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Jerry Rice, Walter Payton and the 30 best HBCU football players of all time

By Dante Pryor

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 28: Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball against the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XXIV on January 28, 1990 at the Super Dome in New Orleans, LA. The 49ers won the Super Bowl 55-10. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 28: Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball against the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XXIV on January 28, 1990 at the Super Dome in New Orleans, LA. The 49ers won the Super Bowl 55-10. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
(Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

15. William “Willie” Lanier, middle linebacker. Morgan State

There was a time in football history where blacks were not considered competent enough to play three positions, quarterback, center and middle linebacker. Willie Lanier shattered those notions becoming the first professional black player to become an NFL middle linebacker while a member of the Chiefs.

With the 50th pick in the NFL draft, the Kansas City Chiefs drafted Lanier in the third round in 1967. Before the NFL, Lanier was a standout linebacker for the Morgan State Bears. Under head coach Earl Banks, Lanier was a two-time All-American at Morgan State.

Though Lanier was known for a rugged, physical style of play, he had 27 career interceptions. Lanier would also be honored to be part of one of the most talented fronts in NFL history.

At 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds, Lanier could play in today’s NFL with his ability to play the run and the pass with equal mastery. Chief’s teammate Jerry Mays called him “Contact” because he played all three downs.

After one of the most impressive careers the sport had ever, Lanier was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986

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