Best NFL player by position, by P-5 conference

[The Gipper]

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. 

 

 

[Gorka]

Harris over George. Harris beats George in every statistical category. Yeah I know, Harris played 4 years longer, but the fact that Harris helped win Super Bowls seals the deal.

Pace over Thomas no way.  Thomas should be there. More Pro Bowls.

Except that would be two take aways from OSU, leaving only Warfield which you wouldn't like.

Last but not least....

Tony Dorsett from Pitt over JB.

Just kidding.

[gumby73]

14 hours ago, 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)

Take list above^^ than add Independent school ND-Joe Montana...  than rank the 6 🤔  

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

Big 12:  Russell Okung  Oklahoma    check on Jammal Brown? ? Oklahoma... Redskin, 2 pro bowls and won a SB

 

9 hours ago, Gorka said:

Pace over Thomas no way.  Thomas should be there. More Pro Bowls.

Pardon Gippers buckeye homerism... am a homer too, but JT was the best LT candidate I'd ever seen coming out of any college school.. Munoz a real close 2nd... two of THe Best  

EDit--- Watch for this kid next season... LT Penei Sewell-- from Oregon.. a 6'6 munster, that gives up nothing

[MLD Woody]

1 hour ago, gumby73 said:

 

Pardon Gippers buckeye homerism... am a homer too, but JT was the best LT candidate I'd ever seen coming out of any college school.. Munoz a real close 2nd... two of THe Best  

EDit--- Watch for this kid next season... LT Penei Sewell-- from Oregon.. a 6'6 munster, that gives up nothing

I'm just here to see how many Buckeyes Gip puts on his list

[The Gipper]

On 6/3/2020 at 11:29 PM, MLD Woody said:

I'm just here to see how many Buckeyes Gip puts on his list

Well I think I have one or two. I also said the Franco Harris probably deserved it over it’s George. But Jim Brown hated the way Franco Harris played so why shouldn’t I? And Joe Thomas over Orlando pace is certainly arguable. A tough choice. There I think we’re a couple of other guys to who might’ve been there. With the receivers I got it down to either Warfield or Carter both buckeyes. Is there someone else that could’ve been in there instead?

[The Gipper]

If I was a real homer I would’ve picked Otto  Graham from Northwestern over Tom Brady. Maybe I should?

I tried to be  completely objective....except on the Franco choice...and I clearly stated that I was being biased there. 

[The Gipper]

In researching this I was surprised to see how few wide receivers came out of the SEC. I think Lance Alworth from Arkansas was the only Hall of Famer. And like I said eventually Julio Jones will probably take over the top spot there by the end of his career. The ACC however had a ton of great wide receivers.  Especially Miami Florida

[MLD Woody]

27 minutes ago, The Gipper said:

If I was a real homer I would’ve picked Otto  Graham from Northwestern over Tom Brady. Maybe I should?

You can do as you please. Living with orange and brown blinders on is part of your MO as well

[Dutch Oven]

6 hours ago, MLD Woody said:

You can do as you please. Living with orange and brown blinders on is part of your MO as well

Says the guy who posts nonstop regaling us about whatever mediocre TTUN player is on the Browns roster.

Pot, meet kettle. 😉

[MLD Woody]

3 minutes ago, Dutch Oven said:

Says the guy who posts nonstop regaling us about whatever mediocre TTUN player is on the Browns roster.

Pot, meet kettle. 😉

I think when all was said and done Gip made more posts in the DPJ thread than me haha

[Dutch Oven]

4 minutes ago, MLD Woody said:

I think when all was said and done Gip made more posts in the DPJ thread than me haha

Well THAT's a given too 😁

[Gorka]

11 hours ago, gumby73 said:

 

Pardon Gippers buckeye homerism... am a homer too, but JT was the best LT candidate I'd ever seen coming out of any college school.. Munoz a real close 2nd... two of THe Best  

EDit--- Watch for this kid next season... LT Penei Sewell-- from Oregon.. a 6'6 munster, that gives up nothing

If you're choosing Ditka (Pitt) over Mackey, then that would make 3 players from Pittsburgh, over one (Warfield) from OSU, and we certainly won't want that.

Gip may regret he started this thread.

[The Gipper]

10 hours ago, MLD Woody said:

You can do as you please. Living with orange and brown blinders on is part of your MO as well

You are Goddamned right I wear my Orange and Brown blinders. 

That is the ONLY reason I chose Jim Brown as the best RB to come out of the ACC

and the ONLY Reason I chose Ozzie Newsome as the best TE to come out of the SEC

and the ONLY reason I chose Mike McCormack as the best OT to come out of the  Big 12

And the ONLY reason I chose  Paul Warfield as the best WR to come out of the Big Ten. 

So....here is your challenge:

Prove that I was being a homer here....prove that I overlooked  a better player at these respective positions that came from each of those conferences that did not play for the Browns. 

[The Gipper]

3 hours ago, MLD Woody said:

I think when all was said and done Gip made more posts in the DPJ thread than me haha

I probably did.  I gave Peeps, or PBJ  or Sunshine Superman,  or Mellow Yellow...or whatever you want to call him more attention than you....because he is now a Cleveland Brown. 

Maybe I will just start calling him "Donovan". 

[The Gipper]

1 hour ago, Gorka said:

If you're choosing Ditka (Pitt) over Mackey, then that would make 3 players from Pittsburgh, over one (Warfield) from OSU, and we certainly won't want that.

Gip may regret he started this thread.

Not at all. I wanted this conversation thank you.   Do you think that Woody will have the guts to take on the challenge I gave him?  And  I guess I didn't think about the fact that I picked 3 Pitt players...as many as OSU players  (more if I drop Eddie George in favor of  Franco)

Wait till we get to the Defense. 

[The Gipper]

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]

OK,  so, let's look at  Eddie George and  Francisco Franco  side by side:

George:

9 years    2865 attempts   10,441 yards  68 TDs   3.6 yards per attempt  74.0  yards per game

Franco:

13 years 2949 attempts  12,120 yards  91 TDs  4.1 ypa   70.1 ypg

Sure, OK Franco has 4 SBs.....but I suggest that if Eddie were on those Steelers, he would have done as well or better. 

Also....take note:  Franco had  9505 yards  after his 9th season....where George retired after 9 seasons with  10, 441. (of course longevity also counts).   But then....George was obviously carrying the load far more than Franco...as he is less than 100 attempts short of Franco in those 4 fewer years. 

(Franco and George ARE the top two RBs from the Big Ten in terms of straight rushing yards)

While you have to probably give the nod to  Franco.....if you were asking me to draft one of them right now based on their talent coming out of college:  I am choosing George.

Also...on the other hand,  before too many years I believe it will all be superfluous as  Ezekiel Elliot will overtake both of them. 

[TexasAg1969]

Derrick Thomas was great-no doubt. But I'd have put him in a tie with a guy still playing on a high level - Von Miller.

And who knows what Bo Jackson was going to be in the long run without that horrific injury. I think he is the greatest back I ever personally saw play the game. Emmit just

had the good fortune not to have that kind of injury early in his career.

BTW Syracuse was not ACC nor was A&M SEC when Brown and Miller went into the pros.

[The Gipper]

31 minutes ago, TexasAg1969 said:

Derrick Thomas was great-no doubt. But I'd have put him in a tie with a guy still playing on a high level - Von Miller.

Maybe when their careers are over...not now. Even then, it may still be a homer choice on your part. 

And who knows what Bo Jackson was going to be in the long run without that horrific injury. I think he is the greatest back I ever personally saw play the game. Emmit just

had the good fortune not to have that kind of injury early in his career.

I understand,  still, injury can be said to have curtailed a lot of careers....but I think for this I have to go with the longer careers  (its why I still had Bobby Layne over Mahomes...though someday).  Bo just didn't get the chance. 

BTW Syracuse was not ACC nor was A&M SEC when Brown and Miller went into the pros.

I get that last point....it is why I said to select them under the current conference alignment.  There has been so much shuffling of teams in and out of various conferences.  Randy White's  Maryland team did not play in the Big Ten.  See the above discussion about Franco.  Penn St. was not Big Ten at the time he played.     The one A&M guy I did pick, Yale Lary, certainly did not play in the SEC. 

Maybe YOU could do a "best of the Southwest Conference".   A great conference, now defunct.  I think there could have been some good choices for that:    Dickerson RB for SMU....etc.    You do that,  and I will do the MAC, my school conference.

[The Gipper]

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]

More "Data" points in this regard:    Of the Top 12  NFL RBs that came out of the Big Ten...in terms of career production,  half of them have been from Ohio St.:

1. Franco  Penn St.

2. Eddie George  Ohio St.

3. Ronnie Harmon   Iowa  (especially good receiving back)

4. Robert Smith Ohio St.

5. Keith Byars  Ohio St.

6. Mike Pruitt  Purdue

7. Leveon Bell, Michigan St.....active

8. Otis Armstrong Purdue

9. John Brockington,  OSU

10. Pete Johnson  OSU

11. Larry Johnson  Penn St..

12. Ezekiel Elliott  Ohio State....active

If you were to go down to the Top 20....3 more Buckeyes would be on the list:   Ron Springs, Archie Griffin,  Jim Otis

But, note....the source I used only counted  players whose teams were in the Big Ten at the time they played for that team;   ergo, if we count all  RBs who ever played for current Big Ten teams even if they weren't in the Big Ten at the time,  you would probably also get the likes of these players:

Lydell Mitchell PSU

Curt Warner PSU

Ray Rice  Rutgers.

 

[TexasAg1969]

2 hours ago, The Gipper said:

I get that last point....it is why I said to select them under the current conference alignment.  There has been so much shuffling of teams in and out of various conferences.  Randy White's  Maryland team did not play in the Big Ten.  See the above discussion about Franco.  Penn St. was not Big Ten at the time he played.     The one A&M guy I did pick, Yale Lary, certainly did not play in the SEC. 

Maybe YOU could do a "best of the Southwest Conference".   A great conference, now defunct.  I think there could have been some good choices for that:    Dickerson RB for SMU....etc.    You do that,  and I will do the MAC, my school conference.

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

[MLD Woody]

2 hours ago, The Gipper said:

More "Data" points in this regard:    Of the Top 12  NFL RBs that came out of the Big Ten...in terms of career production,  half of them have been from Ohio St.:

1. Franco  Penn St.

2. Eddie George  Ohio St.

3. Ronnie Harmon   Iowa  (especially good receiving back)

4. Robert Smith Ohio St.

5. Keith Byars  Ohio St.

6. Mike Pruitt  Purdue

7. Leveon Bell, Michigan St.....active

8. Otis Armstrong Purdue

9. John Brockington,  OSU

10. Pete Johnson  OSU

11. Larry Johnson  Penn St.....active

12. Ezekiel Elliott  Ohio State....active

If you were to go down to the Top 20....3 more Buckeyes would be on the list:   Ron Springs, Archie Griffin,  Jim Otis

But, note....the source I used only counted  players whose teams were in the Big Ten at the time they played for that team;   ergo, if we count all  RBs who ever played for current Big Ten teams even if they weren't in the Big Ten at the time,  you would probably also get the likes of these players:

Lydell Mitchell PSU

Curt Warner PSU

Ray Rice  Rutgers.

 

Larry Johnson is active?

[The Gipper]

14 minutes ago, MLD Woody said:

Larry Johnson is active?

Wait,   Wasn't he the one that was just traded from the Cards to  Houston in the Hopkins trade? 

Let's check....I guess I am thinking of the wrong guy.   David Johnson. 

What the hell....who can tell one Johnson from another....Larry, Lyndon, David, Andrew, 

Call a porn star...she can have a Johnson in each hand...and other places.

[The Gipper]

47 minutes ago, 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?  

[gumby73]

6 hours ago, 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]

1 hour ago, 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]

3 hours ago, 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]

11 hours ago, 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 !! 

[ballpeen]

On 6/3/2020 at 4:08 PM, 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