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Best NFL player ever from every FBS school

Best NFL player ever from every FBS school.

 
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Air Force: Larry Cole

Air Force: Larry Cole
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After going in the 16th round of the 1968 draft, Cole played 13 seasons on the Cowboys' defensive line.

 
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Akron: Jason Taylor

Akron: Jason Taylor
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A three-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler with the Dolphins, Taylor was taken in the third round of the 1997 draft. He played until 2011 and retired with 139.5 sacks.

 
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Alabama: Bart Starr

Alabama: Bart Starr
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No program has a more storied history than the Crimson Tide. Starr leads a quarterback pack that also includes Hall of Famer Joe Namath and Ken Stabler. Starr went 94-57-6 as the Packers' quarterback after going in the 17th round of the 1956 NFL Draft. He's one of eight Pro Football Hall of Famers who played for the Crimson Tide.

 
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Appalachian State: Dexter Coakley

Appalachian State: Dexter Coakley
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Coakley had a solid career at linebacker between Dallas and St. Louis. The third-round pick in 1997 finished his 10-year career with 599 tackles and three Pro Bowl appearances.

 
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Arizona: Rob Gronkowski

Arizona: Rob Gronkowski
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Arizona doesn't exactly have a great football history, but Gronkowski has a chance to be football's best tight end ever if he can stay healthy. Through six seasons in New England, he has 380 receptions for 5,555 yards and 65 touchdowns.

 
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Arizona State: Randall McDaniel

Arizona State: Randall McDaniel
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A Hall of Fame left guard for 14 seasons in Minnesota, McDaniel was a First-Team All-Pro seven times and went to 12 straight Pro Bowls. He went 19th overall in the 1988 NFL Draft.

 
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Arkansas: Lance Alworth

Arkansas: Lance Alworth
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Alworth edges out Dan Hampton as the best pro Razorback of all time. He had 542 catches for 10,266 yards and 85 touchdowns during his career and was named First-Team All-Pro six times.

 
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Arkansas State: Bill Bergey

Arkansas State: Bill Bergey
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A two-time All-Pro middle linebacker, Bergey played 12 seasons in the NFL. He edges out journeyman guard Ray Brown.

 
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Army: Bob Mischak

Army: Bob Mischak
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West Point had a limited track record of pro players, and Mischak had the most success between the AFL and NFL. He had a seven-year career at left guard between the New York Giants, New York Titans and Oakland Raiders, playing 79 games.

 
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Auburn: Kevin Greene

Auburn: Kevin Greene
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Greene was a steal in the fifth round for the Rams in the 1985 draft. The linebacker played 15 seasons between four teams, finishing his career with 160 sacks. He was an All-Pro twice and made five Pro Bowls.

 
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Ball State: Blaine Bishop

Ball State: Blaine Bishop
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Bishop played most of his 10-year career at strong safety for the Titans organization, making four Pro Bowls. He was an eighth-round pick in 1993.

 
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Baylor: Mike Singletary

Baylor: Mike Singletary
Focus on Sport

The Hall of Fame linebacker went in the second round of the 1981 draft. He was an All-Pro seven times during his 12-year career with the Bears.

 
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Boise State: Dave Wilcox

Boise State: Dave Wilcox
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Well before Boise's recent string of success, its best product was Wilcox. He played from 1964-74, putting together a Hall of Fame career in San Francisco with seven Pro Bowl appearances.

 
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Boston College: Tom Nalen

Boston College: Tom Nalen
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Nalen had a lengthy and successful career as center in Denver, playing for 14 season and making five Pro Bowls. He started 188 games over his career.

 
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Bowling Green: Doug Smith

Bowling Green: Doug Smith
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Smith went undrafted out of Bowling Green but made six straight Pro Bowls with the Rams from 1984-89 as a center. He had a very successful 14-year career in L.A.

 
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Buffalo: Gerry Philbin

Buffalo: Gerry Philbin
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Bulls alumni hope Khalil Mack takes over this title eventually, but Philbin has been known as the school's best professional football success for a long time after a 10-year career. He played nine seasons with the Jets and was an All-Pro twice at defensive end.

 
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BYU: Steve Young

BYU: Steve Young
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The Cougars have produced their fair share of strong NFL players, but Young leads the pack as a Hall of Famer. The lefty was the first pick in the 1984 supplemental draft by the Bucs. While he never panned out in Tampa Bay, he eventually replaced Joe Montana in San Francisco, making seven straight Pro Bowls and winning two MVPs.

 
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California: Aaron Rodgers

California: Aaron Rodgers
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A clear future Hall of Famer, Rodgers has been to five Pro Bowls in his eight seasons as the Packers' starting quarterback. He was the 2010 Super Bowl MVP and NFL MVP in 2011 and 2014. Tony Gonzalez, arguably the best NFL tight end ever, is also a Cal alumnus.

 
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Central Michigan: Antonio Brown

Central Michigan: Antonio Brown
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J.J. Watt spent one year with the Chippewas before transferring to Wisconsin, so Antonio Brown gets the nod as their best NFL player over Joe Staley. Brown has emerged as the league's top wide receiver, leading the NFL in catches in each of the last two seasons. He's made four Pro Bowls and had 1,834 receiving yards last season.

 
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Charlotte: Desmond Cooper

Charlotte: Desmond Cooper
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The Charlotte football program launched in 2013, and Cooper was the first player to sign an NFL contract. The safety has yet to appear in an NFL game.

 
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Cincinnati: Trent Cole

Cincinnati: Trent Cole
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A fifth-round pick by the Eagles in 2005, Cole has 88.5 career sacks over 11 seasons. 

 
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Clemson: Brian Dawkins

Clemson: Brian Dawkins
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A legendary safety for the Eagles, Dawkins was selected in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft by Philadelphia. He played 16 seasons, including three with Denver, finishing with 895 tackles and 37 interceptions. He also had four All-Pro appearances and made nine Pro Bowls as a likely Hall of Famer.

 
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Colorado: Cliff Branch

Colorado: Cliff Branch
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Branch played wide receiver for the Raiders from 1972-1985, finishing his career with 501 receptions for 8,685 yards. He was named All-Pro three times.

 
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Colorado State: Joey Porter

Colorado State: Joey Porter
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Porter had a great career at outside linebacker between three organizations, with 98 career sacks. He made the Pro Bowl four times, most recently in 2008, when he had 17.5 sacks with the Dolphins.

 
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Connecticut: Will Beatty

Connecticut: Will Beatty
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UConn's football program has seen limited success. Beatty played six seasons with the Giants after going in the second round in 2009.

 
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Duke: Sonny Jurgensen

Duke: Sonny Jurgensen
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Known as a basketball school, Duke produced Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen. Over his 18-year career, Jurgensen led the league in passing yards five times and was a two-time All-Pro.

 
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East Carolina: Earnest Byner

East Carolina: Earnest Byner
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While Chris Johnson is the most recent notable East Carolina football alumnus, Byner had a long and notable career in his own right. A 10th-round pick in the 1984 NFL Draft, Byner rushed for 8,261 yards and 56 touchdowns over his career, adding 4,605 yards as a receiver.

 
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Eastern Michigan: Dave Pureifory

Eastern Michigan: Dave Pureifory
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Pureifory was a strong pass rusher for the Packers, Bengals and Lions, playing 11 NFL seasons.

 
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Florida International: T.Y. Hilton

Florida International: T.Y. Hilton
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FIU has had a very brief football history, launching the program in 2002. Hilton has had the most NFL success thus far, with three 1,000-yard seasons and two Pro Bowls in Indianapolis. 

 
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Florida: Emmitt Smith

Florida: Emmitt Smith
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The Hall of Fame running back was the 17th overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft by the Cowboys. He rushed for 18,355 yards and 164 touchdowns for his career, also winning the 1993 NFL MVP. Smith still holds the career rushing yardage record.

 
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Florida Atlantic: Ed Newman

Florida Atlantic: Ed Newman
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Newman played offensive guard for Miami from 1973-84, making the Pro Bowl during each of his last four seasons.

 
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Florida State: Deion Sanders

Florida State: Deion Sanders
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While fellow Seminole Derrick Brooks had a Hall of Fame career himself with Tampa Bay, no one can dispute the greatness of "Prime Time." Deion Sanders was a six-time First-Team All-Pro, eight-time Pro Bowler, and all-around remarkable player for the Falcons, 49ers, Cowboys, Redskins and Ravens. The 1994 NFL Player of the Year led the league punt return touchdowns three times; kick return touchdowns twice; and kick return yards, yards per punt return, interception return yards and interception returns for touchdowns once apiece. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2011.

 
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Fresno State: Logan Mankins

Fresno State: Logan Mankins
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The 32nd overall pick in the 2005 draft, Mankins has made seven Pro Bowls at left guard between New England and Tampa Bay.

 
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Georgia: Fran Tarkenton

Georgia: Fran Tarkenton
Focus on Sport

One of the best players in the history of the NFL, Tarkenton was a third-round pick by the Vikings in the 1961 NFL Draft. He played 18 seasons, throwing for more than 47,000 yards and rushing for 3,674 yards. He won the 1975 MVP and made nine Pro Bowls.

 
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George Southern: Fred Stokes

George Southern: Fred Stokes
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Stokes played 10 seasons in the NFL as a defensive end, finishing his career with 38 sacks. He was drafted in the 12th round by the Rams in 1987.

 
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Georgia State: Albert Wilson

Georgia State: Albert Wilson
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The Georgia State football program launched in 2010 and has produced two NFL players. Wilson has the most experience as a wide receiver for the Chiefs.

 
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Georgia Tech: Calvin Johnson

Georgia Tech: Calvin Johnson
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Johnson cut his career short at nine seasons and might have eliminated his opportunity for Hall of Fame induction because of it. During his brief career, he had 731 receptions for 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns, being named All-Pro three times and going to the Pro Bowl six times. He's second all time in receiving yards per game.

 
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Hawaii: Jesse Sapolu

Hawaii: Jesse Sapolu
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Sapolu had a long and successful career as an interior lineman for the 49ers, making two Pro Bowls and starting 154 games in 15 seasons.

 
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Houston: Simon Fletcher

Houston: Simon Fletcher
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Fletcher had 97.5 career sacks over 11 seasons in Denver after going in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft.

 
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Idaho: Wayne Walker

Idaho: Wayne Walker
Focus on Sport

Walker played 15 seasons for the Lions as a linebacker and kicker. He made three Pro Bowls.

 
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Illinois: Ray Nitschke

Illinois: Ray Nitschke
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One of the most acclaimed middle linebackers of all time, Nitschke was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978 after 15 seasons with the Packers.

 
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Indiana: Trent Green

Indiana: Trent Green
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Green had a solid run with the Chiefs from 2001-06, going 48-40 with more than 21,000 passing yards and 118 touchdowns. He was selected in the eighth round of the draft in 1993 by the Chargers.

 
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Iowa: Paul Krause

Iowa: Paul Krause
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Krause played 16 seasons at safety in Washington and Minnesota, making eight Pro Bowls. The Hall of Famer had 81 interceptions during his career.

 
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Iowa State: Matt Blair

Iowa State: Matt Blair
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Taken in the second round by the Vikings in 1974, Blair played 12 seasons with the Vikings at linebacker. He made six straight Pro Bowls from 1977-82.

 
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Kansas: Gale Sayers

Kansas: Gale Sayers
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While his career was short, Kansas alumnus Gale Sayers had an absolutely brilliant career with the Chicago Bears. In just seven season, the electrifying running back ran for 4,956 yards with 39 touchdowns and a 5.0 average per carry. He also added 112 receptions for 1,307 yards and nine more scores, along with being a lethal kick returner. Sayers led the league in rushing twice and was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1997. Fellow Hall of Fame back John Riggins also attended Kansas.

 
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Kansas State: Larry Brown

Kansas State: Larry Brown
Focus on Sport

Brown had a brief but very productive career for Washington from 1969-76, rushing for 5,875 yards and 35 touchdowns. He added 238 receptions for 2,485 yards and 20 scores as a receiver.

 
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Kent State: Jack Lambert

Kent State: Jack Lambert
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Lambert leads the way among Kent State alumni, though Antonio Gates is gaining on him. Lambert had a Hall of Fame career with the Steelers, being named All-Pro six times and making nine Pro Bowls in 11 seasons on the team's vaunted Steel Curtain defense at middle linebacker.

 
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Kentucky: Dermontti Dawson

Kentucky: Dermontti Dawson
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Dawson edges out George Blanda as the best Wildcat NFL player ever. He played 13 seasons at center for the Steelers, being named All-Pro six straight years and making seven consecutive Pro Bowls. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.

 
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LSU: Alan Faneca

LSU: Alan Faneca
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Faneca has a Hall of Fame résumé after 13 NFL seasons, being named All-Pro six times while playing left guard for the Steelers. He is also a 10-time Pro Bowler.

 
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Louisiana Tech: Willie Roaf

Louisiana Tech: Willie Roaf
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The best Bulldogs NFL player ever is a true toss-up between Hall of Famers Roaf and Terry Bradshaw, but Roaf gets the nod given Bradshaw's poor stats by today's standards. Roaf was a dominant left tackle over 13 seasons between New Orleans and Kansas City, making 11 Pro Bowls.

 
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Louisiana-Lafayette: Charles Tillman

Louisiana-Lafayette: Charles Tillman
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Tillman has been extremely productive since being drafted by the Bears in the second round in 2003, with 38 interceptions and eight touchdowns. He was one of the league's top corners during his prime in Chicago and made two Pro Bowls.

 
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Louisiana-Monroe: Stan Humphries

Louisiana-Monroe: Stan Humphries
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Humphries had a relatively short career but started in San Diego for six seasons, including the Chargers' Super Bowl run in 1994. He threw for more than 17,000 yards.

 
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Louisville: Johnny Unitas

Louisville: Johnny Unitas
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One of greatest players in NFL history, Unitas threw for more than 40,000 yards and 290 touchdowns during his 18-year pro career. He won NFL MVP three times.

 
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Marshall: Randy Moss

Marshall: Randy Moss
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The best wide receiver of his generation and one of the most talented NFL athletes ever, Moss finished his career with 982 receptions for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns. He's currently third all time in receiving yards and second in receiving touchdowns.

 
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Maryland: Randy White

Maryland: Randy White
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A 1994 Hall of Fame inductee, White played 14 seasons at defensive tackle in Dallas. He was a seven-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler.

 
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Massachusetts: Greg Landry

Massachusetts: Greg Landry
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The 11th overall pick in 1968, Landry had more than 16,000 career passing yards and 98 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl in 1971 with the Lions.

 
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Memphis: Isaac Bruce

Memphis: Isaac Bruce
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One of the catalysts for the Greatest Show on Turf, Bruce had eight 1,000-yard receiving seasons and 91 touchdowns over his career. He played 16 seasons, finishing with 1,024 receptions for 15,208 yards.

 
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Miami (FL): Ray Lewis

Miami (FL): Ray Lewis
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The Hurricanes have their fair share of great NFL players but none better than Lewis. During his 17-year career with the Ravens, Lewis had 1,562 tackles, 41.5 sacks and 31 interceptions. He was an All-Pro seven times and made an astounding 13 Pro Bowls. Lewis was named Defensive Player of the Year twice.

 
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Miami (OH): Ben Roethlisberger

Miami (OH): Ben Roethlisberger
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Big Ben is building a Hall of Fame résumé with two Super Bowl wins, five Pro Bowls and nearly 43,000 passing yards through his age 33 seasons. He's led the league in passing yards per game in each of the last two seasons.

 
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Michigan: Tom Brady

Michigan: Tom Brady
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Brady is in the conversation as one of the best NFL players of all time. Not bad for a former sixth-round pick. He's claimed two NFL MVPs, three Super Bowl MVPs and been named to 11 Pro Bowls. Brady currently ranks fifth in passing yards, third in passing touchdowns and sixth in passer rating all time.

 
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Michigan State: Herb Adderley

Michigan State: Herb Adderley
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Adderley had a Hall of Fame career over 12 seasons at cornerback between Green Bay and Dallas, with 48 career interceptions. He was a four-time All-Pro.

 
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Middle Tennessee: Don Griffin

Middle Tennessee: Don Griffin
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Griffin was drafted in the sixth round in 1986 and played 11 seasons at cornerback between the 49ers, Browns and Eagles. He had 25 career interceptions.

 
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Minnesota: Carl Eller

Minnesota: Carl Eller
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A Hall of Famer at defensive end, Eller played 16 seasons, mostly with the Vikings. 

 
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Mississippi State: Kent Hull

Mississippi State: Kent Hull
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Hull was the core of Buffalo's offensive line at center during the team's successful run in the early 1990s, making four Pro Bowls and being named an All-Pro twice.

 
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Missouri: Kellen Winslow

Missouri: Kellen Winslow
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Kellen Winslow is one of the greatest tight ends to ever play and definitely revolutionized the position with the Chargers. He finished his career with 541 receptions for 6,741 yards and 45 touchdowns, earning three First-Team All-Pro receptions, making five Pro Bowls and leading the NFL in receptions twice during his nine-year career. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995.

 
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Navy: Roger Staubach

Navy: Roger Staubach
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Staubach is rather clear-cut as the best NFL performer to ever come out of the Naval Academy. The Hall of Fame quarterback played 11 seasons in Dallas, finishing his career with an 85-29 record as a starter and 22,700 passing yards. He made six Pro Bowls and won one Super Bowl MVP.

 
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Nebraska: Will Shields

Nebraska: Will Shields
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The Huskers program has produced plenty of great NFL players, but Shields is atop the mountain. The Hall of Fame guard played 14 seasons with the Chiefs after going in the third round in 1993 and made the Pro Bowl in his last 12 seasons.

 
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Nevada: Charles Mann

Nevada: Charles Mann
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At one point, it looked like Colin Kaepernick would earn this title, but now that status is in doubt. For now, Mann remains the best alumnus of Nevada as a four-time Pro Bowler with the Redskins. He had 83 career sacks in 12 seasons at defensive end.

 
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New Mexico: Brian Urlacher

New Mexico: Brian Urlacher
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Urlacher is a likely future Hall of Famer after his 13-year career with the Bears. The middle linebacker was an All-Pro four times and made the Pro Bowl eight times, finishing his career with more than 1,000 tackles.

 
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New Mexico State: Charley Johnson

New Mexico State: Charley Johnson
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A 10th-round pick by the Cardinals in 1960, Johnson played 15 seasons in the NFL and had a winning record over 124 career starts. He threw for more than 24,000 yards over his career.

 
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North Carolina: Lawrence Taylor

North Carolina: Lawrence Taylor
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While LT is the Tar Heels' best NFL player, Julius Peppers is still going strong. Taylor had a Hall of Fame career at linebacker with the Giants, with 132.5 career sacks. He was 1982 Defensive Player of the Year and 1986 NFL MVP.

 
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NC State: Philip Rivers

NC State: Philip Rivers
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The San Diego quarterback continues to quietly put together a Hall of Fame career. He's 92-68 in his career as a starter, throwing for more than 41,000 yards and 281 touchdowns thus far. He currently ranks 14th all time in passing yards and 11th in passing touchdowns, and has plenty of time to move up those lists at age 34.

 
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North Texas: Joe Greene

North Texas: Joe Greene
Focus on Sport

Mean Joe Greene had a Hall of Fame career with the Steelers, making the Pro Bowl in each of his first 11 NFL seasons. He won Defensive Player of the Year twice.

 
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Northern Illinois: Ryan Diem

Northern Illinois: Ryan Diem
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Diem had a long and productive career on the right side of the Colts' offensive line, playing 12 seasons and starting 150 games.

 
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Northwestern: Otto Graham

Northwestern: Otto Graham
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Cleveland quarterback Otto Graham is one of the most accomplished players in NFL history, leading the Browns to 10 straight championship game and winning seven of them. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and seven-time First-Team All-Pro and was inducted to Canton in 1965.

 
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Notre Dame: Joe Montana

Notre Dame: Joe Montana
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The legendary Notre Dame program has produced a record 13 Pro Football Hall of Famers including Montana. The third-round pick in 1979 went 117-47 for his career between San Francisco and Kansas City, throwing for more than 40,000 yards and 273 touchdowns. He was the NFL MVP in 1989 and 1990.

 
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Ohio: Jonathan Goodwin

Ohio: Jonathan Goodwin

Goodwin was a highly productive interior lineman over his 13-year career, starting 122 games and making one Pro Bowl. While he ended his college career at Michigan, he started as a freshman at Ohio University.

 
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Ohio State: Orlando Pace

Ohio State: Orlando Pace
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There's quite a competition for top dog from Ohio State between Pace, Paul Warfield, Cris Carter, Jim Marshall and others. Pace gets the nod after what was likely a Hall of Fame career as left tackle on the Greatest Show on Turf, making seven straight Pro Bowls and being named All-Pro three times. He was the first overall draft choice in 1997.

 
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Oklahoma: Adrian Peterson

Oklahoma: Adrian Peterson
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AP continues to churn as one of the best running backs ever, leading the NFL in rushing yards three times in nine seasons. He has 11,675 rushing yards and 97 touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry over his career. He rushed for 2,097 yards in 2012.

 
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Oklahoma State: Barry Sanders

Oklahoma State: Barry Sanders
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One of the greatest running backs ever, Sanders dominated in his brief 10-year career in Detroit. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in every year of his career, leading the league in rushing yards four times. He made the Pro Bowl in every year of his career and finished with 15,269 rushing yards and 99 touchdowns.

 
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Old Dominion: Ronnie Cameron

Old Dominion: Ronnie Cameron
The Washington Post

Only two ODU players have made NFL appearances for a program that launched in 2009. Cameron was a defensive tackle who played with the Eagles in 2012.

 
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Ole Miss: Eli Manning

Ole Miss: Eli Manning
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Manning has surpassed several notable Ole Miss alumni, including his father, as the most successful NFL player from the school. He's claimed two Super Bowl MVPs and been to four Pro Bowls during his 12-year career.

 
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Oregon: Dan Fouts

Oregon: Dan Fouts
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The Ducks are known for their recent football prowess, but they've produced plenty of great players over the years, led by Fouts. The Hall of Fame quarterback led the league in passing yards four times and threw for 43,040 yards over his career. He made six Pro Bowls with the Chargers.

 
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Oregon State: Chad Johnson

Oregon State: Chad Johnson
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Ochocinco, as he was briefly known, finished his NFL career with more than 11,000 receiving yards and 67 touchdowns, playing mostly with the Bengals. He made six Pro Bowls and led the league in receiving yards in 2006.

 
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Penn State: Jack Ham

Penn State: Jack Ham
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A six-time All-Pro linebacker with the Steelers, Ham started 160 games over his 12-year career and had 32 picks. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988.

 
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Pittsburgh: Dan Marino

Pittsburgh: Dan Marino
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Marino is one of the best NFL quarterbacks of all time, throwing for more than 61,000 yards over his 17-year career in Miami. He threw 420 career touchdowns and won the 1984 NFL MVP.

 
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Purdue: Drew Brees

Purdue: Drew Brees
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Brees edges out Rod Woodson, Len Dawson and Bob Griese as the best Boilermaker alumnus ever in the NFL. He's led the league in passing yards six times, throwing for more than 60,000 yards over his career and 428 touchdowns. The nine-time Pro Bowler has one Super Bowl MVP and two Offensive Player of the Year Awards.

 
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Rice: Tommy Kramer

Rice: Tommy Kramer
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Hall of Fame wideout Don Maynard played at Rice for one year before going to UTEP, so Kramer gets the honor. Kramer had a long and productive career with the Vikings, making one Pro Bowl and throwing for nearly 25,000 yards in 14 seasons. He finished his career with the Saints.

 
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Rutgers: Deron Cherry

Rutgers: Deron Cherry
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Ray Rice didn't play quite long enough to claim top honors. Cherry played 11 season at free safety with the Chiefs, making six straight Pro Bowls and being named All-Pro three times.

 
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San Diego State: Marshall Faulk

San Diego State: Marshall Faulk
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The clear top player to ever come out of the Aztecs program, Faulk had more than 19,000 yards from scrimmage over his career and 136 touchdowns. He was a three-time All-Pro as the engine of the Greatest Show on Turf and made seven Pro Bowls over his career. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

 
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San Jose State: Jeff Garcia

San Jose State: Jeff Garcia
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An undrafted quarterback who didn't emerge in the NFL until age 29, Garcia was very productive as a starter during his 30s. He threw for more than 25,000 yards and 161 touchdowns over his 13-year career.

 
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SMU: Eric Dickerson

SMU: Eric Dickerson
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Dickerson is a Hall of Fame running back and still holds the single-season rushing record, gaining 2,105 yards in 1984. He led the league in rushing four times and rushed for 13,259 yards over his career.

 
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South Alabama: Wes Saxton

South Alabama: Wes Saxton
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The South Alabama football program launched in 2009. Saxton made one appearance last season with the Jets at tight end.

 
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South Carolina: John Abraham

South Carolina: John Abraham
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Abraham has been a highly productive pass rusher over his 15-year career, with 133.5 sacks at defensive end for the Jets, Falcons and Cardinals. He made five Pro Bowls.

 
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South Florida: Jason Pierre-Paul

South Florida: Jason Pierre-Paul
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The 15th overall pick in the 2010 draft, Pierre-Paul has 43 sacks and has made two Pro Bowl appearances over his six seasons with the Giants.

 
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Southern Miss: Brett Favre

Southern Miss: Brett Favre
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A second-round pick in 1991, Favre went on to become one of the best NFL quarterbacks ever. Over 20 NFL seasons, he threw for 71,838 yards and 508 touchdowns, winning NFL MVP three times.

 
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Stanford: John Elway

Stanford: John Elway
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Denver's Hall of Fame quarterback threw for 51,475 yards and 300 touchdowns over his 16-year career. He won the 1987 NFL MVP and 1998 Super Bowl MVP.

 
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Syracuse: Jim Brown

Syracuse: Jim Brown
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Syracuse has eight Pro Football Hall of Famers to its credit, with Brown considered by many to be the best football player ever while he was on the field. He played only nine seasons but led the league in rushing yards eight of those years, finishing his career with 12,312 rushing yards, 106 rushing touchdowns and 5.2 yards per carry.

 
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TCU: LaDainian Tomlinson

TCU: LaDainian Tomlinson
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Tomlinson is a clear future Hall of Famer after rushing for 13,684 yards and 145 touchdowns over his career, adding 4,772 receiving yards. He's second all time in rushing touchdowns.

 
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Temple: Joe Klecko

Temple: Joe Klecko
Focus on Sport

Klecko is the leader among Owls alumni, although Muhammad Wilkerson is certainly gaining on him. Over 12 NFL seasons, Klecko was a four-time Pro Bowler and twice an All-Pro with the Jets on the defensive line.

 
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Tennessee: Peyton Manning

Tennessee: Peyton Manning
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Manning capped off a Hall of Fame career in 2015 as the career leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns. He won five MVP Awards and was a 14-time Pro Bowler and seven-time All-Pro between Indianapolis and Denver. Reggie White gets a significant honorable mention as a Vols alumnus.

 
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Texas: Earl Campbell

Texas: Earl Campbell
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For all of Texas' rich history in college football, the Longhorns have only two Hall of Fame players. Campbell had a brief NFL career spanning only eight seasons, but he led the league in rushing during his first three years and finished his Hall of Fame career with 9,407 rushing yards.

 
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Texas A&M: Richmond Webb

Texas A&M: Richmond Webb
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Webb is deserving of Hall of Fame consideration after his 13-year career as a left tackle in Miami and Cincinnati. He made the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons after being taken ninth overall in the 1990 draft.

 
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Texas State: Bob Young

Texas State: Bob Young
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A two-time Pro Bowl guard for the Cardinals in the late 1970s, Young played 16 seasons in the NFL and started 146 games.

 
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Texas Tech: Zach Thomas

Texas Tech: Zach Thomas
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Thomas edges out Wes Welker as the best Red Raiders alumnus as a five-time All-Pro middle linebacker. He played 13 seasons, mostly with the Dolphins, and had 1,100 career tackles.

 
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UTEP: Don Maynard

UTEP: Don Maynard
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The Hall of Fame Maynard played 16 professional seasons, finishing his career with 633 receptions for 11,834 yards and 88 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Hall in 1987.

 
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UTSA: Teddy Williams

UTSA: Teddy Williams
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The UTSA program launched in 2011, and only Teddy Williams has made an appearance in the NFL. The wideout has appeared in 33 games over four seasons but has only one reception, playing mostly on special teams.

 
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Toledo: Andy McCollum

Toledo: Andy McCollum
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McCollum had a 14-year career between New Orleans, St. Louis and Detroit, starting 159 games at center and guard. He won one Super Bowl with the Rams.

 
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Troy: DeMarcus Ware

Troy: DeMarcus Ware
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Ware is the most notable Troy alumnus but certainly not the only one. Osi Umenyiora also attended Troy. Ware has a Hall of Fame résumé with 134.5 career sacks and is a four-time All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowler.

 
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Tulane: Richie Petitbon

Tulane: Richie Petitbon
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Petitbon played most of his career at safety for the Bears and had 48 career interceptions. He made the Pro Bowl four times.

 
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Tulsa: Steve Largent

Tulsa: Steve Largent
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Largent entered the NFL three seasons after fellow Tulsa alumnus and wideout Drew Pearson and had an even greater career. The former Seahawk made the Hall of Fame after playing 14 seasons, with 819 receptions for 13,089 yards and 100 touchdowns.

 
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UCF: Brandon Marshall

UCF: Brandon Marshall
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The UCF program has quietly turned out some great NFL players recently, including Marshall, Blake Bortles, Josh Sitton and Daunte Culpepper. Marshall has a chance to garner Hall of Fame consideration with how he's performed in his first 10 seasons. Marshall has 882 career receptions for 11,273 yards and 79 touchdowns.

 
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UCLA: Troy Aikman

UCLA: Troy Aikman
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Aikman transferred from Oklahoma to UCLA and eventually went first overall in the 1989 NFL Draft. During his 12-year career with the Cowboys, Aikman passed for 32,942 yards and 165 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

 
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UNLV: Randall Cunningham

UNLV: Randall Cunningham
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Cunningham changed the game as one of the first true dual-threat quarterbacks. He went 82-52-1 as a starter in the NFL, passed for nearly 30,000 yards and rushed for nearly 5,000 yards.

 
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USC: Bruce Matthews

USC: Bruce Matthews
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USC has 12 NFL Hall of Famers to its credit, and there's quite a competition for best ever between Matthews, Anthony Munoz, Ronnie Lott, Marcus Allen, Junior Seau and O.J. Simpson. Matthews' 14 Pro Bowls is unmatched in the group as one of the greatest offensive linemen the game as ever seen. He started 293 games over 19 seasons.

 
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Utah: Steve Smith

Utah: Steve Smith
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The 5-foot-9 Smith has always played with a chip on his shoulder at wideout and continues to have quite a productive career. Over 15 seasons, he has 961 receptions for 13,932 yards and 76 touchdowns. The former third-round pick has made five Pro Bowls.

 
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Utah State: Merlin Olsen

Utah State: Merlin Olsen
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The third overall pick by the Rams in 1962, Olsen played defensive tackle for 15 seasons with L.A. and made the Pro Bowl 14 times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982.

 
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Vanderbilt: Jay Cutler

Vanderbilt: Jay Cutler
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Vandy doesn't have a rich football history, allowing Cutler to move atop the list 10 seasons into his career. The Bears quarterback has been enigmatic at times but has 31,408 passing yards and 204 touchdowns.

 
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Virginia: Ronde Barber

Virginia: Ronde Barber
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Ronde beats out his twin brother Tiki after a longer career. Ronde played 16 seasons with the Buccaneers, making five Pro Bowls and being named All-Pro three times at cornerback.

 
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Virginia Tech: Bruce Smith

Virginia Tech: Bruce Smith
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The first overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft by the Bills, Smith played 19 seasons and had 200 career sacks. He was an eight-time All-Pro and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

 
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Wake Forest: Norm Snead

Wake Forest: Norm Snead
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Snead lost a lot during his 16-year NFL career but finished with more than 30,000 passing yards and 196 touchdowns between five teams.

 
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Washington: Warren Moon

Washington: Warren Moon
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Moon's career covered both the CFL and NFL. During his 17 NFL seasons, he had 49,325 passing yards and 291 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl nine times and was the 1990 Offensive Player of the Year en route to Hall of Fame induction in 2006.

 
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Washington State: Drew Bledsoe

Washington State: Drew Bledsoe
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The first overall draft choice in the 1993 NFL Draft, Bledsoe was highly productive over 14 seasons with four Pro Bowl appearances. Of course, he will probably always be remembered as the injured quarterback that allowed Tom Brady to play in New England during the 2001 season.

 
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West Virginia: Chuck Howley

West Virginia: Chuck Howley
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The seventh overall pick in 1958, Howley played 16 NFL seasons at linebacker. He had a string of five All-Pro designations while with Dallas from 1966-70.

 
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Western Kentucky: Dale Lindsey

Western Kentucky: Dale Lindsey
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Lindsey played nine seasons at linebacker, mostly with the Browns, after going in the seventh round of the 1965 NFL Draft.

 
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Western Michigan: Greg Jennings

Western Michigan: Greg Jennings
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Jennings has played 10 NFL seasons and made two Pro Bowls. He had more than 1,000 yards receiving three times with the Packers.

 
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Wisconsin: Mike Webster

Wisconsin: Mike Webster
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Webster had a Hall of Fame career at center for the Steelers as a five-time All-Pro. He played 17 NFL seasons. The Hall of Famer is also known, unfortunately, as the first former NFL player diagnosed with CTE following his death in 2002.

 
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Wyoming: Jim Kiick

Wyoming: Jim Kiick
Focus on Sport

Kiick had a 10-year run in the NFL from 1968-77, playing mostly at running back for the Dolphins. He had 3,759 rushing yards over his career and also made a key contribution for the undefeated '72 Dolphins.

Seth Trachtman

Seth Trachtman is a sportswriter, digital marketer, and fantasy sports expert based in St. Louis, Missouri. He’s a two-time winner of the Tout Wars Fantasy Baseball Expert’s League, and his work has appeared in hundreds of fantasy baseball and fantasy football newsstand and online publications

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