All-time Michigan Football Team: best players
Not trying to trumpet myself or my view on Michigan Football history, but I was just thinking about this and would like to throw it out there once again.
This is the two-deep squad I'd throw out in a "Field of Dreams" college football season featuring the all-time teams from the BCS conferences plus ND, Navy, and Army (included b/c of the Roger Staubach, Glenn Davis, Doc Blanchard, Coach "Red" Blaik days).
Offense:
LT: Jake Long/Jon Runyan
LG: Steve Hutchinson/Dan Dierdorf
C: David Molk/Rod Payne
RG: Reggie McKenzie/Mike Kenn
RT: John Elliot/Jon Jansen
TE: Ron Kramer/Jerame Tuman
SE: Braylon Edwards/Amani Toomer
Flanker: Anthony Carter/Marquise Walker
Slot: Desmond Howard/Mario Manningham
RB: Tom Harmon/Tyrone Wheatley
QB: Tom Brady/Bennie Friedman
Defense:
SDE: Brandon Graham/Glen Steele
3-tech: Mike Martin/Alan Branch
1-tech: Mark Messner/Mike Hammerstein
WDE: Lamar Woodley/David Bowens
SAM: David Harris/Victor Hobson
MIKE: Ron Simpkins/Mel Owens
WILL: Dhani Jones/Ian Gold
Field Corner: Ty Law/Marlin Jackson
Boundary Corner: Charles Woodson/Leon Hall
Strong Safety: Thom Darden/Corwin Brown
Free Safety: Tripp Wellborne/David Brown
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Fielding Yost
Offensive Coordinator: Gary Moeller
QBs: Scott Loeffler
RBs: Fritz Crisler
OL: Bo Schembechler/Jerry Hanlon
WR: Cam Cameron
Defensive Coordinator: Bill McCartney
DL: Brady Hoke
LB: Jim Herrmann
Corners: Vance Bedford
Safeties: Greg Mattison
I'm tempted to run two offenses: pro-style with Brady/Henson at QB, and changing up with the spread with Harbaugh/Leach/Shoelace at QB, Braylon and Toomer at the outside WRs, and Dez and AC as slot ninjas extraordinaire. Rich Rod would be OC.
January 29th, 2012 at 3:04 PM ^
I think I'd put David Terrell on there over Marquis Walker
January 29th, 2012 at 3:12 PM ^
He does have the bomb
January 29th, 2012 at 4:17 PM ^
considering they were in the same recruiting class and he caught more passes when they played together. walker had a big year after terrell left.
January 29th, 2012 at 7:58 PM ^
either in person or on film. Just going by the number of times that a player was AA or stats is not going to do justice. For example, to me, Messner and Hammer were most dominant defensive line players that UM has ever had. Someone with a better memory can come up with a different list, but how can one make a case if one has never seen the player play?
January 29th, 2012 at 3:09 PM ^
I'm not sure why Brady is there.
You're combining lists of best pros produced, and best CFB players again.
January 29th, 2012 at 3:54 PM ^
I agree, it should be Henne or Leach in my opinion.
January 29th, 2012 at 8:33 PM ^
Henne? He holds a lot of records because circumstances allowed him to start four years, not because he was actually the best.
Guy never beat Ohio State. I know that's not all his fault but I think it is devaluing the importance of that game to hold up a QB who went 0-4 as an all-time program great.
January 29th, 2012 at 4:18 PM ^
leach or franklin. though i don't really remember seeing franklin play.
January 29th, 2012 at 3:14 PM ^
No Bennie Oosterbaan? He was a 3-time All-American split end/defensive end and was 6'2" 186, so he would still stack up size-wise today.
January 29th, 2012 at 4:19 PM ^
modern-day oriented like most people's lists.
January 29th, 2012 at 3:14 PM ^
I am a huge Brady fan, actually wearing his Jersey today. He is not even top 5!
January 29th, 2012 at 3:17 PM ^
You also have no punters or kickers.
January 29th, 2012 at 4:33 PM ^
I think Breaston could make it as KR/PR unless Howard and Woodson are gonna double down on those positions.
January 29th, 2012 at 3:17 PM ^
Steve Everitt wants to talk to you about the center position.
January 29th, 2012 at 3:23 PM ^
Grizzly man?
January 29th, 2012 at 3:30 PM ^
Everitt to me is best C, Terrell over Walker as well, not even close for me
Harbaugh would be my QB if you go just by college years, he was a true dual threat
Doug Marsh was a hell of a TE
January 29th, 2012 at 4:12 PM ^
he maybe the best O-lineman i ever saw here. the QB sneak was automatic with him.
January 29th, 2012 at 3:25 PM ^
January 29th, 2012 at 3:32 PM ^
You simply can't leave out Ron Johnson at tailback, and Bob Chappius (hard to find a position because of the variety of the single wing offense) needs a spot as well. Arguably, Germany Schultz invented the position of linebacker.
January 29th, 2012 at 3:37 PM ^
So many running backs to choose from. I can think of around five guys that you would be crazy to leave off.
January 29th, 2012 at 3:54 PM ^
I love the concept of this kind of discussion ... but I'm challenged by two things:
- Some players went on to be great NFL players but were not necessarily standout college players. Tom Brady, for example.
- Some players were great in their time, but would likely get stomped in today's game. Players are just so much bigger, stronger and faster today than before.
I'm not sure how to reconcile that. Other than not think about those things and enjoy the discussion.
RB = Rob Lytle, by the way. :-)
January 29th, 2012 at 4:06 PM ^
he's getting ready for that whole bowl thing the NFL does.
January 29th, 2012 at 4:13 PM ^
Interesting post. You're a bit flexible on the OL positions. I believe Runyan played RT, not LT. Wasn't Dierdorf an LT? (Not sure about that, but I am pretty sure he didn't play guard.) Mike Kenn was a tackle – he certainly was one of the great LT's in in the NFL.
The problem is there are more candidates at tackle than guard. After Hutch and McKenzie at the guards, there is a falloff and I can't come up with anyone besides Baas.
Going strictly by position played I'd have to go Long/Dierdorf at LT and Jansen/Runyan at RT. Jumbo Elliott is a little behind those two… And a little behind him is Bo's Big Boy, Greg Skrepanak… and I can't leave out Bubba Paris. Michigan is Offensive Tackle University, that's for sure.
I also would go with Steve Everitt at center. He was tough as Molk and bigger.
January 29th, 2012 at 4:27 PM ^
Clearly Hutch and McKenzie are the top 2, but there have been some other terrific guards--you just have to go back a bit. 3 of my favorites: Stefan Humphries, Dean Dingman, and Kurt Becker. All were All America their third year ('83, '90, and '81 respectively). Dingman and Becker were 3 year starters; Humphries 2+.
January 29th, 2012 at 4:35 PM ^
Thanks for refreshing my memory. Totally agree, especially on Becker and Humphries.
January 29th, 2012 at 4:15 PM ^
you're missing the butkus award winner there.
January 29th, 2012 at 4:45 PM ^
but do you include the players who paved the way and now have team awards named after them? For instance, Roger Zatkoff for linebackers and John Maulbetsch (halfback).
January 29th, 2012 at 4:50 PM ^
January 29th, 2012 at 5:17 PM ^
Can we add a line for "Team Captians" to get Ford on the team? Harmon might have to be a captain too since he's tough to compare to modern RBs or QBs.
January 29th, 2012 at 5:13 PM ^
Mad Magicians.
January 29th, 2012 at 6:24 PM ^
This is fun. I'll throw my two cents out at QB. There may be no bigger Tom Brady fan on earth than me. But for body of work in Ann Arbor, I believe the best QB in school history was Harbaugh.
January 29th, 2012 at 8:03 PM ^
leach finished in the top 5 for heisman twice, iirc.
January 30th, 2012 at 10:43 AM ^
I was there Leach's last two years. He was a great leader and runner. I just tend to lean toward passing quarterbacks and Harbaugh was clearly a better passer than Leach. Certainly couldn't go wrong with either one.
January 29th, 2012 at 6:23 PM ^
Love lists like these, and enjoyed your's, though it's incomplete without Oosterbaan and Erick Anderson as starters, in my opinion. And Harbaugh or Fiedman would be my starter at QB.
January 29th, 2012 at 6:29 PM ^
I would take Jim Smith, John Kolesar Tai Streets and Terrell (talking college here) over Walker and Toomer.
January 29th, 2012 at 6:34 PM ^
Okay, I'm thinking about this way too much. I know fullback is not a big deal in today's spread happy world. But Russell Davis and Leroy Hoard were two of the best backs we have had in my forty years of following U of M football.
And Curtis Greer is angry he is not one of your defensive ends. You do not want Curtis Greer to be angry at you.
January 29th, 2012 at 7:00 PM ^
January 29th, 2012 at 8:36 PM ^
Naaah.
January 29th, 2012 at 7:12 PM ^
This program has a tradition of excellence. There are a lot of great players at every position. It's a fun thought, but it really can't be captured. The RB position alone should tell you it can't be limited to a couple of guys.
Think about it.
True Blue!
January 29th, 2012 at 7:28 PM ^
Rick Volk belongs in the defensive backfield and Tom Mack on the offensive line.
January 29th, 2012 at 7:56 PM ^
ZOLTAN!
January 29th, 2012 at 8:57 PM ^
Steve Everitt at C. Kenn and Dierdorf were tackles. Clancy, McMurtry,Kolesar, Alexander better than Walker.Owens was not a great college player. Dave Brown was a cornerback. Lytle and Gordie were pretty good. Franklin was 30-2 -1 although Elzinga won one of those games. Elzinga had a gun.
January 29th, 2012 at 9:02 PM ^
At QB, would take Jim Harbaugh or Chad Henne over Tom Brady. Brady was decent at UM, but not an inkling of the HOF quarterback he's become as a pro.
January 30th, 2012 at 7:51 PM ^
From SI.com... I agree with almost all of this list. It is incredible, to leave off Bob Chappuis, who should have won a Hesiman, and Ron Johnson, who was nominated. No Braylon? It is that kind of list. I don't think I'd put Dierdorf on it; although I'd have to think hard about the many other names that could go on in his place. (I also know very little about Al Benbrook, fwiw.) And in the post-2008 era, I think Brandon Graham could be a close nominee on the DL; but replacing who I am not at all sure. I've seen all but a handful of these great players, and I have to say that SI did a very credible job.
The big failure in this thread, and the one nit to pick with the SI list, is the casual reference to Tom Harmon as Michigan's greatest player. Not Willie Heston!? I never saw either one live, and only saw film of Harmon. But Willie Heston would get my vote as our greatest player, and so far as post this, I don't see any mention in this thread of the name of the great Heston. Had there been a Heisman Trophy during Heston's playing days, there is a good chance he might have won three of them...!
OFFENSE |
|||
QB |
1924-26 |
Era's top passer earned All-America honors twice |
|
RB |
TOM HARMON* |
1938-40 |
The greatest UM player, Old 98 won Michigan's first Heisman |
RB |
WILLIE HESTON* |
1901-04 |
Led Point-A-Minute teams to a 43-0-1 record by scoring 72 TDs |
WR |
ANTHONY CARTER* |
1979-82 |
AC had 3,076 receiving yards and 37 TD grabs |
WR |
1989-91 |
Runaway Heisman Trophy winner scored 23 TDs in '91 alone |
|
E |
BENNIE OOSTERBAAN* |
1925-27 |
One of just two Wolverines to be a three-time All-America |
TE |
RON KRAMER* |
1954-56 |
Basketball and track star also was a standout at defensive end |
OL |
AL BENBROOK* |
1908-10 |
One of the best linemen of his era and a two-time All-America |
OL |
1968-70 |
College Football Hall of Famer shined in NFL, broadcast booth |
|
OL |
1984-87 |
The 6' 7" 306-pounder was Lombardi, Outland finalist in '87 |
|
OL |
1997-2000 |
Hulking guard (6' 5", 298) was first-team All-Big Ten four times |
|
OL |
2004-07 |
Nasty blocker allowed just two sacks; was the No. 1 overall pick |
|
DEFENSE |
|||
DL |
CURTIS GREER |
1976-79 |
All-America selection had 48 tackles for loss for 234 yards |
DL |
CHRIS HUTCHINSON |
1989-92 |
Big Ten's top defensive lineman and an All-America pick in '92 |
DL |
MARK MESSNER |
1985-88 |
Two-time All-America holds UM record for tackles for loss (70) |
DL |
2003-06 |
Prolific pass rusher (24 sacks) won UM's only Lombardi award |
|
LB |
ERICK ANDERSON |
1988-91 |
Wolverines' lone Butkus winner racked up 428 career tackles |
LB |
GERMANY SCHULZ* |
1904-05,'07-08 |
One of the first true linebackers earned All-America in 1907 |
LB |
RON SIMPKINS |
1976-79 |
Michigan's alltime leading tackler (516) was '79 team MVP |
DB |
DAVE BROWN* |
1972-74 |
Two-time All-America also scored four TDs on returns |
DB |
TOM CURTIS* |
1967-69 |
Ball-hawking safety holds UM's career mark for interceptions |
DB |
TRIPP WELBORNE |
1987-90 |
Ferocious hitter earned All-America honors in 1989, '90 |
DB |
1995-97 |
The only primarily defensive player to win the Heisman, in '97 |
|
SPECIAL TEAMS |
|||
K |
REMY HAMILTON |
1994-96 |
School's only All-America kicker twice was a Groza finalist |
P |
MONTE ROBBINS |
1984-87 |
Holds three UM punting records, including punt average (42.8) |
KR |
1989-91 |
Multipurpose threat averaged 26.9 yards per kickoff return |
|
PR |
2003-06 |
The Big Ten's alltime leading punt returner (1,599) |
|
COACH |
BO SCHEMBECHLER* |
1969-89 |
Program icon went 194-48-5 and won or shared 13 Big Ten titles |
*Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame |
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1152114/index.htm
January 29th, 2012 at 9:26 PM ^
Running Back. Anthony Thomas for size, speed and production. Man won a NC as a true freshman, for heaven's sake. Tim Biakabutuka if only for the OSU game in 1995. A man among boys that day.
Center. Gerald R. Ford. Because otherwise all that stuff they say about the game building men and character means nothing. Plus, he was a pretty good center.
January 30th, 2012 at 12:55 AM ^
I don't know how many of you are old enough to have watched him, but Elvis Grbac was, in my opinion, the best QB I've ever seen play at Michigan. I had more faith in him on a week to week basis than I have in any QB I've seen play in the last 25 years.
January 30th, 2012 at 7:27 PM ^
Having been an avid UM fan since the late 70's I have to throw out a couple more.
Jon Wangler, he was the guy throwing to AC.
Butch Woolfolk, good numbers but even moreso a great clutch situation guy
Jay Riemersma was a pretty great TE catching and blocking equally well
Brian Greise was like a warm blanket at QB, could be trusted to take what they were giving, few mistakes.
I agree on Grbac, he is probably one of the most underrated and underappreciated Michigan players of the modern era. Desmond won a statue with him and we had a quarterback named ELVIS!!
Its too easy to let NFL exploits influence thinking on lists like this. Tom Brady being the obvious example.
January 30th, 2012 at 7:27 PM ^
Having been an avid UM fan since the late 70's I have to throw out a couple more.
Jon Wangler, he was the guy throwing to AC.
Butch Woolfolk, good numbers but even moreso a great clutch situation guy
Jay Riemersma was a pretty great TE catching and blocking equally well
Brian Greise was like a warm blanket at QB, could be trusted to take what they were giving, few mistakes.
I agree on Grbac, he is probably one of the most underrated and underappreciated Michigan players of the modern era. Desmond won a statue with him and we had a quarterback named ELVIS!!
Its too easy to let NFL exploits influence thinking on lists like this. Tom Brady being the obvious example.