College Stars Who Don't Translate to the Pros

[military_irish]

College Heroes Who Don't Translate to the Pros

Pretty cool feature that is up, only 10 get released a day. Already one ND alum, Derek Brown.

 

[anarin]

Not a fan of the andy katzenmoyer pick. He had a neck injury that forced him out of the sport, how does that fit this list?

 

[Ben E.]

cool read...

 

[ACamp1900]

No suprise about Eric Crouch... in fact this list will be litered with option QBs... hell, it'll have a lot of NEBRASKA Qbs to begin with... If Katz and Kinnick can make the list with their circumstance you can add Charlie Ward at some point... Luke Staley... who was that kid from Air Force in the early 90's who had some Heisman hype??? clearly the major draft bust QBs will be loading the top of this list... Leaf number one would be a En Vouge choice...

Rick Mirer will be there somewhere

 

[woolybug25]

Rick Mirer will be there somewhere

Did you mean Powlus? Rick Mirer didn't tear the world up in the NFL, but he did have an 11 year career and won the 1993 AFC Rookie of the year. I would be suprised if he ended up on this list.

 

[kjk184]

If they can wait long enough they can save some spots for Pryor and Newton.

Jamarcus Russell should make this list. Maurice Clarette as well.

 

[ACamp1900]

Did you mean Powlus? Rick Mirer didn't tear the world up in the NFL, but he did have an 11 year career and won the 1993 AFC Rookie of the year. I would be suprised if he ended up on this list.

No. Mirer will most likely be on the list... this is a media poll... he was considered a bust by those in the media... in fact I believe I remember him being on a NFL network top ten busts of all time list... He's a big name, Notre Dame and knocking his career has been very en vouge over the past decade or so...

I almost mentioned his good start and all... but regardless... perception is reality with these things...

Powlus was never good enough in college to earn consideration here.

 

[irishpat183]

Tommy Frazier, Kijana Carter gotta make the list.

 

[irishpat183]

No. Mirer will most likely be on the list... this is a media poll... he was considered a bust by those in the media... in fact I believe I remember him being on a NFL network top ten busts of all time list... He's a big name, Notre Dame and knocking his career has been very en vouge over the past decade or so...

I almost mentioned his good start and all... but regardless... perception is reality with these things...

Powlus was never good enough in college to earn consideration here.

Exactly. If this was a "High school stars that don't live up too it in college" he'd be on that one. Ronnie had some ridiculious hype to live up too coming into college. Never would've lived up to it.

 

[ACamp1900]

Tommy Frazier, Kijana Carter gotta make the list.

there will def. be a lot of Nebraska QB's/RBs on this list... so many great talents that were just built for college offenses... TF was such a beast... his famous run in the Fiesta Bowl is easily my most memorable moment in cfb not involving Notre Dame.

 

[irishpat183]

No suprise about Eric Crouch... in fact this list will be litered with option QBs... hell, it'll have a lot of NEBRASKA Qbs to begin with... If Katz and Kinnick can make the list with their circumstance you can add Charlie Ward at some point... Luke Staley... who was that kid from Air Force in the early 90's who had some Heisman hype??? clearly the major draft bust QBs will be loading the top of this list... Leaf number one would be a En Vouge choice...

Rick Mirer will be there somewhere

Ward and Tommy Frazier are two of the most talent QB's I'd ever seen. They were awesome.

But I wouldn't put Ward on the list simply because he choose basketball. Had he TRIED the NFL and failed?? Then I'd add him.

 

[ACamp1900]

Ward and Tommy Frazier are two of the most talent QB's I'd ever seen. They were awesome.

But I wouldn't put Ward on the list simply because he choose basketball. Had he TRIED the NFL and failed?? Then I'd add him.

I would agree if I made the list... but by that logic then why is Kinnick on the list? Also, Ward was in the draft... and went undrafted, bet that gets mentioned...

 

[irishpat183]

there will def. be a lot of Nebraska QB's/RBs on this list... so many great talents that were just built for college offenses... TF was such a beast... his famous run in the Fiesta Bowl is easily my most memorable moment in cfb not involving Notre Dame.

Un-f***ing-believeable is what it was.

 

[irishpat183]

I would agree if I made the list... but by that logic then why is Kinnick on the list? Also, Ward was in the draft... and went undrafted, bet that gets mentioned...

Great point. I suppose it's because Kinnick actually had plans to go to the NFL before the war called on him???

I'm betting we'll be scratching our heads on more than a few of these....

 

[ACamp1900]

Great point. I suppose it's because Kinnick actually had plans to go to the NFL before the war called on him???

I'm betting we'll be scratching our heads on more than a few of these....

you're prob. right... Here I am expecting a well thought out consistent list, all while acknowledging those who make these lists will go with the obvious stroylines rather than accurately laying out their own case... so there you have it.

 

[beryirish]

You can pretty much put the majority of The Cleveland Browns' picks on this list....geez it's sad to think about. Couch is a good one and so was White.

 

[Riddickulous]

They implied that Rocket Ismail is going to be on this list. I never.

Guess 5,000 receiving yards isn't NFL success.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

My list of lesser known AA's that are legends at their school would include:

Rob Waldrop - DE Arizona
LeShoun Johnson - RB Northern Illinois
Troy Davis - RB Iowa State
John Copeland- DE Alabama
Anthony Thompson - RB Indiana
Tracy Rocker - DL Auburn
Shane Conlan - LB Penn State
Steve Entman - DT Washington (injury plagued career though)

 

[BGIF]

Not a fan of the andy katzenmoyer pick. He had a neck injury that forced him out of the sport, how does that fit this list?

Actually it fits the Author's title to a tee:

Saturday's All Right
Some college heroes never made it in the pros. Our rankings celebrate those players who are simply known for what they did on Saturdays

Katz will be remembered for playing on Saturdays not Sundays. A lot of these guys Katz, Dykes, Owens, Salaam suffered career ending injuries. Kinnick was a pilot killed in action in WWII.

Some had limited success on Sunday. Some never got to play on Sunday at all. Ernie Davis who broke the records of Jim Nance and Jim Brown at Syracuse (and considered better than Floyd Little and Larry Csonka). Davis was the first player taken in his NFL draft class but died of leukemia before ever playing pro ball. Outside of Roger Stauback few of the Navy or Army greats ever played in the NFL. After graduation from West Point Doc Blanchard (and others) tried to get a furlough from the U.S Army for the NFL season. It was post WWII but a number of congressmen raised the issue of commitment and fairness to other soldiers and the extended furloughs were denied. Blanchard made the Air Corps his career retiring as a Colonel. Glenn Davis met his military obligation but was past his prime when he got to the NFL. Pete Dawkins was career Army and became a Brigadier General.

I suspect the CFL (Rocket) , the WFL (Herschel Walker, Marcus DuPree), and MLB (Bo Jackson) will have a place as well as war and injuries. Bo was probably the greatest athlete I've ever seen but he only played 4 years in the NFL due to injury. He was the #1 pick but he refused to sign with Tampa because they wouldn't let him play baseball.


The title in the OP "College Hero's who don't translate to the pros" appears to be the poster's paraphrase. Check the article's Introduction:

Heisman Trophy winners. All-Americans. Hall of Famers.
Collectively, they were some of the greatest players in college football history. During their college careers, they led their teams to championships, and had nicknames like "Mr. Inside," "Rocket" and the "Boz." They were the real big men on campus.
But once the marching bands and pep rallies stopped, they barely made a ripple in pro football. Because of injuries, military commitments and other career decisions, many of the sport's legends never made an impact in the NFL.
Once the head of the class in college football, they can simply be known for what they did on Saturdays. -- Mark Schlabach

"Simply on Saturday" isn't a putdown. They were All-American on Saturdays.

Joe Montana is remembered more for Sundays than Saturdays. Joe was Pro Hall of Fame but not College Hall of Fame. He never made All-American.

 

[BleedBlue&Gold]

Reggie Brooks
Aaron Taylor
Heath Shuler
Shante Carver
Derrick Mayes

 

[Riddickulous]

Reggie Brooks
Aaron Taylor
Heath Shuler
Shante Carver
Derrick Mayes

Leon Hart
John Huarte
Jim Seymour
Terry Hanratty
Ken MacAfee
Allen Pinkett
Tony Rice
Chris Zorich

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Leon Hart
John Huarte
Jim Seymour
Terry Hanratty
Ken MacAfee
Allen Pinkett
Tony Rice
Chris Zorich

In Zorro's defense, he made the Pro Bowl in '93.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Courtney Brown and Gerard Warren???

Brian Bozworth?

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Tony Mandarich?

 

[BleedBlue&Gold]

My list of lesser known AA's that are legends at their school would include:

Rob Waldrop - DE Arizona
LeShoun Johnson - RB Northern Illinois
Troy Davis - RB Iowa State
John Copeland- DE Alabama
Anthony Thompson - RB Indiana
Tracy Rocker - DL Auburn
Shane Conlan - LB Penn State
Steve Entman - DT Washington (injury plagued career though
As for Conlan and I hate Penn State, he was a 3 time pro bowler and defensive rookie of the year. Oh I HATE MYSELF.

 

[laservet]

Troy Smith for sure, perennial clipboard holder.

Gholston. Once he entered the NFL where they test for steroids he disappeared. I have as many NFL sacks as this top 10 draft pick. In fact, at one point he would have earned almost $9 million for a single sack and couldn't do it. If he were brighter he would have offered a couple mil to his opponent to let him through for a sack.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Troy Smith for sure, perennial clipboard holder.

Gholston. Once he entered the NFL where they test for steroids he disappeared. I have as many NFL sacks as this top 10 draft pick. In fact, at one point he would have earned almost $9 million for a single sack and couldn't do it. If he were brighter he would have offered a couple mil to his opponent to let him through for a sack.

Add the irony of Clay Mathews thriving in the NFL with steroid testing, and Gholston looks even worse.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

My list of lesser known AA's that are legends at their school would include:

Rob Waldrop - DE Arizona
LeShoun Johnson - RB Northern Illinois
Troy Davis - RB Iowa State
John Copeland- DE Alabama
Anthony Thompson - RB Indiana
Tracy Rocker - DL Auburn
Shane Conlan - LB Penn State
Steve Entman - DT Washington (injury plagued career though
As for Conlan and I hate Penn State, he was a 3 time pro bowler and defensive rookie of the year. Oh I HATE MYSELF.

Good point. I don't remember him making a splash that big.

 

[Rocket89]

It's a pill we have to swallow.

 

[anarin]

Actually it fits the Author's title to a tee:



Katz will be remembered for playing on Saturdays not Sundays. A lot of these guys Katz, Dykes, Owens, Salaam suffered career ending injuries. Kinnick was a pilot killed in action in WWII.

Some had limited success on Sunday. Some never got to play on Sunday at all. Ernie Davis who broke the records of Jim Nance and Jim Brown at Syracuse (and considered better than Floyd Little and Larry Csonka). Davis was the first player taken in his NFL draft class but died of leukemia before ever playing pro ball. Outside of Roger Stauback few of the Navy or Army greats ever played in the NFL. After graduation from West Point Doc Blanchard (and others) tried to get a furlough from the U.S Army for the NFL season. It was post WWII but a number of congressmen raised the issue of commitment and fairness to other soldiers and the extended furloughs were denied. Blanchard made the Air Corps his career retiring as a Colonel. Glenn Davis met his military obligation but was past his prime when he got to the NFL. Pete Dawkins was career Army and became a Brigadier General.

I suspect the CFL (Rocket) , the WFL (Herschel Walker, Marcus DuPree), and MLB (Bo Jackson) will have a place as well as war and injuries. Bo was probably the greatest athlete I've ever seen but he only played 4 years in the NFL due to injury. He was the #1 pick but he refused to sign with Tampa because they wouldn't let him play baseball.


The title in the OP "College Hero's who don't translate to the pros" appears to be the poster's paraphrase. Check the article's Introduction:



"Simply on Saturday" isn't a putdown. They were All-American on Saturdays.

Joe Montana is remembered more for Sundays than Saturdays. Joe was Pro Hall of Fame but not College Hall of Fame. He never made All-American.

In short.. I don't think someone who had a career ending injury should be on a list like this. They should be on a list of players with promising careers that were cut short due to injury.

But hey.. it is what it is