers  

    Good list Gip.... I could only find these MAC men^^ that might raise a small position debate...  

    @gumby73 said:

    Good list Gip.... I could only find these MAC men^^ that might raise a small position debate...  

    I know Eric Fisher was the #1 overall pick....but hasn't he been kind of a bust?  Staley was quite good. 

    I would not put Harrison over Mack...even ignoring Harrison's thuggery.

    Not sure about Lang and Ward...not familiar with them. 

  • @texasag1969 said:

    It would be Dickerson vs Earl-two really great pros.

    OK, you got the RBs....now give us your SW conf. best QB, WR/TE/OT/OG-C/DT/DE/MLB/OLB/S/CB.

    Tommy Nobis?   Was Baylor in the SWC?  

    @the-gipper said:

    OK, you got the RBs....now give us your SW conf. best QB, WR/TE/OT/OG-C/DT/DE/MLB/OLB/S/CB.

    Tommy Nobis?   Was Baylor in the SWC?  

    Yes Baylor was SWC. I'll work on the rest tomorrow.

  • @gumby73 said:

    Good list Gip.... I could only find these MAC men^^ that might raise a small position debate...  

    I know Eric Fisher was the #1 overall pick....but hasn't he been kind of a bust?  Staley was quite good. 

    I would not put Harrison over Mack...even ignoring Harrison's thuggery.

    Not sure about Lang and Ward...not familiar with them. 

    @the-gipper said:

    I know Eric Fisher was the #1 overall pick....but hasn't he been kind of a bust?  Staley was quite good. 

    the Chiefs were 2-14 before hiring Dorsey. Andy Reid was already in house and JD & Reid decided trading for QB Alex Smith was better than drafting one.. Fisher may have come from a draft class of nfl average Joe's? #1 pick Eric Fisher even admits his early struggles in this link..  https://si.com/nfl/chiefs/news/eric-fisher-battled-test-super-bowl   so let's not settle on thinking Jedrick Wills or Andrew Thomas will have it any easier.. It's not on them either, that training camps can't even open. Big-Trust in Bill Callahan

    KC adding Mitchell Schwartz & upgrading the interior OL finished KC's land of QB toys.. I'd even say, Cam Erving got better OL coaching just to get to average. Than still got KC fired at SB ending not matching up to what's coming up behind him.. it's what good teams do...and Good Luck Dallas. Erving will be there to get Dak back up... 

    but Sure... I'd put Joe Staley ahead of Eric Fisher.         either Joe Thomas level? NopE !! 

  • Heard something about this on the radio today.   Thought I would put it to the test:  Who is the best player at each position to come out of each Power 5 Conference (as currently constituted).    Here is my list.   Let us know if you have alternative thoughts:

    Quarterbacks:

    Big Ten:  Tom Brady, Michigan

    Pac 12:  John Elway Stanford

    SEC:  Peyton Manning, Tennessee

    ACC:  Dan Marino,  Pitt

    Big 12:   Bobby Layne  Texas     (but...some day Mahomes may take this)

    Running Backs:

    Big Ten:   Eddie George  Ohio St.   (though...I may have to relent and name Franco Harris...convince me I am right)

    Pac 12:  OJ Simpson  USC

    SEC:  Emmitt Smith  Florida

    ACC:  Jim Brown  Syracuse

    Big 12:  Barry Sanders  OK St.

    Wide Receivers:

    Big Ten: Paul Warfield Ohio St   (by a scoche over Cris Carter)

    Pac 12: James Lofton  Stanford

    SEC:  Lance Alworth  Arkansas    (Julio Jones though may take over before career ends)

    ACC:  Larry Fitzgerald  Pitt

    Big 12:  Tommy McDonald  OK

    Tight Ends

    Big Ten  Charlie Sanders   Minnesota

    Pac 12: Tony Gonzales  Cal

    SEC:   Ozzie Newsome  Alabama

    ACC:   Could not decide between Mike Ditka Pitt and John Mackey Syracuse

    Big 12:  Keith Jackson  OK

    Offensive Tackle: 

    Big Ten:  Orlando Pace  Ohio St. 

    Pac 12: Anthony Munoz  USC

    SEC: Lomas Brown  Florida

    ACC:  Walter Jones  FSU

    Big 12:  Mike McCormack  Kansas

    OCs/OGs

    Big Ten:   Mike Webster  Wisconsin

    Pac 12:  Bruce Matthews  USC

    SEC:  John Hannah  Alabama

    Big 12:  Russell Okung  Oklahoma

    Defense later. 

    @the-gipper said:

    Heard something about this on the radio today.   Thought I would put it to the test:  Who is the best player at each position to come out of each Power 5 Conference (as currently constituted).    Here is my list.   Let us know if you have alternative thoughts:

    Quarterbacks:

    Big Ten:  Tom Brady, Michigan

    Pac 12:  John Elway Stanford

    SEC:  Peyton Manning, Tennessee

    ACC:  Dan Marino,  Pitt

    Big 12:   Bobby Layne  Texas     (but...some day Mahomes may take this)

    Running Backs:

    Big Ten:   Eddie George  Ohio St.   (though...I may have to relent and name Franco Harris...convince me I am right)

    Pac 12:  OJ Simpson  USC

    SEC:  Emmitt Smith  Florida

    ACC:  Jim Brown  Syracuse

    Big 12:  Barry Sanders  OK St.

    Wide Receivers:

    Big Ten: Paul Warfield Ohio St   (by a scoche over Cris Carter)

    Pac 12: James Lofton  Stanford

    SEC:  Lance Alworth  Arkansas    (Julio Jones though may take over before career ends)

    ACC:  Larry Fitzgerald  Pitt

    Big 12:  Tommy McDonald  OK

    Tight Ends

    Big Ten  Charlie Sanders   Minnesota

    Pac 12: Tony Gonzales  Cal

    SEC:   Ozzie Newsome  Alabama

    ACC:   Could not decide between Mike Ditka Pitt and John Mackey Syracuse

    Big 12:  Keith Jackson  OK

    Offensive Tackle: 

    Big Ten:  Orlando Pace  Ohio St. 

    Pac 12: Anthony Munoz  USC

    SEC: Lomas Brown  Florida

    ACC:  Walter Jones  FSU

    Big 12:  Mike McCormack  Kansas

    OCs/OGs

    Big Ten:   Mike Webster  Wisconsin

    Pac 12:  Bruce Matthews  USC

    SEC:  John Hannah  Alabama

    Big 12:  Russell Okung  Oklahoma

    Defense later. 

    I might put Megatron over Fitz

  • @the-gipper said:

    I know Eric Fisher was the #1 overall pick....but hasn't he been kind of a bust?  Staley was quite good. 

    the Chiefs were 2-14 before hiring Dorsey. Andy Reid was already in house and JD & Reid decided trading for QB Alex Smith was better than drafting one.. Fisher may have come from a draft class of nfl average Joe's? #1 pick Eric Fisher even admits his early struggles in this link..  https://si.com/nfl/chiefs/news/eric-fisher-battled-test-super-bowl   so let's not settle on thinking Jedrick Wills or Andrew Thomas will have it any easier.. It's not on them either, that training camps can't even open. Big-Trust in Bill Callahan

    KC adding Mitchell Schwartz & upgrading the interior OL finished KC's land of QB toys.. I'd even say, Cam Erving got better OL coaching just to get to average. Than still got KC fired at SB ending not matching up to what's coming up behind him.. it's what good teams do...and Good Luck Dallas. Erving will be there to get Dak back up... 

    but Sure... I'd put Joe Staley ahead of Eric Fisher.         either Joe Thomas level? NopE !! 

    @gumby73 said:

    the Chiefs were 2-14 before hiring Dorsey. Andy Reid was already in house and JD & Reid decided trading for QB Alex Smith was better than drafting one.. Fisher may have come from a draft class of nfl average Joe's? #1 pick Eric Fisher even admits his early struggles in this link..  https://si.com/nfl/chiefs/news/eric-fisher-battled-test-super-bowl   so let's not settle on thinking Jedrick Wills or Andrew Thomas will have it any easier.. It's not on them either, that training camps can't even open. Big-Trust in Bill Callahan

    KC adding Mitchell Schwartz & upgrading the interior OL finished KC's land of QB toys.. I'd even say, Cam Erving got better OL coaching just to get to average. Than still got KC fired at SB ending not matching up to what's coming up behind him.. it's what good teams do...and Good Luck Dallas. Erving will be there to get Dak back up... 

    but Sure... I'd put Joe Staley ahead of Eric Fisher.         either Joe Thomas level? NopE !! 

    Well...the point there was just to say which OT was the best to come out of the MAC....not to compare them to players that came out of the Big Boys.  Staley was pretty good, but sure, not up to like  Pace/JT/Jim Parker/Munoz etc. level. 

    Though,  I will say that I was unimpressed with the OTs that have come out of the SEC as when I was searching I thought it would be a piece of cake to find great OTs from that conference....but it was not.   The best I could find was Lomas Brown....whom I highly disrespect...because he came to the Browns and just tanked and all he wanted was a paycheck. Nevertheless he was still the best I could come up with.  I think Staley is at least on a par with him.  (OGs/OCs were different....a number of great ones from SEC) 

  • @the-gipper said:

    Heard something about this on the radio today.   Thought I would put it to the test:  Who is the best player at each position to come out of each Power 5 Conference (as currently constituted).    Here is my list.   Let us know if you have alternative thoughts:

    Quarterbacks:

    Big Ten:  Tom Brady, Michigan

    Pac 12:  John Elway Stanford

    SEC:  Peyton Manning, Tennessee

    ACC:  Dan Marino,  Pitt

    Big 12:   Bobby Layne  Texas     (but...some day Mahomes may take this)

    Running Backs:

    Big Ten:   Eddie George  Ohio St.   (though...I may have to relent and name Franco Harris...convince me I am right)

    Pac 12:  OJ Simpson  USC

    SEC:  Emmitt Smith  Florida

    ACC:  Jim Brown  Syracuse

    Big 12:  Barry Sanders  OK St.

    Wide Receivers:

    Big Ten: Paul Warfield Ohio St   (by a scoche over Cris Carter)

    Pac 12: James Lofton  Stanford

    SEC:  Lance Alworth  Arkansas    (Julio Jones though may take over before career ends)

    ACC:  Larry Fitzgerald  Pitt

    Big 12:  Tommy McDonald  OK

    Tight Ends

    Big Ten  Charlie Sanders   Minnesota

    Pac 12: Tony Gonzales  Cal

    SEC:   Ozzie Newsome  Alabama

    ACC:   Could not decide between Mike Ditka Pitt and John Mackey Syracuse

    Big 12:  Keith Jackson  OK

    Offensive Tackle: 

    Big Ten:  Orlando Pace  Ohio St. 

    Pac 12: Anthony Munoz  USC

    SEC: Lomas Brown  Florida

    ACC:  Walter Jones  FSU

    Big 12:  Mike McCormack  Kansas

    OCs/OGs

    Big Ten:   Mike Webster  Wisconsin

    Pac 12:  Bruce Matthews  USC

    SEC:  John Hannah  Alabama

    Big 12:  Russell Okung  Oklahoma

    Defense later. 

    I might put Megatron over Fitz

    @ballpeen said:

    I might put Megatron over Fitz

    I debated those two in my mind....plus a couple of others from current ACC schools.  Like Michael Irvin, Andre Johnson and others.  As a whole I think the current ACC lineup has produced the best WRs.   It was probably Fitzgerald's longevity that had me put him on top. I could roll with either. 

  • Here is the defense:

    Defensive  Ends:

    Big Ten:  Carl Eller,  Univ. of Minnesota

    Pac-12:  Terrelll Suggs   Arizona St.

    SEC:  Reggie White  Tennessee

    ACC:  Bruce Smith   Va. Tech

    Big 12:  LeRoy Selmon, Oklahoma

    Defensive Tackles:

    Big Ten: Randy White,  Maryland

    Pac 12:  Curly Culp  AZ St.

    SEC:  Dan Hampton  Arkansas

    ACC:  Warren Sapp  Miami Fla

    Big 12:   Bob Lilley  TCU

    Outside Linebacker

    Big Ten:  Trying to choose between  Andre Tippett (Iowa), Bobby Bell (Minn.) and Jack Ham  (Penn St.

    Pac 12:  Clay Matthews II   (our Clay Matthews) USC

    SEC:  Derrick Thomas  Alabama

    ACC:  Lawrence Taylor  NC

    Big 12:  Zack Thomas Texas Tech

    Middle Linebacker:

    Big Ten:  Dick Butkus Illinois  (over fellow Ill. grad Ray Nitschke)

    Pac 12: Junior Seau   USC

    SEC:  Larry Grantham  (Ole Miss)......the SEC really has NOT produced great MLBs...I had to dig hard to find him.

    ACC:  Ray Lewis  Miami Fla

    Big 12:  Mike Singletary Baylor

    Cornerback:

    Big 10:  Rod Woodson Purdue   (other good ones: Herb Adderly MSU, Dick LeBeau OSU; Ty Law Mich.

    Pac 12:  Mike Haynes  AZ  St.

    SEC:  Champ BAiley  Georgia

    ACC:  Deion Sanders  FSU

    Big 12:  Aqib Talib  Kansas

    Safety:

    Big Ten:   Paul Krause  Iowa

    Pac 12:  Ronnie Lott  USC

    SEC:  Yale Lary  Tex A&M

    ACC:  Ed Reed  Miami

    Big 12:  Bobby Dillon  Texas

    Again, if you think I missed someone (highly possible)  or if you think there could be someone better...let us know. 

    @the-gipper said:

    Here is the defense:

    Defensive  Ends:

    Big Ten:  Carl Eller,  Univ. of Minnesota

    Pac-12:  Terrelll Suggs   Arizona St.

    SEC:  Reggie White  Tennessee

    ACC:  Bruce Smith   Va. Tech

    Big 12:  LeRoy Selmon, Oklahoma

    Defensive Tackles:

    Big Ten: Randy White,  Maryland

    Pac 12:  Curly Culp  AZ St.

    SEC:  Dan Hampton  Arkansas

    ACC:  Warren Sapp  Miami Fla

    Big 12:   Bob Lilley  TCU

    Outside Linebacker

    Big Ten:  Trying to choose between  Andre Tippett (Iowa), Bobby Bell (Minn.) and Jack Ham  (Penn St.

    Pac 12:  Clay Matthews II   (our Clay Matthews) USC

    SEC:  Derrick Thomas  Alabama

    ACC:  Lawrence Taylor  NC

    Big 12:  Zack Thomas Texas Tech

    Middle Linebacker:

    Big Ten:  Dick Butkus Illinois  (over fellow Ill. grad Ray Nitschke)

    Pac 12: Junior Seau   USC

    SEC:  Larry Grantham  (Ole Miss)......the SEC really has NOT produced great MLBs...I had to dig hard to find him.

    ACC:  Ray Lewis  Miami Fla

    Big 12:  Mike Singletary Baylor

    Cornerback:

    Big 10:  Rod Woodson Purdue   (other good ones: Herb Adderly MSU, Dick LeBeau OSU; Ty Law Mich.

    Pac 12:  Mike Haynes  AZ  St.

    SEC:  Champ BAiley  Georgia

    ACC:  Deion Sanders  FSU

    Big 12:  Aqib Talib  Kansas

    Safety:

    Big Ten:   Paul Krause  Iowa

    Pac 12:  Ronnie Lott  USC

    SEC:  Yale Lary  Tex A&M

    ACC:  Ed Reed  Miami

    Big 12:  Bobby Dillon  Texas

    Again, if you think I missed someone (highly possible)  or if you think there could be someone better...let us know. 

    On my "Homerism"   note.....not one OSU player taken.    And the only guy that played for the Browns was Clay Matthews.  

    Can anyone name an OLB that came out of the Pac 12  that was better than Clay? 

    I can find one guy who is arguable:   Lance Briggs  OLB from Arizona. But, overall I think I will stick with Clay. 

  • @the-gipper said:

    Here is the defense:

    Defensive  Ends:

    Big Ten:  Carl Eller,  Univ. of Minnesota

    Pac-12:  Terrelll Suggs   Arizona St.

    SEC:  Reggie White  Tennessee

    ACC:  Bruce Smith   Va. Tech

    Big 12:  LeRoy Selmon, Oklahoma

    Defensive Tackles:

    Big Ten: Randy White,  Maryland

    Pac 12:  Curly Culp  AZ St.

    SEC:  Dan Hampton  Arkansas

    ACC:  Warren Sapp  Miami Fla

    Big 12:   Bob Lilley  TCU

    Outside Linebacker

    Big Ten:  Trying to choose between  Andre Tippett (Iowa), Bobby Bell (Minn.) and Jack Ham  (Penn St.

    Pac 12:  Clay Matthews II   (our Clay Matthews) USC

    SEC:  Derrick Thomas  Alabama

    ACC:  Lawrence Taylor  NC

    Big 12:  Zack Thomas Texas Tech

    Middle Linebacker:

    Big Ten:  Dick Butkus Illinois  (over fellow Ill. grad Ray Nitschke)

    Pac 12: Junior Seau   USC

    SEC:  Larry Grantham  (Ole Miss)......the SEC really has NOT produced great MLBs...I had to dig hard to find him.

    ACC:  Ray Lewis  Miami Fla

    Big 12:  Mike Singletary Baylor

    Cornerback:

    Big 10:  Rod Woodson Purdue   (other good ones: Herb Adderly MSU, Dick LeBeau OSU; Ty Law Mich.

    Pac 12:  Mike Haynes  AZ  St.

    SEC:  Champ BAiley  Georgia

    ACC:  Deion Sanders  FSU

    Big 12:  Aqib Talib  Kansas

    Safety:

    Big Ten:   Paul Krause  Iowa

    Pac 12:  Ronnie Lott  USC

    SEC:  Yale Lary  Tex A&M

    ACC:  Ed Reed  Miami

    Big 12:  Bobby Dillon  Texas

    Again, if you think I missed someone (highly possible)  or if you think there could be someone better...let us know. 

    On my "Homerism"   note.....not one OSU player taken.    And the only guy that played for the Browns was Clay Matthews.  

    Can anyone name an OLB that came out of the Pac 12  that was better than Clay? 

    I can find one guy who is arguable:   Lance Briggs  OLB from Arizona. But, overall I think I will stick with Clay. 

    @the-gipper said:

    On my "Homerism"   note.....not one OSU player taken.    And the only guy that played for the Browns was Clay Matthews.  

    Can anyone name an OLB that came out of the Pac 12  that was better than Clay? 

    I can find one guy who is arguable:   Lance Briggs  OLB from Arizona. But, overall I think I will stick with Clay. 

    @the-gipper said:

    Heard something about this on the radio today.   Thought I would put it to the test:  Who is the best player at each position to come out of each Power 5 Conference (as currently constituted).    Here is my list.   Let us know if you have alternative thoughts:

    Quarterbacks:

    Big Ten:  Tom Brady, Michigan

    Pac 12:  John Elway Stanford

    SEC:  Peyton Manning, Tennessee

    ACC:  Dan Marino,  Pitt

    Big 12:   Bobby Layne  Texas     (but...some day Mahomes may take this)

    Running Backs:

    Big Ten:   Eddie George  Ohio St.   (though...I may have to relent and name Franco Harris...convince me I am right)

    Pac 12:  OJ Simpson  USC

    SEC:  Emmitt Smith  Florida

    ACC:  Jim Brown  Syracuse

    Big 12:  Barry Sanders  OK St.

    Wide Receivers:

    Big Ten: Paul Warfield Ohio St   (by a scoche over Cris Carter)

    Pac 12: James Lofton  Stanford

    SEC:  Lance Alworth  Arkansas    (Julio Jones though may take over before career ends)

    ACC:  Larry Fitzgerald  Pitt

    Big 12:  Tommy McDonald  OK

    Tight Ends

    Big Ten  Charlie Sanders   Minnesota

    Pac 12: Tony Gonzales  Cal

    SEC:   Ozzie Newsome  Alabama

    ACC:   Could not decide between Mike Ditka Pitt and John Mackey Syracuse

    Big 12:  Keith Jackson  OK

    Offensive Tackle: 

    Big Ten:  Orlando Pace  Ohio St. 

    Pac 12: Anthony Munoz  USC

    SEC: Lomas Brown  Florida

    ACC:  Walter Jones  FSU

    Big 12:  Mike McCormack  Kansas

    OCs/OGs

    Big Ten:   Mike Webster  Wisconsin

    Pac 12:  Bruce Matthews  USC

    SEC:  John Hannah  Alabama

    Big 12:  Russell Okung  Oklahoma

    Defense later. 

    I might put Megatron over Fitz

  • SWC All-time Best Pros.

    Defense:

    Let's get started with MLB (1): Yes Tommy Nobis played at Texas, But Mike Singletary of Baylor was the best both in college and the pros.

    OLB (2): Von Miller Texas A&M and future HOF and Zach Thomas Texas Tech

    DT (2): Bob Lilly TCU and Dan Hampton Arkansas

    CB (2): Lester Hayes Texas A&M  Pat Thomas Texas A&M

    Safety (2): Steve Atwater Arkansas and Bill Bradley Texas

    Still mulling over DE: the risk of being called a homer I have to put Michael Bennett DE Texas A&M with Superbowl rings with 2 different team.

    EDIT: At the risk of being called a homer I have to put Michael Bennett DE Texas A&M and Jacob Green Texas A&M

    Special mention for NT Jerry Ball SMU

    Offense tomorrow maybe-harder to identity the fatties in the OL.?

  • One of the issues from back in the day for both the SEC and the SWC.....was:  segregation.    Some of the greatest players that came out of the south didn't play at the "big schools"   because they were black.

    Places like Grambling got some of the players that would eventually become great pros.    Joe Greene had to go to North Texas St.  (don't you think that either Texas/TAMU/OK  could have used a guy like that.  Gene Upsha/Darrell Green went to Texas A&I. 

    We could probably get a damned good team just taking guys that came from the TBCs (Traditional Black Colleges)  Doug Williams at QB,  Walter Payton,  maybe Jerry Rice (not sure if his school was a TBCs)  John Stallworth....a few just off the top of my head.  

  • One of the issues from back in the day for both the SEC and the SWC.....was:  segregation.    Some of the greatest players that came out of the south didn't play at the "big schools"   because they were black.

    Places like Grambling got some of the players that would eventually become great pros.    Joe Greene had to go to North Texas St.  (don't you think that either Texas/TAMU/OK  could have used a guy like that.  Gene Upsha/Darrell Green went to Texas A&I. 

    We could probably get a damned good team just taking guys that came from the TBCs (Traditional Black Colleges)  Doug Williams at QB,  Walter Payton,  maybe Jerry Rice (not sure if his school was a TBCs)  John Stallworth....a few just off the top of my head.  

    @the-gipper said:

    One of the issues from back in the day for both the SEC and the SWC.....was:  segregation.    Some of the greatest players that came out of the south didn't play at the "big schools"   because they were black.

    Places like Grambling got some of the players that would eventually become great pros.    Joe Greene had to go to North Texas St.  (don't you think that either Texas/TAMU/OK  could have used a guy like that.  Gene Upsha/Darrell Green went to Texas A&I. 

    We could probably get a damned good team just taking guys that came from the TBCs (Traditional Black Colleges)  Doug Williams at QB,  Walter Payton,  maybe Jerry Rice (not sure if his school was a TBCs)  John Stallworth....a few just off the top of my head.  

    There was a really good documentary about this subject running on Showtime for a while, about how Bear Bryant probably scheduled USC around 1970 with the idea that the Trojans, an integrated team, would beat the shit out of Alabama... with the hopes that their fans would realize that the Crimson Tide needed black players to compete, and would allow their university to enter the 20th century. 

  • One of the issues from back in the day for both the SEC and the SWC.....was:  segregation.    Some of the greatest players that came out of the south didn't play at the "big schools"   because they were black.

    Places like Grambling got some of the players that would eventually become great pros.    Joe Greene had to go to North Texas St.  (don't you think that either Texas/TAMU/OK  could have used a guy like that.  Gene Upsha/Darrell Green went to Texas A&I. 

    We could probably get a damned good team just taking guys that came from the TBCs (Traditional Black Colleges)  Doug Williams at QB,  Walter Payton,  maybe Jerry Rice (not sure if his school was a TBCs)  John Stallworth....a few just off the top of my head.  

    @the-gipper said:

    One of the issues from back in the day for both the SEC and the SWC.....was:  segregation.    Some of the greatest players that came out of the south didn't play at the "big schools"   because they were black.

    Places like Grambling got some of the players that would eventually become great pros.    Joe Greene had to go to North Texas St.  (don't you think that either Texas/TAMU/OK  could have used a guy like that.  Gene Upsha/Darrell Green went to Texas A&I. 

    We could probably get a damned good team just taking guys that came from the TBCs (Traditional Black Colleges)  Doug Williams at QB,  Walter Payton,  maybe Jerry Rice (not sure if his school was a TBCs)  John Stallworth....a few just off the top of my head.  

    Dick "Night Train" Lane was one of the truly great defensive players who was born & raised in Austin, but only attended a Junior College. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Train_Lane

    I had the displeasure of watching the first great black player for Hayden Fry, Jerry LeVias,  dismantle our defense and pull out a game in the list minute in 1967. 

    Those two were the primary reason SMU had won the SWC Championship the year before.

    I have always revered Fry for being a groundbreaker.

  • @the-gipper said:

    One of the issues from back in the day for both the SEC and the SWC.....was:  segregation.    Some of the greatest players that came out of the south didn't play at the "big schools"   because they were black.

    Places like Grambling got some of the players that would eventually become great pros.    Joe Greene had to go to North Texas St.  (don't you think that either Texas/TAMU/OK  could have used a guy like that.  Gene Upsha/Darrell Green went to Texas A&I. 

    We could probably get a damned good team just taking guys that came from the TBCs (Traditional Black Colleges)  Doug Williams at QB,  Walter Payton,  maybe Jerry Rice (not sure if his school was a TBCs)  John Stallworth....a few just off the top of my head.  

    Dick "Night Train" Lane was one of the truly great defensive players who was born & raised in Austin, but only attended a Junior College. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Train_Lane

    I had the displeasure of watching the first great black player for Hayden Fry, Jerry LeVias,  dismantle our defense and pull out a game in the list minute in 1967. 

    Those two were the primary reason SMU had won the SWC Championship the year before.

    I have always revered Fry for being a groundbreaker.

    @texasag1969 said:

    Dick "Night Train" Lane was one of the truly great defensive players who was born & raised in Austin, but only attended a Junior College. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Train_Lane

    I had the displeasure of watching the first great black player for Hayden Fry, Jerry LeVias,  dismantle our defense and pull out a game in the list minute in 1967. 

    Those two were the primary reason SMU had won the SWC Championship the year before.

    I have always revered Fry for being a groundbreaker.

    I see that Lane served 4 years in the military  (Koreas)  which was the reason he never "graduated" from  his JC to a 4 year school. 

  • @texasag1969 said:

    Dick "Night Train" Lane was one of the truly great defensive players who was born & raised in Austin, but only attended a Junior College. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Train_Lane

    I had the displeasure of watching the first great black player for Hayden Fry, Jerry LeVias,  dismantle our defense and pull out a game in the list minute in 1967. 

    Those two were the primary reason SMU had won the SWC Championship the year before.

    I have always revered Fry for being a groundbreaker.

    I see that Lane served 4 years in the military  (Koreas)  which was the reason he never "graduated" from  his JC to a 4 year school. 

    @the-gipper said:

    I see that Lane served 4 years in the military  (Koreas)  which was the reason he never "graduated" from  his JC to a 4 year school. 

    Oh yeah and Jerry Ball was another of Fry's great black players for SMU. A really special squatty body player like Alex Karras. Two of the greatest against the run ever IMO.

  • Here is the defense:

    Defensive  Ends:

    Big Ten:  Carl Eller,  Univ. of Minnesota

    Pac-12:  Terrelll Suggs   Arizona St.

    SEC:  Reggie White  Tennessee

    ACC:  Bruce Smith   Va. Tech

    Big 12:  LeRoy Selmon, Oklahoma

    Defensive Tackles:

    Big Ten: Randy White,  Maryland

    Pac 12:  Curly Culp  AZ St.

    SEC:  Dan Hampton  Arkansas

    ACC:  Warren Sapp  Miami Fla

    Big 12:   Bob Lilley  TCU

    Outside Linebacker

    Big Ten:  Trying to choose between  Andre Tippett (Iowa), Bobby Bell (Minn.) and Jack Ham  (Penn St.

    Pac 12:  Clay Matthews II   (our Clay Matthews) USC

    SEC:  Derrick Thomas  Alabama

    ACC:  Lawrence Taylor  NC

    Big 12:  Zack Thomas Texas Tech

    Middle Linebacker:

    Big Ten:  Dick Butkus Illinois  (over fellow Ill. grad Ray Nitschke)

    Pac 12: Junior Seau   USC

    SEC:  Larry Grantham  (Ole Miss)......the SEC really has NOT produced great MLBs...I had to dig hard to find him.

    ACC:  Ray Lewis  Miami Fla

    Big 12:  Mike Singletary Baylor

    Cornerback:

    Big 10:  Rod Woodson Purdue   (other good ones: Herb Adderly MSU, Dick LeBeau OSU; Ty Law Mich.

    Pac 12:  Mike Haynes  AZ  St.

    SEC:  Champ BAiley  Georgia

    ACC:  Deion Sanders  FSU

    Big 12:  Aqib Talib  Kansas

    Safety:

    Big Ten:   Paul Krause  Iowa

    Pac 12:  Ronnie Lott  USC

    SEC:  Yale Lary  Tex A&M

    ACC:  Ed Reed  Miami

    Big 12:  Bobby Dillon  Texas

    Again, if you think I missed someone (highly possible)  or if you think there could be someone better...let us know. 

    @the-gipper said:

    Cornerback:

    Big 10:  Rod Woodson Purdue   (other good ones: Herb Adderly MSU, Dick LeBeau OSU; Ty Law Mich.

    Pac 12:  Mike Haynes  AZ  St.

    SEC:  Champ BAiley  Georgia

    ACC:  Deion Sanders  FSU

    Big 12:  Aqib Talib  Kansas

    not here to high jack a tread.. but, most browns fans should remember playing this hard-nose Corner twice a season.. https://nfl.com/news/former-bengals-cb-ken-riley-who-had-65-ints-dies-at-72    RIP Kenny Riley ?... a 6th round pick that played his college football at QB... until Riley met up with former Browns coach Paul Brown...

  • @the-gipper said:

    Cornerback:

    Big 10:  Rod Woodson Purdue   (other good ones: Herb Adderly MSU, Dick LeBeau OSU; Ty Law Mich.

    Pac 12:  Mike Haynes  AZ  St.

    SEC:  Champ BAiley  Georgia

    ACC:  Deion Sanders  FSU

    Big 12:  Aqib Talib  Kansas

    not here to high jack a tread.. but, most browns fans should remember playing this hard-nose Corner twice a season.. https://nfl.com/news/former-bengals-cb-ken-riley-who-had-65-ints-dies-at-72    RIP Kenny Riley ?... a 6th round pick that played his college football at QB... until Riley met up with former Browns coach Paul Brown...

    @gumby73 said:

    not here to high jack a tread.. but, most browns fans should remember playing this hard-nose Corner twice a season.. https://nfl.com/news/former-bengals-cb-ken-riley-who-had-65-ints-dies-at-72    RIP Kenny Riley ?... a 6th round pick that played his college football at QB... until Riley met up with former Browns coach Paul Brown...

    Are you saying you would put him on your  "Traditional Black College"  All Time Team ?    Floriday A&M product. 

  • @gumby73 said:

    not here to high jack a tread.. but, most browns fans should remember playing this hard-nose Corner twice a season.. https://nfl.com/news/former-bengals-cb-ken-riley-who-had-65-ints-dies-at-72    RIP Kenny Riley ?... a 6th round pick that played his college football at QB... until Riley met up with former Browns coach Paul Brown...

    Are you saying you would put him on your  "Traditional Black College"  All Time Team ?    Floriday A&M product. 

    @the-gipper said:

    Are you saying you would put him on your  "Traditional Black College"  All Time Team ?    Floriday A&M product. 

    I could give 2 man tits if Mr.Riley was orange😉.. said nothing of the sort but, A small school classic corner is more like it...

    Until Tom Brady goes in..?   1951 Jack Chrstiansen DB Detroit Lions... is the only 6th round pick in the HOF..period!

    per link.."Ken Riley is the only player ranking among the nfl top 5 in career* interceptions not* in the HOF with 65 picks"

    Revis should get in? but the closest DB steals from small school venues, i could maybe see getting in also? Sea.-11th rd pick Dwayne Harper///5th rd. pick Rodney Harrison(is he not a candidate for hof or in?) ///and Mia. 7th rd. pick Jake Scott

  • Here is the defense:

    Defensive  Ends:

    Big Ten:  Carl Eller,  Univ. of Minnesota

    Pac-12:  Terrelll Suggs   Arizona St.

    SEC:  Reggie White  Tennessee

    ACC:  Bruce Smith   Va. Tech

    Big 12:  LeRoy Selmon, Oklahoma

    Defensive Tackles:

    Big Ten: Randy White,  Maryland

    Pac 12:  Curly Culp  AZ St.

    SEC:  Dan Hampton  Arkansas

    ACC:  Warren Sapp  Miami Fla

    Big 12:   Bob Lilley  TCU

    Outside Linebacker

    Big Ten:  Trying to choose between  Andre Tippett (Iowa), Bobby Bell (Minn.) and Jack Ham  (Penn St.

    Pac 12:  Clay Matthews II   (our Clay Matthews) USC

    SEC:  Derrick Thomas  Alabama

    ACC:  Lawrence Taylor  NC

    Big 12:  Zack Thomas Texas Tech

    Middle Linebacker:

    Big Ten:  Dick Butkus Illinois  (over fellow Ill. grad Ray Nitschke)

    Pac 12: Junior Seau   USC

    SEC:  Larry Grantham  (Ole Miss)......the SEC really has NOT produced great MLBs...I had to dig hard to find him.

    ACC:  Ray Lewis  Miami Fla

    Big 12:  Mike Singletary Baylor

    Cornerback:

    Big 10:  Rod Woodson Purdue   (other good ones: Herb Adderly MSU, Dick LeBeau OSU; Ty Law Mich.

    Pac 12:  Mike Haynes  AZ  St.

    SEC:  Champ BAiley  Georgia

    ACC:  Deion Sanders  FSU

    Big 12:  Aqib Talib  Kansas

    Safety:

    Big Ten:   Paul Krause  Iowa

    Pac 12:  Ronnie Lott  USC

    SEC:  Yale Lary  Tex A&M

    ACC:  Ed Reed  Miami

    Big 12:  Bobby Dillon  Texas

    Again, if you think I missed someone (highly possible)  or if you think there could be someone better...let us know. 

    @the-gipper said:

    Big 10:  Rod Woodson Purdue   (other good ones: Herb Adderly MSU, Dick LeBeau OSU; Ty Law Mich.

    Charles Woodson should at least be listed here if not the pick

  • @the-gipper said:

    Big 10:  Rod Woodson Purdue   (other good ones: Herb Adderly MSU, Dick LeBeau OSU; Ty Law Mich.

    Charles Woodson should at least be listed here if not the pick

    @bjh2130 said:

    Charles Woodson should at least be listed here if not the pick

    Not a bad choice.  I think I would take Rod over Charles when it comes to the Woodson's....but yes, very close.