25 best NFL players of all time from the SEC
By John Buhler
Dwight Stephenson
Center, Alabama Crimson Tide
The SEC has been a dominant football conference for a long time because it draws from the talent-rich Southeastern United States region for football talent. The disparity between the SEC and everybody else is well-documented in the trenches.
Center Dwight Stephenson was a huge reason for two National Championships in college at Alabama. After a few years in the NFL, Stephenson was universally recognized as the best center in the NFL during the 1980s.
Stephenson made five trips to the Pro Bowl and five All-Pro first team selections playing for Don Shula’s Miami Dolphins. He and quarterback Dan Marino fed off each others’ greatness during the 1980s as one of the best passing teams in football. In his prime, there may not have been a better player at his position than Stephenson was at center.
Unfortunately, Stephenson’s Hall of Fame NFL career was cut short by a ghastly knee injury suffered against the division rival New York Jets in 1987. He was only 30 when he had to abruptly hang up the spikes. To this day, Stephenson remains the gold standard for elite play at center.