The SEC to the NFL: Who are the best in their positions?
Now that we’ve got some downtime on the SEC Football Blog, we got thinking about which player made the best transfer from the SEC to the NFL throughout the years. If you’re a Cam Newton fan, then we’re sorry: This is about HISTORY, not in the last 12 months. So chill. Note: Former Florida QBs Wuerffel and Tebow won’t be on the list.
QUARTERBACK
Peyton Manning (Tennessee). He’s beaten every team he’s played in college football and the NFL – apart from one. And that’s Florida. Some people argue for Green Bay’s Bart Starr (Alabama), who was awesome too..and won two Super Bowls (and had two Super Bowl MVPs, too). As for Peyton, he’s blown away touchdown and passing yards records, and he’s won two Super Bowls. If you want to just go for Super Bowls, then his brother Eli (Ole Miss) would be on the list. Joe Namath (Alabama) would bring the beers and guarantee victories.
RUNNING BACK
Emmitt Smith (Florida). We STILL don’t get why he was only the 17th pick in the NFL Draft, but heck, Dallas got their money’s worth. Not only did he play on three Super Bowl teams alongside Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin, but he’s still got the NFL Career rushing yards record (18, 355) and the career rushing touchdowns record (164).
BACK-UPS: We’re going to let two-time Super Bowl winner Terrell Davis (Georgia), Fred Taylor (Florida) and Jamal Lewis (Tennessee) share rushes behind Smith. Should make for one hell of a practice.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Julio Jones (Alabama). He’s probably the greatest wide receiver in the modern game right now. Hines Ward (Georgia) was a four-time Pro Bowler, had 1000 career receptions and 12,083 yards (23rd all-time in yards – that’s the first SEC WR on the list) and was central to Steelers Super Bowl victories. Expect AJ Green (Georgia), Alshon Jeffrey (South Carolina) and Odell Beckham (LSU) to make a lot of lists if they carry on their current trajectory.
TIGHT END
Kellen Winslow (Missouri) This a bit of steal bearing in mind Winslow was playing at Missouri when Mizzou wasn’t in the SEC, but hey, I don’t care. If you want a REAL SEC player, then Hall of Famers Jason Witten (Tennessee) and Ozzie Newsome (Alabama) makes the list.
O-LINE
Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jason Peters (Arkansas) is a Pro Bowl regular. If anyone’s got any ideas of any other tackles, let us know. Michael Oher (Ole Miss) isn’t going to make the list after an up-and-down NFL career, although he’s had a great 2015.
Guard John Hannah (Alabama) was one of the greats, making NINE straight Pro Bowls. If you want good centers, then former Pittsburgh Steelers center Dermontti Dawson (Kentucky) made seven Pro Bowls and went to the Hall of Fame in 2012, and center Frank Gatski (Auburn)- who also fought in a war before going to The Plains – is also a Hall of Famer.
PUNTER / KICKER
Shane Lechler (Texas A&M) has 1,280 career punts, and that’s good for fifth on the all-time list. He’s second on the all-time punts list with 60,746. As for kickers, we’re taking George Blanda (Kentucky), who has the record for extra points made with 943.
KICK RETURNER
Dante Hall (Texas A&M) has one of the greatest names in football – the Human Joystick. Had 426 returns for 10,136 yards in just 8 years. We’ll take him. Patrick Peterson (LSU) will be a fun back-up.
DEFENSE
Defensive End
Two sack machines will play on our team: Reggie White (Tennessee) was God, taking home 198 sacks, second on the all-times sacks list, and Kevin Greene (Auburn) who’s third on the all-time sack list with 160 sacks. We expect to add Von Miller (Texas A&M) to this list soon enough.
Linebacker
We’re using Greene as a defensive end (although he’ll drop back as a linebacker if needed), and we’re also going to bring in the late, great Derrick Thomas (Alabama) to help.
SAFETIES
Hall of Famer Yale Lary (Texas A&M) will lead the way with Johnny Robinson (LSU) – 13th on the All-Time interceptions list with 57 after a tidy career with Dallas and Kansas City – and fellow ballhawk Jimmy Patton (Ole Miss), who had 52 INTs – good for 26th all-time- will make quarterbacks want to throw. Tyrann Mathieu (LSU) will learn from them.
CORNERBACKS
Playing alongside 12-time Pro Bowler and 15-year NFL veteran Champ Bailey (Georgia) will be Lester Hayes (Texas A&M) was a five-time Pro Bowler and shut-down corner with Oakland.
The sad part about this team is that some of the players – particularly on the defensive side (we see you Reggie White, Derrick Thomas, Jimmy Patton) aren’t with us anymore.