Syracuse University All-Century Team
8/24/2000 1:14:25 PM | Football
A two-time All-American (1995 & 1996) for SU who also excelled on special teams. Abrams led the Orangemen with six interceptions in 1995. He was the 54th overall pick in the 1997 NFL draft, and is currently a member of the Detroit Lions.
Joe Alexander- (OL 1916-20/team captain 1918 & 1920)
One of only two
Orangemen to ever be named an All-American three times (1918, 1919,
1920). Alexander was inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 1954.
He played center for the New York Giants from 1925-27.
Gary Anderson- (K 1978-81)
Anderson earned All-America honors in 1981
and currently ranks seventh on the SU all-time scoring leader list. He
still holds the record for most field goals made in a season (18) and
highest field goal percentage in a season (.947). Anderson has had 17
successful seasons in the NFL as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers,
Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and currently, the Minnesota
Vikings. He was selected to the all-AFC team in 1993 and was selected
to the Pro Bowl four times.
Jim Brown- (RB 1954-56)
Brown is the only athlete in the College
Football, Pro Football and Lacrosse Halls of Fame. He is the player all
running backs are measured against. Brown holds the SU record for most
touchdowns in a game (6), is second on the all-time list for most
touchdowns in a season (13) and fourth for most touchdowns in a career
(23). Brown is also eighth on the SU all-time scoring list. He earned
All-America honors in 1956 and finished fifth in the Heisman voting. A
first round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns in 1957, Brown played in
the NFL from 1957-65. He led the NFL in rushing eight of his nine years
as a player and was the scoring leader in 1958. Brown was inducted into
the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971 (his first year of eligibility),
and the College Hall of Fame in 1995. He was selected to the NFL Pro
Bowl nine straight seasons. Brown was the leading rusher in NFL history
when he retired in 1966. He is one of only three Orangemen to have
their NFL number retired.
Gary Bugenhagen- (OL 1965-66)
He earned All-America honors in 1966 and
was the winner of the Joseph Alexander Excellence in Football,
Scholarship, and Citizenship Award that year. A fourth round pick of
the Bills in 1967, Bugenhagen played tackle/guard in Buffalo for one
year before joining the Boston Patriots in 1970.
Rob Burnett- (DL 1987-89/team captain 1989)
Burnett is tied for first
on SU's single game sack record list (4) and also ranks fourth among the
SU career sack leaders with 18. A fifth round selection of the
Cleveland Browns, he is currently playing for the Baltimore Ravens.
Jim Collins- (LB 1976,78-80)
Collins holds numerous SU defensive
records including the career tackles (624), tackles in a game (42), and
tackles in a season (229). A second round draft pick of the Los Angeles
Rams in 1981, he played for the Rams from 1981-88 and for the San Diego
Chargers from 1989-90. Collins was a Pro Bowl selection for the Rams in
1986.
Dan Conley- (LB 1990-94/team captain 1994)
Conley was an inspirational
impact player who, in a promising career marred by injury, led the team
to two bowls, including the 1993 Fiesta Bowl victory over 10th ranked
Colorado. He ranks 11th on the SU career tackles list (321) and led the
team in tackles (126) in 1990).
Larry Csonka- (FB 1965-67/team captain 1967)
SU's bruising fullback
was named ECAC Player of the Year in 1967. Csonka earned All-America
honors in 1966 & 1967. He ranks second on SU's all-time rushing list
(2,934) and yards per game in a career (104.8). Csonka was selected
eighth overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 1968 draft and played 11
seasons in the NFL. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 1987 and was selected to the Pro Bowl five straight seasons. Csonka
was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989. "Zonk" was a
key member of the Dolphins undefeated Super Bowl champion team in 1974.
Donovin Darius- (DB 1994-97/team captain 1997)
Darius was a
three-year starter and fierce tackler who holds the SU career record for
most tackles made by a defensive back (379). He finished seventh on SU's
career interception list with 12. He was named an All-American in 1997
and was also selected as the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year.
Darius received the Bill Horr Most Valuable Player Award in 1997. He
played in the 1997 Senior Bowl. Darius was drafted 25th overall by the
Jacksonville Jaguars in 1998 where he currently starts at safety.
Roger Davis- (OL 1957-59)
Davis was a member of the 1959 O-Line
dubbed the "Sizable Seven". SU went undefeated and finished the year as
national champions led by an offense that averaged 451 yards per game.
Davis earned All-America honors in 1959 and was a first round pick of
the Chicago Bears in 1960. He played for the Bears from 1960-63, the
Los Angeles Rams in 1964 and the New York Giants from 1965-66.
Ernie Davis- (RB 1959-61)
The "Elmira Express" became the first
African-American to win the Heisman Trophy (1961), and the only SU
player to win the award. Davis led the Orange to a national
championship in 1959. He is seventh all-time on SU's career rushing
list (2,386). Davis holds the SU record for average yards per carry in
a game (15.7), season (7.8), and career (6.6). He was named an
All-American in 1960 & 1961. Davis was drafted first overall by the
Washington Redskins (then traded to the Cleveland Browns) in 1962.
Davis died of leukemia in 1963 and never played a down in the NFL,
however the Browns honored him by retiring #45 in his name. Davis was
inducted in 1979 to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Joe Ehrmann- (DL 1969-70,1972)
Ehrmann earned All-America honors in
1970. He was drafted 10th overall by the Baltimore Colts in 1973, where
he played from 1973-80. He finished his pro career playing for the
Detroit Lions from 1981-1982.
John Flannery- (C 1987-90/team captain 1990)
Flannery was named an
All-American in 1990. He was a second round draft pick of the Houston
Oilers in 1991. Flannery played for the Oilers from 1991-1994, the
Dallas Cowboys in 1997 and currently plays for the St. Louis Rams.
Bob Fleck- (DL 1951-53)
Fleck was honored as a two-time All-American
for SU (1952 & 1953). He was a second round draft pick of the Green Bay
Packers in 1954.
Paul Frase- (DL 1984-87/team captain 1987)
Frase helped lead SU to an
undefeated season (11-0-1) in 1987. He was drafted in 1988 by the New
York Jets and played 11 seasons in the NFL as a member of the Jets,
Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens.
Chris Gedney- (TE 1989-92)
Gedney ranks ninth on SU's career
receiving list (1,334) and ninth in career receptions (91). He was
named an All-American in 1992 and became a third round pick of the
Chicago Bears in 1993. He played with the Bears from 1993-96 and then
joined the Arizona Cardinals in 1997.
Marvin Graves
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Marvin Graves- (QB 1990-93/team captain 1993)
Graves holds SU passing
records for career yards (8,466), and yards gained in a
game/season/career, attempts in a game/season/career, completions in a
game/season/career, career completion percentage (.597), career yards
per attempt (9.0) and more. He was named the ECAC Rookie of the Year in
1990. Graves excelled in post-season play, winning the 1990 Aloha Bowl
Most Outstanding Player, 1992 Hall of Fame Bowl MVP and 1993 Fiesta Bowl
Offensive Player of the Game awards. He was drafted by the Toronto
Argonauts (Canadian Football League) in 1994. Played in the CFL from
1994-97.
Tim Green- (DL 1982-85/team captain 1985)
Green was selected as a
two-time All-American (1984 & 1985). He is tied for the SU record for
sacks in a game (4) and also holds Syracuse records for sacks in a
season (15) and in a career (45.5). He is also SU's career leader for
tackles made by a down lineman (341). Green was named ECAC Player of
the Year in 1985 and was a finalist for the Vince Lombardi Award that
year. He was a National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame
Scholar-Athlete in 1985 and was a two-time GTE/CoSIDA Academic
All-American (1984-85). Green was drafted 17th overall by the Atlanta
Falcons in 1986 and played for them from 1986-93.
Ted Gregory- (DL 1984-87)
A finalist for the Vince Lombardi Award in
1987, Gregory also earned All-America honors that same year. He was
selected as the Bill Horr Most Valuable Player in 1987. Gregory ranks
sixth all-time on SU's career sacks list (17). He was drafted 26th
overall by the Denver Broncos in 1988.
Vic Hanson- (DL 1924-26/team captain 1926)
Inducted into the College
Football Hall of Fame in 1973, Hanson is the only player in both the
college football and basketball halls of fame. Hanson was named an
All-American in 1926. He later recorded a 33-21 record as head coach of
the Orange in the 1930's.
Marvin Harrison- (WR 1992-95/team captain 1995)
Harrison is among the
leaders in numerous SU receiving categories. Harrison holds the record
for most yards gained in a season (1,131) and in a career (2,728). He
is also fifth all-time on SU's all-purpose yards list (3,415). Harrison
was also named an All-American as a kick returner in 1995. He was
drafted 19th overall by the Indianapolis Colts in 1996 and was selected
to the NFL All-Rookie team.
Bill Horr- (OL 1905-08/team captain)
Horr was regarded as an
outstanding athlete and was a 1908 consensus All-American as an
offensive lineman. The Bill Horr Most Valuable Player Award is
presented annually in his honor.
Kevin Johnson
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Kevin Johnson- (KR 1996-98)
Johnson holds the SU record with four
career kickoff returns for touchdowns. He had 98 career receptions
(sixth), including 60 in 1998, which established an SU single-season
record. He led the BIG EAST in receiving touchdowns (9) and was secondin receiving yards (894) in 1998. Johnson was voted BIG EAST SpecialTeams Player of the Year in 1998 and was named to the First Team All-BIG
EAST both as a wide receiver and kick returner. Johnson also received
All-American honors in 1998. He played in the 1998 Senior Bowl and was
selected as the first player in the second round of the 1999 draft by
the Cleveland Browns.
Daryl Johnston- (FB 1985-88/team captain 1988)
Nicknamed "The Moose,"
Johnston was named the winner of the Bill Horr Most Valuable Player
Award (1988) and the Mark Hoffman Outstanding Back Award (1986 & 1987).
The Dallas Cowboys selected him in the second round of the 1989 NFL
draft. Johnston is a two-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, and three-time
Super Bowl champion. He was the only fullback selected to the 1994 NFC
Pro Bowl team.
Floyd Little
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Floyd Little- (RB 1964-66/team captain 1966)
Little became one of only
two Orangemen to ever earn All-America honors all three years of his
college career (1964,1965 & 1966). He was named ECAC Player of the Year
in 1966. Little was honored as a National Football Foundation and
College Hall of Fame inductee in 1983. He holds the SU record for
rushing TD's (35). He ranks second only to Joe Morris on SU's career
all-purpose yards list (4,928). Little finished fifth in Heisman Trophy
Award voting in both 1965 and 1966. He played for the Denver Broncos
from 1967-75 and led the league in rushing in 1970 and 1971. Little was
selected to the Pro Bowl five times during his career, and was honored
by the Broncos by having his number (#44) retired.
John Mackey- (TE 1960-62)
Mackey is considered by many to be greatest
tight end of all-time. He was selected to play in the Coaches
All-America All-Star Game (1963), the College All-Star Game (1963), the
East-West Shrine All-Star Game (1962), and the Hula Bowl All-Star Game
(1963). The Baltimore Colts drafted Mackey in the second round in 1963,
where he remained until 1971. Mackey's NFL career ended in 1972 with
the San Diego Chargers. He was a five-time Pro Bowl selection (1964,
1966-69). Mackey was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1992. He
also fought to establish free agency in the NFL.
Donovan McNabb
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Donovan McNabb- (QB 1995-98/team captain 1998)
McNabb was a three-time
BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a four-time, first
team selection - the first player to be so honored. He was named BIG
EAST and the ECAC Rookie of the Year in 1995. He holds the SU career
records for total offense (9,950) and career touchdowns (77). McNabb was
named the MVP of the 1996 Gator Bowl. He played in the 1998 Senior
Bowl. McNabb was chosen BIG EAST Player of the Year in 1998 by Football
News. He was selected second overall in the 1999 NFL draft by the
Philadelphia Eagles.
Don McPherson
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Don McPherson- (QB 1985-87/team captain 1987)
McPherson finished
second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1987, after guiding SU to an
undefeated regular season and Sugar Bowl berth. He was the winner of
the 1987 Gold Helmet College Player of the Year, Davey O'Brien and
Johnny Unitas Awards. McPherson was named the ECAC Player of the Year
in 1987 and earned All-America honors that year. He was the Sugar Bowl
MVP in 1988. In 1988, he also played in several post-season games
including the Senior Bowl, Japan All-Star game, East-West Shrine Game
and the Hula Bowl. McPherson was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in
1988 and played four seasons in the NFL and three years in the Canadian
Football League.
Kevin Mitchell- (LB 1990-93)
Mitchell was named BIG EAST first-team
in 1992. He was the winner of the Bill Horr MVP Award (1992-93) and the
Ben Schwartzwalder Award (1991). He holds the SU single-season record
for solo tackles by a down lineman (64) and is eighth overall in career
solo tackles (203). Mitchell was selected as the Defensive Player of
the Game in the 1993 Fiesta Bowl. He played in the 1994 Senior Bowl.
In 1994, he was drafted in the second round by the San Francisco 49ers,
where he immediately won a Super Bowl ring. Mitchell played for the
49ers from 1994-97, before joining the New Orleans Saints, where he
currently plays.
Art Monk- (WR 1976-79)
Monk was the last player to lead SU in receiving
yards for three straight seasons (1977-79). He holds the SU record for
most receptions in a game (14). Monk ranks fourth on the SU career
all-purpose yards list (3,899) and sixth on SU's all-time career
receiving list (102). Monk was named an All-American in 1979. He was
drafted 18th overall by the Redskins in 1980. Monk played for the
Skins from 1980-1993, and finished his career with the NY Jets in
1994. He holds several NFL receiving records and was a three-time Pro
Bowl Selection (1985-87).
Rob Moore
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Rob Moore- (WR 1987-89)
Moore holds the SU record for career
receiving touchdowns (22), receptions by a junior (53), and average
yards per game in a career (75.8). He ranks third all-time on the SU
career receiving list (2,122) and receptions (106). Moore was drafted
in the first round of the 1990 supplemental draft by the New York Jets.
He was selected to the NFL All-Rookie Team (1990) and the Pro Bowl (1995
& 1998). He has played in the NFL for the Jets (1990-94) and the
Arizona Cardinals (1995-present).
Joe Morris
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Joe Morris- (RB 1978-81/team captain 1980)
Morris is SU's
career-rushing leader (4,299), who averaged 5.3 yards per carry. He
returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in the first game played in
the Carrier Dome and later that season was named ECAC Offensive Player
of the Year (1980). Morris averaged 146.9 all-purpose yards per game
over his career. He rushed for six consecutive 100-yard games. He
holds the SU record for rushing yards by a sophomore (1,372), and holds
the SU mark for most yards gained in a single game (252), most 100 yard
games in a career (22), and is second only to Ernie Davis in career
rushing touchdowns (25). Morris was named the Independence Bowl
Outstanding Offensive Player in 1979, and was the winner of the Mark
Hoffman Outstanding Back Award in 1981. Morris was drafted in the
second round by the New York Giants in 1982, and played for the Giants
from 1982-89 and the Cleveland Browns from 1991-92. He was named to the
All-NFC Team in 1986, and was a Pro Bowl selection in 1986 and 1987.
Tommy Myers- (DB 1969-71)
Myers earned All-America honors in 1971 and
holds the SU record for interceptions in a single-season (8). He also
ranks second on SU's all-time interception list (18). Myers led the
team in interceptions for three straight years (1969, 1970, 1971). He
played in the 1971 East-West Shrine Game, and College All-Star Game and
Hula Bowl in 1972. A third round selection of the New Orleans Saints in
1972, he remained a member of their organization until 1983. Myers was
a Pro Bowl selection for the Saints in 1980.
Pat O'Neill- (P 1990-93)
O'Neill holds the SU record for the highest
average yards per punt in a game (55.2). He also kicked a 50-yard field
goal, one of the longest in SU history. O'Neill was named to the BIG
EAST Academic Honor Roll in 1992 & 1993 and was a GTE/CoSIDA Academic
All-American in 1993. A fifth round draft pick of New England, he
played for the New England Patriots in 1994 and 1995 and Chicago Bears
in 1995.
Markus Paul- (DB 1985-88/team captain 1988)
Paul holds the SU record
for career interceptions (19) and the most tackles for a defensive back
(285). He earned All-America honors in 1988. Paul was a finalist for
the Jim Thorpe Award in 1987 & 1988. In 1989 he was selected to play in
the East-West Shrine game. He was a fourth round draft pick of the
Chicago Bears where he played from 1989-93. Paul also played for the
Tampa Bay Bucaneers in 1994. He is currently the assistant strength and
conditioning coach for the New Orleans Saints.
Jim Ridlon- (DB 1954-56)
Ridlon ranks eighth on the SU career
interception list (11) and was selected to play in the 1957 College
All-Star Game. He was the winner of the Joseph Alexander Excellence in
Football, Scholarship and Citizenship Award in 1956. Also in 1956, he
became the first recipient of the Pat Miller Outstanding Athlete,
Student, Citizen Award. A fourth round draft pick for the San Francisco
49ers in 1957, Ridlon played with the 49ers through 1962, and for the
Dallas Cowboys in 1963 and 1964.
Jim Ringo- (C 1950-52)
Ringo was an outstanding center for SU who was
drafted in 1953 by the Green Bay Packers. He played for the Packers
from 1953-63 and with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1964-67. He is
recognized as one of the best lineman in pro football history. Ringo
was a ten-time Pro Bowl selection (1958-66, 68) and was inducted into
the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1981.
Walt Sweeney- (OL 1960-62) Sweeney helped open the holes for Ernie
Davis during his Heisman Trophy season. He was recognized as one of the
top players in the country when he played in the North-South Game
(1962), Coaches All-Star Game (1963), Senior Bowl (1963), and Coaches
All-America Game (1963). He became a first round pick of the San Diego
Chargers in 1963. Sweeney played for the Chargers from 1963-73, then
joined the Washington Redskins for 1974 & 1975. He was an eight-time
Pro Bowl selection (1965-68, 1970-73).
Arthur Thoms- (DL 1966-68)
Thoms was a three-year starter at defensive
tackle and earned All-America honors at SU. He was selected for the
Bill Horr Most Valuable Player Award in 1968. Thoms played in the
East-West Shrine Game (1968), Senior Bowl (1968), Coaches All-America
Game (1969), Coaches All-Star Game (1969), and Hula Bowl (1969) post
season games while at SU. A first round draft pick of the Oakland
Raiders in 1969, Thoms played for the Raiders from 1969-75 and the
Philadelphia Eagles in 1976. He was voted a four-time All Pro and was a
member of the Raiders Super Bowl XI team.
Stan Walters- (OL 1970-71)
Walters' stellar play earned him a berth
on the 1971 Senior Bowl and Blue-Gray post-season teams. Walters was
drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1972 following a distinguished
career at Syracuse. He played for the Bengals form 1972-74 and the
Philadelphia Eagles from 1974-83. Walters was a Pro Bowl selection for
the Eagles in 1979 & 80.
Craig Wolfley- (OL 1976-79/team captain 1979)
Wolfley's strong play
resulted in him being named to the Blue-Gray Game in 1979. He was the
winner of the Pat Miller Outstanding Athlete, Student, Citizen Award in
1979. A fifth round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1980, Wolfley
played for the Steelers from 1980-88 and the Minnesota Vikings from
1989-91.
Terry Wooden
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Terry Wooden- (LB 1986-89/team captain 1989)
Wooden ranks second on
SU's all-time sacks list (23) and is seventh in single-season sacks
(9). He played in the East-West Shrine game and Hula Bowl in 1990.
Wooden was a second round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 1990 and
played for the Seahawks from 1990-96 and for the Oakland Raiders in
1998.
Bob Yates- (OL 1958-59)
Yates earned All-America honors in 1959 and
played in the 1960 Senior Bowl. He was the winner of the Pat Miller
Outstanding Athlete, Student, Citizen Award in 1959. Yates was drafted
by the New York Giants in 1960 and played professionally for the Boston
Patriots from 1960-65.
