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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ATHENS, GA – OCTOBER 8, 2004: David Pollack, #47 defensive end for the University of Georgia Bulldogs calls play in the huddle at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by University of Georgia/Collegiate Images/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA – OCTOBER 8, 2004: David Pollack, #47 defensive end for the University of Georgia Bulldogs calls play in the huddle at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by University of Georgia/Collegiate Images/Getty Images) /

Second-Team Defense

Grant Wistrom, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Defensive End

Wistrom was a two-time consensus All-American for Nebraska in addition to being named a back-to-back Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 1996 and ’97. He was also named the Vince Lombardi Award winner in 1997.

Joe Greene, North Texas Mean Green, Defensive Tackle

In addition to Greene’s three All-Missouri Valley Conference selections, he was a consensus All-American in 1968 for North Texas. His dominance along the line of scrimmage propelled his team to a 23-5-1 record during his three seasons.

Reggie White, Tennessee Volunteers, Defensive Tackle

In 1983, White was named the SEC Player of the Year in addition to being named a consensus All-American. He amassed 32 career sacks, second all-time in Volunteer history

Leon Hart, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Defensive End

The largest Heisman Trophy winner at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Hart played both offense and defense for the Fighting Irish. He won the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award in 1949, in addition to being named a two-time consensus All-American.

Tommy Nobis, Texas Longhorns, Outside Linebacker

Aside from being named a consensus All-American in 1965, the Longhorns’ Nobis won the John Outland Trophy and the Maxwell Award. He also led a Texas defense that won the 1963 national championship versus Navy.

Dick Butkus, Illinois Fighting Illini, Middle Linebacker

A two-time consensus All-American at Illinois, Butkus played both center and linebacker. He amassed over 350 career tackles and was twice a Heisman Trophy finalist.

David Pollack, Georgia Bulldogs, Outside Linebacker

Pollack was a two-time consensus All-American for the Bulldogs, in addition to winning a slew of other awards. He was named the 2002 SEC Player of the Year, the 2004 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, a two -timeTed Hendricks Award winner, a Bednarik Award, a Lombardi Award and a Ronnie Lott Trophy.

Champ Bailey, Georgia Bulldogs, Cornerback

Another consensus All-American for Georgia, Bailey won the 1998 Bronko Nagurski Award for the nation’s top defensive player. He contributed in all three phases, too, playing offense and special teams while starring on defense.

Jack Tatum, Ohio State Buckeyes, Safety

A two-time consensus All-American for the Buckeyes, Tatum also earned first-team Big Ten honors three years in a row. Tatum and the Buckeyes were 2-1 against famed-rival Michigan, and Ohio State won a national championship during his time in Columbus.

Dave Brown, Michigan Wolverines, Safety

Brown was a two-time consensus All-American in the Wolverine secondary while starting over 30 games in his career. He was the top cover-guy for a Bo Schembechler team that won 10 games in three consecutive seasons.

Kenny Easley, UCLA Bruins, Cornerback

A three-time consensus All-American for the UCLA Bruins, Easley starred on special teams in addition to his cornerback position on defense. He led the Pac-10 in interceptions back-to-back seasons with six and seven picks in 1977 and 1978.