Roy Exum
During last week’s College Football Championship, the ESPN network teased us with the first 11 of the Top 150 College Football Players of all time. In this new year of 2020, we will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the college game and ESPN will offer more delights than a Whitman’s Sampler. But, brother, I don’t care what kind of 20-20 vision you may boast, the reality of such a task is impossible. Who’s better – my favorite argument is Georgia’s Herschel Walker versus Auburn’s Bo Jackson. I’ve seen Hershel run track and Bo hurl a tag-up out from a baseball stadium’s warning track. Although both are phenomenal in any test you may choose, who among us can gauge in comparison either the heart of an offensive lineman like John Hannah or a defensive star like Reggie White?
The ESPN list comes as close to anything I’ve ever seen – the selection committee includes dozens of people who I know are expert – and there are so many of these very players who I have followed in the last half-century I feel as though I have a kindred place of sorts among so many of them. I apologize for the length of these names but urge true college football connoisseurs to go on ESPN and read the profiles – it’s such fun. Throughout the year this golden 150 will be featured and profiled, and I have wondered how Peyton Manning will be placed when compared to his dad Archie, who I also saw in his prime.
At the top of the list is Syracuse legend Jim Brown, who lettered in about 12 sports back in the day (can you image him with a lacrosse stick in his hand?) and you’re going to love the truth – Jim should have won the Heisman but because of racism he couldn’t draw the votes. Then there is the age-old tale of a lost coach who asked a farmer for directions. The man plowing the field was actually who the coach was trying to find, and it wasn’t lost on the coach that when Bronco Nagurski, who played tackle for Minnesota 1927-29, actually answered, he pointed the way with what he had in his hand – the actual plow behind the mule!
For the record, Notre Dame and Southern Cal each have nine players on the list, followed by Oklahoma with eight and Alabama and Ohio State, each with seven. Where the disparity falls, with 11 versus 11 at any given time in a game, is that of the first nine of the top 10 are running backs, as well as 19 of the top 25.
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ESPN’S TOP 150 PLAYERS IN THE FIRST 150 YEARS OF COLLEGE
1. Jim Brown (RB, Syracuse, 1954-56) Rushing yards: 2,091 | TDs: 26 | Interceptions by: 8
2. Herschel Walker (RB, Georgia, 1980-82) Rushing yards: 5,259 | TDs: 52 | Rushing yards per game: 159.4
3. Bo Jackson (RB, Auburn, 1982-85) Rushing yards: 4,303 | Rushing TDs: 43 | Yards per carry: 6.6
4. Archie Griffin (RB, Ohio State, 1972-75) Rushing yards: 5,589 | Rushing TDs: 27 | Rushing yards per game: 121.5
5. Jim Thorpe (B, Carlisle, 1907-12) Rushing yards: 3,616 | Yards per rush: 8.4 | Touchdowns: 53
6. Red Grange (RB, Illinois, 1923-25) Rushing yards: 2,071 | Yards per rush: 5.3 | Touchdowns: 31
7. Earl Campbell (RB, Texas, 1974-77) Rushing yards: 4,443 | Yards per rush: 5.8 | Rushing TDs: 40
8. Dick Butkus (LB, Illinois, 1962-64) Tackles: 374 | Tackles per game: 14.4
9. Barry Sanders (RB, Oklahoma State, 1986-88) Rushing yards: 3,556 | Touchdowns: 54 | All-purpose yards in 1988: 3,250
10. Gale Sayers (RB, Kansas, 1962-64) Rushing yards: 2,675 | Yards per carry: 6.5 | Touchdowns: 20
11. Roger Staubach (QB, Navy, 1962-64) Passing yards: 3,571 | Rushing yards: 682 | TDs: 35
12. Hugh Green (DE, Pitt, 1977-80) Sacks: 49 | Tackles: 441
13. Doc Blanchard (RB, Army, 1944-46) Rushing yards: 1,666 | Touchdowns: 38 | Interceptions by: 7
14. Bronko Nagurski (T, Minnesota, 1927-29) Rushing yards: 557 | TDs: 6
15. Ernie Davis (RB, Syracuse, 1959-61) Rushing yards: 2,386 | Yards per rush: 6.6 | Touchdowns: 35
16. Walter Payton (RB, Jackson State, 1971-74) Rushing yards: 3,563 | Yards per carry: 6.1 | Touchdowns: 66
17. Tony Dorsett (RB, Pitt, 1973-76) Rushing yards: 6,082 | Yards per rush: 5.7 | Rushing TDs: 55
18. Glenn Davis (RB, Army, 1943-46) Rushing yards: 2,957 | Yards per carry: 8.3 | Touchdowns: 59
19. Reggie White (DE, Tennessee, 1980-83) Sacks: 32 | Tackles: 293 | Fumble recoveries: 4
20. Billy Sims (RB, Oklahoma, 1975-79) Rushing yards: 3,813 | Yards per carry: 7.1 | Rushing TDs: 50
21. Peyton Manning (QB, Tennessee, 1994-97) Passing yards: 11,201 | Completion percentage: 62.5 | TDs: 89
22. Billy Cannon (RB, LSU, 1957-59) Rushing yards: 1,867 | Return yards: 965 | TDs: 24 | Interceptions by: 7
23. Doak Walker (RB, SMU, 1945-49) Rushing yards: 1,928 | Total offense: 3,582 | Touchdowns: 57
24. Davey O'Brien (QB, TCU, 1936-38) Total offense: 3,481 yards | Passing yards: 2,628 | Interceptions: 16
25. O.J. Simpson (RB, USC, 1967-68) Rushing yards: 3,124 | Yards per carry: 5 | Touchdowns: 33
26. Deion Sanders (DB, Florida State, 1985-88) Interceptions: 14 | Punt return TDs: 3 | Punt return yards: 1,429
27. Paul Hornung (QB, Notre Dame, 1954-56) Total offense: 2,747 yards | Rushing yards: 1,051 | Passing yards: 1,696
28. Doug Flutie (QB, Boston College, 1981-84) Passing yards: 10,579 | Pass efficiency rating: 132.2 | TD passes: 67
29. Sammy Baugh (QB, TCU, 1934-36) Passing yards:3,384 | TD passes: 39 | Punting average: 40.9 | Interceptions by: 10
30. Chuck Bednarik (C, Penn, 1945-48) “Concrete Charlie” was an aerial gunner on 30 bombing missions over Germany before he played for Penn.
31. Bubba Smith (DE, Michigan State, 1964-66) Because he was black, the east Texas native couldn’t play in the Southwest Conference so the 6-foot-7, 283 pound Smith and 11 other black starters led thee Spartans to two NCAA titles.
32. Jerry Rice (WR, Mississippi Valley State, 1981-84) Receptions: 301 | Receiving yards: 4,693 | Receiving TDs: 50
33. John Elway (QB, Stanford, 1979-82) Passing yards: 9,349 | TD passes: 77 | Pass efficiency rating: 139.3
34. Lee Roy Selmon (DL, Oklahoma, 1972-75) Tackles: 335 | Fumble recoveries: 8
35. Randy White (DT, Maryland, 1972-74) made 24 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in his senior year.
36. Marshall Faulk (RB, San Diego State, 1991-93) Rushing yards: 4,589 | Touchdowns: 62 | Total offense: 5,595 yards
37. John Lujack (QB, Notre Dame, 1943, 1946-47) Passing yards: 2,094 | TD passes: 18 | Total offense: 2,532 yards
38. Eddie George (RB, Ohio State, 1992-95) Rushing yards: 3,768 | Rushing TDs: 44 | Receiving yards: 516
39. Johnny Rodgers (WR/KR, Nebraska, 1970-72) Receiving yards: 2,479 | Punt return yards: 1,515 | Punt return TDs: 7
40. Marcus Allen (RB, USC, 1978-81) Rushing yards: 4,682 | Yards per carry: 5.2 | Rushing TDs: 45
41. Charles Woodson (DB, Michigan, 1995-97) Interceptions: 18 | Tackles: 162 | Total TDs: 6
42. Lawrence Taylor (LB, North Carolina, 1977-80) Sacks: 21 | Tackles for loss: 33 | Tackles: 192
43. Jim Plunkett (QB, Stanford, 1968-70) Passing yards: 7,544 | TD passes: 52 | Total offense: 7,887 yards
44. Jack Tatum (DB, Ohio State, 1968-70) OSU was 27-2 and won at least a share of three straight Big Ten titles in Tatum's three seasons.
45. Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma, 2004-06) Rushing yards: 4,045 | Rushing TDs: 41 | 100-yard games: 22
46. Larry Fitzgerald (WR, Pitt, 2002-03) Receptions: 161 | Receiving yards: 2,677 | TDs: 34
47. Howard "Hopalong" Cassady (RB, Ohio State, 1952-55) Rushing yards: 2,374 | Touchdowns: 37 | Return yards: 1,293
48. Dave Rimington (C, Nebraska, 1979-82) Rimington remains the only two-time Outland winner (1981, 1982), a record likely to remain as safe as Archie Griffin winning two Heismans.
49. Eric Dickerson (RB, SMU, 1979-82) Rushing yards: 4,450 | Rushing TDs: 47 | Yards per carry: 5.6
50. Archie Manning (QB, Ole Miss, 1968-70) Passing yards: 4,753 | Touchdowns: 56 | Rushing yards: 823
51. Orlando Pace (T, Ohio State, 1996-96) Pace was a unanimous All-American in 1995 and 1996, became the first player in history to win the Lombardi Award as a sophomore, and was the first repeat Lombardi winner.
52. Floyd Little (RB, Syracuse, 1964-66) Rushing yards: 2,704 | Yards per carry: 5.4 | Touchdowns: 46
53. Tim Brown (WR/KR, Notre Dame, 1984-87) All-purpose yards: 5,024 | Receiving yards: 2,493 | Touchdowns: 22
54. Tommy Nobis (LB, Texas, 1963-65) Interceptions: 7 -- Nobis was a two-time All-American in 1964 and '65, averaged nearly 20 tackles per game and won the Outland Trophy and Maxwell Award as a senior.
55. Bruce Smith (DE, Virginia Tech, 1981-84) Sacks: 46 | Tackles for loss: 71
56. Pete Dawkins (RB, Army, 1956-58) Rushing yards: 1,123 | Receiving yards: 719 | Touchdowns: 26
57. Ricky Williams (RB, Texas, 1995-98) Rushing yards: 6,279 | Rushing TDs: 72 | Yards per carry: 6.21
58. Ronnie Lott (DB, USC, 1977-80) Tackles: 250 | Interceptions: 14 | Fumble recoveries: 10
59. Alan Page (DE, Notre Dame, 1964-66) Tackles: 134 | Fumble recoveries: 4 -- While playing for the Minnesota Vikings, Page graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School. He became the first African American justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court in 1992.
60. Ernie Nevers (RB, Stanford, 1923-25) -- Few players were as tough as Nevers, who played in the 1925 Rose Bowl with two injured ankles, which had both been broken earlier in the season.
61. Reggie Bush (RB, USC, 2005) Rushing yards: 3,169 | Receiving yards: 1,301 | All-purpose yards 6,617
62. Joe Greene (DT, North Texas, 1966-68) During his senior season, the 6-foot-4, 274-pound Greene had dominated his competition so thoroughly that he made the All-America team despite playing in the Missouri Valley Conference. Gene Stallings tried everything to recruit him at Texas A&M but was denied due to segregation.
63. Ndamukong Suh (DL, Nebraska, 2005-09) Tackles: 214 | Sacks: 24 | Interceptions: 4
64. Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford, 2009-11) Passing yards: 9,430 | Passing efficiency: 162.8 | Touchdown passes: 82
65. Tom Harmon (RB, Michigan, 1938-40) Rushing yards: 2,110 | Total offense: 3,410 yards | Touchdowns: 33
66. Randy Moss (WR, Marshall, 1996-97) Receptions: 168 | Receiving yards: 3,467 | Total TDs: 54
67. Dan Marino (QB, Pitt, 1979-82) Passing yards: 7,905 | Touchdowns: 74 | Pass efficiency rating: 129.7
68. Mike Rozier (RB, Nebraska, 1981-83) Rushing yards: 4,780 | Rushing TDs: 49 | Yards per carry: 7.2
69. Jack Ham (LB, Penn State, 1968-70) Tackles: 251 | Blocked kicks: 4
70. Emmitt Smith (RB, Florida, 1987-89) Rushing yards: 3,928 | Rushing TDs: 36 | All-purpose yards: 4,391
71. Derrick Thomas (LB, Alabama, 1985-88) Tackles: 204 | Tackles for loss: 68 | Sacks: 52
72. Cornelius Bennett (LB, Alabama, 1983-86) Tackles: 287 | Tackles for loss: 41 | Sacks: 21.5
73. Lee Roy Jordan (LB, Alabama, 1960-62) With President John F. Kennedy watching from the stands, Jordan might have produced the greatest individual performance in a bowl game in Alabama's 17-0 shutout of Oklahoma in the 1963 Orange Bowl. The Sooners ran 60 offensive plays in the game -- and Jordan was involved in 31 tackles (15 solo stops and 16 assists.
74. LaDainian Tomlinson (RB, TCU, 1997-2000) Rushing yards: 5,263 | Yards per carry: 5.8 | Rushing TDs: 54
75. Bobby Layne (QB, Texas, 1944-47) Passing yards: 3,145 | Total offense: 3,990 yards | Interceptions by: 11
76. Tim Tebow (QB, Florida, 2006-09) Passing yards: 9,285 | Rushing yards: 2,947 | Total TDs: 145 (88 pass/57 rush)
77. Alan Ameche (RB, Wisconsin, 1951-54) Rushing yards: 3,212 | Yards per carry: 4.8 | Touchdowns: 25
78. Mike Ditka (TE, Pitt, 1958-60) Receptions: 45 | Receiving yards: 730 | TDs: 7
79. John Hannah (G, Alabama, 1970-72) Hannah weighed 10.5 pounds at birth, and family members joked that his mother fed him hamburger, instead of baby food, as a toddler. He credits legendary Luke Worsham at Chattanooga’s Baylor School and Bear Bryant at Alabama for molding him into “the greatest offensive lineman in the history of football.”
80. Merlin Olsen (DL, Utah State, 1959-61) -- A ferocious defender on the field and a gentle giant off it, Olsen was a two-time All-American at Utah State and won the Outland Trophy as the sport's best interior lineman as a senior in 1961, yet is perhaps best known for his acting roles on TV shows such as " Little House on the Prairie" and "Father Murphy." In 2009, Utah State announced that the field at Romney Stadium (now Maverik Stadium) would be named in Olsen's honor.
81. Vince Young (QB, Texas, 2003-05) Passing yards: 6,040 | Rushing yards: 3,127 | Total TDs: 81 (37 rush/44 pass)
82. Ron Dayne (RB, Wisconsin, 1996-99) Rushing yards: 6,397 | Rushing yards per game: 148.8 | Rushing TDs: 63
83. Fred Biletnikoff (WR, Florida State, 1962-64) Receptions: 87 | Receiving yards: 1,463 | Touchdowns: 16
84. Adrian Peterson (RB, Georgia Southern, 1998-2001) Rushing yards: 6,559 | Rushing TDs: 84 | Points: 524
85. Ted Hendricks (DL, Miami, 1966-68) Tackles: 327 | Fumble recoveries: 12 | Interceptions: 2
86. Otto Graham (QB, Northwestern, 1941-43) Passing yards: 2,181 | Rushing yards: 823 | Passing TDs: 15
87. Steve Young (QB, BYU, 1981-83) Passing yards: 7,733 | Rushing yards: 1,084 | Total TDs: 74 (56 passing/18 rushing)
88. Leon Hart (E, Notre Dame, 1946-49) Receiving yards: 742 | TD catches: 13 -- Hart was the last lineman to win the Heisman Trophy in 1949, but his greatest legacy might be that the Fighting Irish never lost a game during his four-year career.
89. Jerry Robinson (LB, UCLA, 1975-78) Tackles: 468 | Interception returns for TDs: 3
90. George Gipp (B, Notre Dame, 1917-20) Rushing yards: 2,341 | Passing yards: 1,769 | Touchdowns: 21 – He died of pneumonia at age 35, thus “Win one for the Gipper.”
91. Steve Spurrier (QB, Florida, 1964-66) Passing yards: 4,848 | Passing TDs: 36 | Total offense: 5,290 yards
92. Bill Fralic (T, Pitt, 1981-84) -- When Fralic was in the eighth grade, he stood 6-foot-3 and weighed 235 pounds - before he started lifting weights. Then-Pitt coach Jackie Sherrill met Fralic at a golf course in 1977 and asked, "What college do you play for?"
93. Drew Brees (QB, Purdue, 1997-2000) Passing yards: 11,792 | Passing TDs: 90 | Pass completions: 1,026
94. Alex Karras (DL, Iowa, 1955-57) In 1957, Karras won the Outland Trophy and was runner-up to Texas A&M's John David Crow in Heisman voting, marking the highest a tackle has ever finished.
95. Steve Owens (RB, Oklahoma, 1967-69) Rushing yards: 3,867 | Touchdowns: 56
96. Charles White (RB, USC, 1976-79) Rushing yards: 5,598 | Rushing TDs: 46 | All-purpose yards: 6,545
97. Tommie Frazier (QB, Nebraska, 1992-95) Passing yards: 3,521 | Total offense: 5,476 yards | Passing TDs: 43
98. John Cappelletti (RB, Penn State, 1971-73) Rushing yards: 2,639 | Rushing TDs: 29 | All-purpose yards: 3,735
99. Anthony Munoz (OT, USC, 1976-79) -- The 6-foot-6 Munoz, such a talented athlete that he pitched on the Trojan baseball team, opened holes for two future Heisman winners, Charles White and Marcus Allen
100. Rod Woodson (DB, Purdue, 1983-86) Tackles: 445 | Interceptions: 11 | Kickoff return yards: 1,535
101. Deshaun Watson (QB, Clemson, 2014-16) Passing yards: 10,163 | Completion percentage: 67.4 | Passing TDs: 90
102. LaVar Arrington (LB, Penn State, 1997-99) Sacks: 19 | Tackles for loss: 39
103. Sid Luckman (QB, Columbia, 1936-38) Passing yards: 2,413 | Passing TDs: 20 -- As a highly recruited player from Brooklyn, New York, Luckman spurned about 40 programs to play at Columbia, which didn't offer athletic scholarships at the time. He paid his way by painting walls and washing dishes at a fraternity house.
104. Julius Peppers (DE, North Carolina, 1999-2001) Sacks: 30.5 | Tackles for loss: 53 -- Peppers was a transcendent athlete who led the FBS in sacks in 2000 and also played 56 games for North Carolina's storied basketball program.
105. Junior Seau (LB, USC, 1988-89) Tackles: 107 | Tackles for loss: 33
106. Doug Williams (QB, Grambling, 1974-77) Passing yards: 8,411 | Total offense: 8,354 yards | Passing TDs: 93
107. Keith Jackson (TE, Oklahoma, 1984-87) Receptions: 62 | Receiving yards: 1,470 | Yards per catch: 23.7
108. Mike Singletary (LB, Baylor, 1977-80) Tackles: 662 | Solo tackles: 351 | Tackles for loss: 103
109. John David Crow (RB, Texas A&M, 1955-57) Rushing yards: 1,455 | Yards per carry: 4.9 | Touchdowns: 19
110. Steve McNair (QB, Alcorn State, 1991-94) Passing yards: 14,496 | Passing TDs: 119 | Rushing yards: 2,327
111. Mike Garrett (RB, USC, 1963-65) Rushing yards: 3,221 | Touchdowns: 30 | Return yards: 1,198
112. Rich Glover (DL, Nebraska, 1970-72) Tackles: 211 | Tackles for loss: 25
113. Billy Ray Smith Jr. (DE, Arkansas, 1979-82) Tackles: 229 | Tackles for loss: 63
114. Kenny Easley (DB, UCLA, 1977-80) Tackles: 374 | Interceptions: 19
115. Derrick Brooks (LB, Florida State, 1991-94) Tackles: 274 | Sacks: 8.5 | Interceptions: 5
116. Byron "Whizzer" White (RB, Colorado, 1935-37) Rushing yards: 1,864 | Total offense: 2,538 yards | Touchdowns: 24
117. Marcus Mariota (QB, Oregon, 2012-14) Passing yards: 10,796 | Passing TDs: 105 | Passing efficiency: 171.8
118. Christian McCaffrey (RB, Stanford, 2014-16) All-purpose yards: 6,987 | Rushing yards: 3,922 | Touchdowns: 33
119. Don Hutson (E, Alabama, 1932-34) Receiving yards: 404 | Touchdowns: 3 -- Hutson was a receiver ahead of his time. He changed the way football was played. "Don had the most fluid motion you had ever seen when he was running," said Bear Bryant, who was the other end on the Tide team..
120. Raghib "Rocket" Ismail (WR, Notre Dame, 1988-90) Receiving yards: 1,565 | Return yards: 1,607 | All-purpose yards: 4,187
121. Jonathan Ogden (OT, UCLA, 1992-95) -- Ogden combined size (6-8, 310) and strength (NCAA champion shot-putter) in a way that few offensive linemen have before or since.
122. Warren Sapp (DL, Miami, 1992-94) Tackles: 176 | Sacks: 19.5 -- After arriving on campus as a 6-foot-3, 232-pound tight end, Sapp blossomed into a force on the defensive line. In 1994, the now-284-pound defensive tackle became the first Miami player ever to win the Lombardi Award, given to the best college player, regardless of position.
123. Michael Vick (QB, Virginia Tech, 1999-2000) Passing yards: 3,074 | Passing TDs: 20 | Yards per attempt: 9.79
124. Calvin Johnson (WR, Georgia Tech, 2004-06) Receiving yards: 2,927 | TD receptions: 28 | Receptions: 178
125. John Lattner (RB, Notre Dame, 1951-53) Rushing yards: 1,724 | Interceptions by: 13 | Touchdowns: 20
126. Ed Marinaro (RB, Cornell, 1969-71) Rushing yards: 4,715 | Yards per carry: 5.1 | Rushing TDs: 50
127. Leroy Keyes (RB, Purdue, 1966-68) Rushing yards: 2,090 | Total offense: 2,271 yards | Yards per carry: 5.9
128. Greg Pruitt (RB, Oklahoma, 1970-72) Rushing yards: 2,844 | Rushing TDs: 35 | All-purpose yards: 3,990
129. Desmond Howard (WR, Michigan, 1989-91) Receiving yards: 1,944 | Return yards: 1,448 | Touchdowns: 35
130. Charlie Ward (QB, Florida State, 1989-93) Passing yards: 5,747 | Total offense: 6,636 yards | Passing TDs: 49
131. Ozzie Newsome (WR, Alabama, 1974-77) Receiving yards: 2,070 | Yards per catch: 20.3 | TD catches: 16
132. Angelo Bertelli (QB, Notre Dame, 1941-43) Passing yards: 2,548 | Passing TDs: 28 | Interceptions by: 12
133. Charlie Justice (RB, North Carolina, 1946-49) Rushing yards: 2,634 | Total offense: 4,871 yards | Touchdowns: 39
134. Warrick Dunn (RB, Florida State, 1993-96) Rushing yards: 3,959 | Receiving yards: 1,314 | Touchdowns:
135. Cam Newton (QB, Florida/Auburn, 2007-08/2010) Rushing yards: 1,473 | Passing yards: 2.854 | TDs responsible for: 50
136. Anthony Carter (WR, Michigan, 1979-82) Receiving yards: 2,681 | All-purpose yards: 5,197 | Touchdowns: 36
137. Nile Kinnick (RB, Iowa, 1937-39) Rushing yards: 724 | Total offense: 2,169 yards | Interceptions by: 18
138. Ed Reed (DB, Miami, 1998-2001) Tackles: 288 | Interceptions: 21 | Interception return yards: 389
139. Woodrow Lowe (LB, Alabama, 1972-75) Tackles: 315 -- Lowe is one of four Crimson Tide linebackers on this list, and it is no fluke that he holds his place among players such as Lee Roy Jordan, Cornelius Bennett and Derrick Thomas. Lowe and Bennett are the only three-time All-Americans in the rich history of Alabama football.
140. Jay Berwanger (RB, Chicago, 1933-35) Rushing yards: 1,839 | Total offense: 2,760 yards | Touchdowns: 22
141. Jim Parker (OL, Ohio State, 1954-56) -- Parker, a cat-quick guard and menacing blocker, was the measuring stick for any lineman under legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes. Parker was the Buckeyes' first Outland Trophy winner in 1956 and a two-time All-American.
142. Tommy McDonald (RB, Oklahoma, 1954-56) Rushing yards: 1,683 | Total offense: 2,254 yards | Touchdowns: 35
143. Chris Spielman (LB, Ohio State, 1984-87) Tackles: 546 | Sacks: 8 | Interceptions: 11
144. Tony Boselli (T, USC, 1991-94) -- At 6-8, 305 pounds, Boselli rapidly remade the prototype of the ideal offensive tackle. Boselli made All-Pac-10 as a freshman, when the Trojans went 3-8. By his junior year, USC won a share of the conference championship. Boselli made All-American twice, capping his career by being named MVP of a team that won the Cotton Bowl.
145. Mike Reid (DL, Penn State, 1966-69) – In his last two seasons, the Nittany Lions went 22-0, and as a senior Reid won both the Outland Trophy, given to the national's best interior lineman, and the Maxwell Award, given to the nation's best player. Reid also excelled as a heavyweight wrestler and shortened his NFL career in order to pursue his love of music. He became a songwriter, and is a member of both the College Football and the Country Music Halls of Fame.
146. Gary Beban (QB, UCLA, 1965-67) Passing yards: 3,940 | Touchdowns: 33 | Total offense: 5,197 yards
147. Bob Griese (QB, Purdue, 1964-66) Passing yards: 4,402 | Passing TDs: 28 | Yards per completion: 12.6
148. Deacon Jones (DE, South Carolina State/Mississippi Valley State, 1958/1960) David Jones -- his nickname in college was D.J. – his activism in civil rights cost him his uniform at South Carolina State. He transferred to Mississippi Vocational School, where an NFL scout looking at the Delta Devils running backs noticed that a 6-5 defensive end outran them all.
149. Champ Bailey (DB/AP, Georgia, 1996-98) Interceptions: 8 | Receiving yards: 978 -- The 6-1, 186-pound Bailey remained on the field for an amazing 1,070 plays at Georgia. Playing alongside safety Kirby Smart, Bailey made 52 tackles and caught 50 passes -- 47 on offense, three on defense.
150. Baker Mayfield (QB, Texas Tech/Oklahoma, 2013/2015-17) Passing yards: 14,607 | Passing TDs: 131 | Completions: 1,026
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