Fansided

College football: 150th anniversary all-time team – Legends never die

By Phil Poling

TALLAHASSEE, FL - CIRCA 1988: Defensive back Deion Sanders #2 of the Florida State Seminoles winner of the 1988 Jim Thorpe Award, poses with the trophy circa 1988 at Doak Campbell Stadium at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - CIRCA 1988: Defensive back Deion Sanders #2 of the Florida State Seminoles winner of the 1988 Jim Thorpe Award, poses with the trophy circa 1988 at Doak Campbell Stadium at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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18 Sep 1999: Edward Reed #20 of the Miami Hurricanes carries the ball during the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The Nittany Lions defeated the Hurricanes 27-23.
18 Sep 1999: Edward Reed #20 of the Miami Hurricanes carries the ball during the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The Nittany Lions defeated the Hurricanes 27-23. /

First-Team Defense

Bruce Smith, Virginia Tech Hokies, Defensive End

An Outland Trophy winner and consensus All-American in 1984, Smith showed a glimpse into his future during his time at Virginia Tech. Known as the “Sack Master,” Smith amassed 46 career sacks as a member of the Hokies, including 22 as a junior.

Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Defensive Tackle

One of the most dominant single-season defensive efforts came from Suh in 2009. He cleaned up during awards season, being named the AP Player of the Year and the Big 12 Player of the Year, in addition to winning the Bronko Nagurski Award, the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Outland Trophy and the Vince Lombardi Award. Suh was also a consensus All-American and a Heisman finalist.

Merlin Olsen, Utah State Aggies, Defensive Tackle

The anchor for an Aggies’ defense that allowed only 6.5 and 7.8 points per game, respectively, during the 1960 and ’61 seasons, Olsen earned consensus All-American honors for those efforts. He was also awarded the Outland Trophy in 1961, given to the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman.

Ted Hendricks, Miami (FL) Hurricanes, Defensive End

Hendricks was two-time consensus All-American for the Miami Hurricanes in 1968 and ’69 before having his own trophy named after him. The Ted Hendricks Award, given to the defensive end of the year, has been awarded since 2002.

Derrick Thomas, Alabama Crimson Tide, Outside Linebacker

Thomas earned the Dick Butkus Award for being the nation’s best linebacker in 1988 and was named a consensus All-American after he tallied an NCAA-record 27 sacks in a single-season.

Mike Singletary, Baylor Bears, Middle Linebacker

A two-time consensus All-American, Singletary is the Baylor Bears’ all-time leading tackler with over 600 defensive stops. He anchored their first team to win 10 games in a single season in 1980.

Derrick Brooks, Florida State Seminoles, Outside Linebacker

For Florida State, Brooks was a two-time consensus All-American and the 1993 ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He helped steer their defense to a win in the 1993 national championship.

Deion Sanders, Florida State Seminoles, Cornerback

Another two-time consensus All-American for the Seminoles, Sanders also won the 1988 Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s most outstanding defensive back. More than just a threat on defense, Sanders tallied the most punt returns yards in college football in 1988.

Ed Reed, Miami (FL) Hurricanes, Safety

An elite safety for the ‘Canes, Reed was a two-time consensus All-American in addition to being named the 2001 Big East Defensive Player of the Year. He owns the record for career interceptions in the Big East with 21 and helped propel Miami to an undefeated Rose Bowl campaign in 2001.

Ronnie Lott, USC Trojans, Safety

A 1980 consensus All-American, Lott led the entire country in interceptions with eight that year. He also helped the Trojans’ defense in securing back-to-back Rose Bowl wins in 1978 and ’79.

Charles Woodson, Michigan Wolverines, Cornerback

Woodson is one of the most decorated defensive players in college football history having won a Heisman Trophy, the Bronko Nagurski Award, the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Jim Thorpe Award, a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year; he was also a consensus All-American and a gadget player for the Wolverines’ offense.