College football: 150th anniversary all-time team – Legends never die
By Phil Poling
Third-Team Offense
Vince Young, Texas Longhorns, Quarterback
Young leads the third team after a storied 2005 season that netted him the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year award, the Davey O’Brien Award, the Manning Award, the Maxwell Award and a consensus All-American honor. He won the 2005 BCS National Championship Game against USC.
LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU Horned Frogs, Running Back
A two-time Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Tomlinson also won a Doak Walker Award and earned consensus All-American status in 2000. He tallied the second-most yards from scrimmage in 1999 (2,058) and led the country in 2000 (2,198).
Ricky Williams, Texas Longhorns, Running Back
Williams could’ve created a trophy room just from his 1997 and ’98 campaigns alone. He won a Heisman Trophy, back-to-back Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year awards, back-to-back Doak Walker Awards, a Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year and he was named a consensus All-American twice; he’s one of six players to amass at least 6,000 career rushing yards.
Anthony Carter, Michigan Wolverines, Wide Receiver
Carter earned consensus All-American honors twice and was named the Big Ten Player of the Year in 1982 for his efforts at wide receiver. He’s second all-time in the Big Ten with 37 receiving touchdowns.
Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Wide Receiver
Johnson proved his prowess to the football world in 2006 when he scored 15 touchdowns and was named a consensus All-American, the ACC Offensive Player of the Year, the ACC Player of the Year and the Biletnikoff Award winner.
Mike Ditka, Pittsburgh Panthers, Tight End
Ditka led the Panthers in receiving each of the three years he started for the program, including in 1960 when he was named a consensus All-American. He was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame just eight years later.
Dean Steinkuhler, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Tackle
A consensus All-American for Nebraska in 1983, Steinkuhler also took home the John Outland Trophy (Most Outstanding Interior Lineman) and the Vince Lombardi Award ((Lineman of the Year).
Cal Jones, Iowa Hawkeyes, Guard
A two-time consensus All-American, Jones was a staple on the Hawkeye offensive line from 1953 through 1955. He won the John Outland Trophy in 1955 and paved the way for back-to-back winning seasons, something Iowa wasn’t used to at the time.
Barrett Jones, Alabama Crimson Tide, Center
Jones won three national championships in four years while starting along the Alabama offensive line, although he shuffled through three of five positions. He was a two-time consensus All-American, an Outland Trophy winner and a Rimington Trophy winner.
Jim Parker, Ohio State Buckeyes, Guard
As a member of the Buckeyes, Parker won a national championship, paved the way for a Heisman Trophy winner, won the John Outland Trophy and was named a consensus All-American.
John Hicks, Ohio State Buckeyes, Tackle
Hicks finished second in the Heisman voting in 1973 while also winning the John Outland Trophy, the Vince Lombardi Award and consensus All-American status. He was the first Buckeye to play in three Rose Bowls.
Tim Brown, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, All-Purpose
The 1987 Heisman Trophy winner also won the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, in addition to being named a consensus All-American for his efforts on offense and special teams. Brown posted over 5,000 career all-purpose yards.