Professional Soccer is a humorous enterprise. Whereas a few of the recreation’s best gamers hail from large, history-laden school applications, many have additionally come from faculties that you’ll have by no means heard of. It is the basic instance of how it’s best to by no means choose a e-book by its cowl.
In that vein, I made a decision to compile, then rank, every of school soccer’s Mount Rushmores primarily based on its most profitable NFL gamers. As you’ll think about, a few of the faculties that made the lower are family names, however there are quite a lot of shock faculties that made the lower.
Under is the factors used when placing the rating collectively:
- Particular person profession data, achievements
- Inclusion within the Corridor of Fame/NFL 100 All-Time Crew
- Lasting impression on the sport
If a participant attended a number of faculties, they had been thought of solely on the college the place they made probably the most vital contribution. Troy Aikman, for instance, was solely thought of for his accomplishments at UCLA and never Oklahoma, the place his NCAA profession began. (Observe: The names listed below “honorable mentions” are Corridor of Fame inductees who did not make the lower on the crew’s Mount Rushmore.)
1. Pittsburgh
Mount Rushmore: QB Dan Marino, WR Larry Fitzgerald, DL Aaron Donald, RB Tony Dorsett
Honorable mentions: CB Darrelle Revis, TE Mike Ditka, OL Jimbo Covert, OL Russ Grimm, LB Ricky Jackson, RB Curtis Martin, LB Joe Schmidt, DL Chris Doleman
Marino and Donald had been slam-dunk decisions to make Pitt’s Mount Rushmore, with Fitzgerald being a reasonably simple alternative, too. It was a tricky name, nevertheless, when it got here to picking the ultimate spot that got here right down to Ditka, Dorsett and Doleman.
All three gamers have compelling circumstances. Ditka was a record-setting tight finish who led the Bears to the 1963 NFL title. Doleman loved an unimaginable 15-year profession that included eight Professional Bowl nods, 150.5 sacks and a jaw-dropping 44 compelled fumbles.
Dorsett’s glowing profession, nevertheless, was unimaginable to disregard. The primary participant to win a nationwide title, Heisman Trophy and Tremendous Bowl over a two-year span, Dorsett compiled a whopping 16,293 complete yards and 90 touchdowns throughout his Corridor of Fame profession. He eternally etched his identify within the historical past books when he ran for a 99-yard landing run in 1983 (Derrick Henry tied his document in 2018).
2. USC
Mount Rushmore: S Ronnie Lott, LB Junior Seau, OL Anthony Munoz, RB O.J. Simpson
Honorable mentions: RB Marcus Allen, S Willie Wooden, WR Lynn Swann, S Troy Polamalu, RB Frank Gifford, OL Bruce Matthews, OL Ron Combine, OL Tony Boselli, OL Ron Yary, E/DE Morris Badgro
The Trojans have fielded a slew of future NFL stars, together with three gamers — Lott, Seau and Munoz — who’re arguably the very best to ever play their respective divisions.
In Munoz’s case, there’s nearly no debate on the subject of his standing as the best offensive deal with in league historical past. From 1981-91, Munoz earned 11 Professional Bowl appearances and 9 All-Professional nods whereas providing sterling move defending for 2 quarterbacks who gained the NFL’s MVP.
Seau was a tackling machine who spearheaded the Chargers’ shocking 1994 Tremendous Bowl run. Lott, who began his profession at cornerback earlier than switching to security, as soon as had a part of a finger amputated so he might keep away from lacking enjoying time. He was the 49ers’ greatest defensive participant in the course of the franchise’s heyday in the course of the Eighties.
3. Miami (FL)
Mount Rushmore: LB Ray Lewis, DL Warren Sapp, S Ed Reed, WR Michael Irvin
Honorable mentions: DL Ted Hendricks, RB Edgerrin James, QB Jim Kelly, WR Andre Johnson, DL Cortez Kennedy, OL Jim Otto, WR/KR Devin Hester
Few school applications have churned out NFL expertise just like the Hurricanes have because the Eighties. On the prime of that record are three gamers who’re thought of to be among the many best at their place in Lewis, Sapp and Reed. As teammates, Lewis and Reed helped the Ravens win their second and most up-to-date Tremendous Bowl on the finish of the 2012 season.
You possibly can argue that Andre Johnson deserves Irvin’s spot, however “The Playmaker” acquired the nod for a few causes regardless of having weaker profession numbers. Irvin was a significant a part of the ’90s Cowboys dynasty, and his physicality helped revolutionize the receiver place. He was additionally a extremely productive participant in his personal proper. In 1995, almost half of Troy Aikman’s passing yardage was accomplished to Irvin, who put up large numbers regardless of enjoying inside a run-first offense.
4. Alabama
Mount Rushmore: OL John Hannah, WR Don Hutson, QB Bart Starr, LB Derrick Thomas
Honorable mentions: QB Joe Namath, QB Ken Stabler, OL Dwight Stephenson, TE Ozzie Newsome
It was a tricky resolution attempting to resolve which of Alabama’s quarterbacks made its Mount Rushmore. The nod in the end went to Starr largely due to his historic significance on professional soccer. The quarterback of Vince Lombardi’s Packers, Starr guided Inexperienced Bay to 5 championships and stays the final quarterback to win three straight league titles. He was named the MVP of the primary two Tremendous Bowls.
Talking of robust calls, Thomas acquired the nod over two deserving gamers in Stephenson and Newsome. Thomas’ 9 consecutive Professional Bowl nods to start out his profession and single-game document of seven sacks (set in 1990) helped his trigger.
5. Syracuse
Mount Rushmore: RB Jim Brown, WR Marvin Harrison, TE John Mackey, OL Jim Ringo
Honorable mentions: RB Larry Csonka, RB Floyd Little, WR Artwork Monk, DE Dwight Freeney
It is laborious to prime this Mount Rushmore. It is headlined by Brown, who’s on the quick record of the best gamers in league historical past. In his 9 seasons, Brown led the NFL in speeding eight instances. He retired with a whopping 5.2 yards-per-carry common and a per-game speeding common of 104.3 yards.
Ringo managed to make the lower over Monk on the energy of his 10 Professional Bowls and 6 All-Professional alternatives as a valued member of the Sixties Packers. Together with being an unimaginable participant, Ringo possessed unreal sturdiness as he missed only one begin (whereas enjoying in every of Inexperienced Bay’s 182 video games) from 1954-67.
6. Florida State
Mount Rushmore: DB Deion Sanders, WR Fred Biletnkoff, OL Walter Jones, LB Derrick Brooks
Honorable point out: S LeRoy Butler
Whereas he is typically not talked about when the best linebackers of all time are mentioned, Brooks is not neglected on this record. An 11-time Professional Bowler and five-time All-Professional, Brooks performed an integral function on the Buccaneers’ dominant protection within the late ’90s and early ’00s.
Brooks was particularly good when it got here to his means to neutralize then-division rival Michael Vick, one of the crucial electrical quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen. In 2002 (Vick’s breakout yr in addition to the Buccaneers’ first championship season), Vick ran for a scant 10 yards on seven carries in two video games in opposition to Tampa Bay (which had been each losses) with Brooks following his each transfer.
7. SMU
Mount Rushmore: WR Raymond Berry, RB Eric Dickerson, OL Forrest Gregg, RB Doak Walker
We won’t discuss SMU soccer with out speaking about Dickerson, the star of the “Pony Categorical” and one of many best backs in school and NFL historical past. Dickerson adopted within the footsteps of Walker, who adopted up his embellished profession at SMU by main the Lions to back-to-back NFL titles within the early Nineteen Fifties.
Dickerson rapidly emerged because the NFL’s greatest working again in the course of the Eighties. He set the rookie speeding document in 1983, and a yr later set the still-standing single-season speeding document with 2,105 yards.
8. Penn State
Mount Rushmore: RB Franco Harris, LB Jack Ham, RB Lenny Moore, DL Dave Robinson
Honorable mentions: OL Mike Michalske, OL Mike Munchak
Penn State produced two anchors of the Nineteen Seventies Steelers dynasty in Harris and Ham. Ham was a cerebral outdoors linebacker who was an ideal complement to fellow Steelers linebacker Jack Lambert. Harris jump-started the Steelers’ dynasty together with his “Immaculate Reception” within the ’72 playoffs. He gained MVP honors in Pittsburgh’s first Tremendous Bowl win two years later.
Moore, the primary of an extended line of proficient Penn State working backs, was manner forward of his time from a versatility standpoint. He truly completed his profession with extra speeding and receiving yards whereas enjoying a key function in Johnny Unitas’ good profession. Moore completed his profession with 111 complete touchdowns (63 speeding, 48 receiving).
9. Notre Dame
Mount Rushmore: QB Joe Montana, DL Alan Web page, WR Tim Brown, LB Nick Buoniconti
Honorable mentions: RB Jerome Bettis, TE Dave Casper, LB George Connor, RB Paul Hornung, E Wayne Millner, OL George Trafton, DL Bryant Younger
It is no shock that the Preventing Irish have produced a litany of NFL expertise, led by Montana and Web page. Montana, thought of the best quarterback in league historical past previous to Brady’s arrival, was mainly flawless in 4 Tremendous Bowl begins. In these video games, Montana didn’t throw a single choose in 92 move makes an attempt. It isn’t a coincidence that the 49ers gained every time.
Web page did not have the identical luck in Tremendous Bowls. The truth is, it was the alternative as Web page and the Vikings went 0-4 within the large recreation. However that does not take away from Web page’s iconic profession that included being the primary defensive participant to win league MVP.
10. Ohio State
Mount Rushmore: OL Orlando Tempo, WR Cris Carter, WR Paul Warfield, OL Jim Parker
Honorable mentions: OT/Okay Lou Groza, WR Dante Lavelli, DB Dick LeBeau, DL Invoice Willis, LB Randy Gradishar
It is becoming that Ohio State, a faculty that has turn into synonymous with the receiver place lately, cracks this record with two Corridor of Fame wideouts in Carter and Warfield. Carter has arguably the very best fingers of any wideout in league historical past. Warfield starred in Cleveland earlier than serving to the Dolphins turn into the one crew in NFL historical past to go undefeated for a complete season.
The Buckeyes’ NFL Mount Rushmore additionally contains two of the very best offensive linemen in historical past in Tempo and Parker. Tempo and Parker every performed key roles on prolific, championship-winning offenses in St. Louis and Baltimore, respectively.
11. Georgia
Mount Rushmore: QB Fran Tarkenton, CB Champ Bailey, DL Richard Seymour, RB Terrell Davis
Honorable point out: HB Charley Trippi
The Bulldogs’ NFL Mount Rushmore is an ideal mix of offensive and defensive star energy. It begins with Tarkenton, the primary SEC quarterback to throw for over 1,000 yards in a season (he did so within the Sixties). Within the NFL, Tarkenton began in three Tremendous Bowls with the Vikings and retired after the 1978 season because the league’s profession passing chief.
Davis, a backup for almost all of his time at Georgia, packed rather a lot into his 4 wholesome seasons with the Broncos earlier than a knee harm prematurely ended his profession on the age of 29. From 1995-98 Davis, was named to the Professional Bowl 3 times, was league MVP in a season that noticed him rush for over 2,000 yards, gained two Tremendous Bowls and was named the MVP of Tremendous Bowl XXXII after speeding for 157 yards and three scores in Denver’s upset win over the Packers.
12. Grambling State
Mount Rushmore: DB Willie Brown, DE Buck Buchanan, DL Willie Davis, WR Charlie Joyner
Grambling State’s Mount Rushmore has a heavy defensive presence. Brown, Buchanan and Davis performed in a mixed six Tremendous Bowls from 1966-76, profitable 4. Brown submitted one of the crucial iconic performs in Tremendous Bowl historical past together with his 75-yard choose six in Tremendous Bowl XI that sealed the Raiders’ first championship.
The Tigers’ record additionally contains Joyner, a vastly underrated receiver who performed a key function in Don Coryell’s modern passing assault in San Diego within the late ’70s and into the ’80s.
13. South Carolina State
Mount Rushmore: DL Deacon Jones, LB Harry Carson, RB Marion Motley, S Donnie Shell
For those who like protection, you have come to the best place. South Carolina State’s premier NFL participant, Jones, was a feared move rusher who coined the time period “sack.” Carson and Shell had been key members of championship defenses with the Giants and Steelers, respectively. Shell, a hard-hitting participant who was appropriately nicknamed “The Torpedo” for his function as a particular groups gunner, grew to become the primary robust security to document 50 profession interceptions in 1986.
Whereas he did not play protection, Motley was typically the aggressor when it got here to contact throughout his Corridor of Fame profession as a Browns working again.
14. UCLA
Mount Rushmore: QB Troy Aikman, DB Kenny Easley, E Tom Fears, OL Jonathan Ogden
Honorable mentions: DB Jimmy Johnson, QB Bob Waterfield
Fears simply acquired the nod over Johnson due to the mind-boggling numbers he was capable of put up regardless of enjoying within the run-heavy eras of the ’40s and ’50s. He led the NFL in receptions three straight years and was the third participant to document 1,000 yards in a season. Fears’ document of 18 receptions in a recreation stood because the single-game document for 50 years till it was damaged in 2000 by Terrell Owens.
15. Jackson State
Mount Rushmore: RB Walter Payton, DL Robert Brazile, OL Jackie Slater, DB Lem Barney
Imagine it or not, Payton, Brazile and Slater all performed for Jackson State on the identical time. What’s crazier is that the Tigers did not go undefeated with their Corridor of Fame trio. Payton, who would go onto turn into the NFL’s all-time main rusher (a feat that was later eclipsed by Emmitt Smith) left Jackson State because the NCAA’s profession scoring chief with 464 factors.
After blocking for Payton in school, Slater helped open holes within the NFL for a number of standout working backs that included Eric Dickerson and Jerome Bettis.
16. Michigan
Mount Rushmore: QB Tom Brady, DB Charles Woodson, CB Ty Legislation, OL Dan Dierdorf
Honorable mentions: DL Len Ford, QB Benny Friedman, E Invoice Hewitt, WR/HB Elroy Hirsch, OL Steve Hutchinson, OL Tom Mack
When you’ve gotten the GOAT, you are mainly assured a spot on this record. However together with having the seven-time Tremendous Bowl championship QB in Brady, Michigan additionally boasts a pair of Corridor of Fame defensive backs and one of many hardest, nastiest offensive lineman in historical past in Dierdorf.
You’ll be able to’t point out Brady and Woodson with out speaking about their shared second in historical past: Woodson’s hit on Brady within the 2001 playoffs that birthed the controversial Tuck Rule.
17. Purdue
Mount Rushmore: QB Drew Brees, QB Bob Griese, QB Len Dawson, DB Rod Woodson
Purdue’s Mount Rushmore consists of two Corridor of Fame quarterbacks, one other one in ready and top-of-the-line pure athletes the league has ever seen in Woodson. Griese and Dawson share a spot in historical past because the opposing quarterbacks within the NFL’s longest recreation.
18. LSU
Mount Rushmore: DB Johnny Robinson, RB Jim Taylor, QB Y.A. Tittle, HB Steve Van Buren
Honorable mentions: OL Alan Faneca, OL Kevin Mawae
Joe Burrow might in the future be part of fellow quarterback Tittle on the Tigers’ NFL Mount Rushmore. For now, although, Tittle is the one former Tigers quarterback to make the lower, and his spot is effectively deserved. In 1956, he led the Giants to their first league title and was named league MVP seven years later on the age of 37.
19. Stanford
Mount Rushmore: QB John Elway, WR James Lofton, S John Lynch, Ernie Nevers
The Cardinals’ best participant, Elway guided the Broncos to 5 Tremendous Bowls throughout his Corridor of Fame profession. He ended his profession with an MVP efficiency in Tremendous Bowl XXXIII.
Lynch, who at the moment serves because the 49ers common supervisor, was a Professional Bowler in 9 of his ultimate 11 seasons whereas enjoying for the Buccaneers and Broncos. He was a key member of a Buccaneers protection that picked off then-league MVP Wealthy Gannon 5 instances in Tremendous Bowl XXXVII.
20. Oregon
Mount Rushmore: QB Dan Fouts, DB Mel Renfro, QB Norm Van Brocklin, LB Dave Wilcox
Honorable point out: OL Gary Zimmerman
The Geese boast two of probably the most prolific passers in league historical past in Fouts and Van Brocklin. Each quarterbacks — a long time forward of their time — had been instrumental within the evolution of the place.
Fouts and Van Brocklin are flanked by two legendary defenders. Renfro pillaged 52 opposing quarterback passes throughout his 14-year profession with the Cowboys. Wilcox earned seven Professional Bowl nods with the 49ers whereas turning into one of many NFL’s premier linebackers in the course of the Sixties.
