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The NFL has taken the locks off the doors and several players from historically black colleges and universities have signed free agent contracts with teams. This got us thinking again. Who are the top 25 players to come out of historically black colleges and universities?

The first thing we realize was the pool was too big. Lets limited it to the modern era. The modern era will be defined as players that attended a HBCU beginning in 1970 or later.

http://hbcusportsonline.com/media/2011/ ... odern-era/

From the standpoint of pro performance ...

I would tend to go with Jerry Rice, but he was surrounded by superior talent. I'll go with Walter Payton, then, on offense.

I'm going outside your historical envelop on defense with Deacon Jones.

Aho Old Guy wrote:From the standpoint of pro performance ...

I would tend to go with Jerry Rice, but he was surrounded by superior talent. I'll go with Walter Payton, then, on offense.

I'm going outside your historical envelop on defense with Deacon Jones.

I meant to post a link but I goofed. I added it now.

1- Walter Payton best football player of all time, any division, any era, any way you want to slice it.

Better than Jerry Rice, better than Jim Brown, the only two who come remotely near.

houndawg wrote:1- Walter Payton best football player of all time, any division, any era, any way you want to slice it.

Uh, no. Barry Sanders was better and would have the all-time rushing record if he hadn't decided to retire in his prime. Also, Jim Brown dominated his era more than any other player.

houndawg wrote:1- Walter Payton best football player of all time, any division, any era, any way you want to slice it.

Better than Jerry Rice, better than Jim Brown, the only two who come remotely near.

I'm sure there are people who will want to debate that.

Sure, I'll take Payton over Rice, particularly considering professional results compared to surrounding talent. But one might want to also consider folk like Marion Motley, who doesn't get much pub today. And, in college football terms (expanding from HBCUs to college football in general), people forget that Jackie Robinson was a pretty good halfback for UCLA before he went to the Trolley Dodgers.

I don't think any one player is clearly the best. I wouldn't have a problem with Rice, Payton, Brown, Edwards, etc. being ranked #1

Barry Sanders went to Oklahoma State, which is not a HBCU

rebla 49er wrote:Barry Sanders went to Oklahoma State, which is not a HBCU

Correct....however, he is still the best RB ever....IMO

He was spell-binding. I think Jahvid Best has a lot of his qualities right now for the Lions and apparently broke some Lions rookie records. Wait and seeeee......

rebla 49er wrote:Barry Sanders went to Oklahoma State, which is not a HBCU

Of course not (neither did Jim Brown), but houndawg made the argument that Payton was the best back from anywhere, not just HBCUs.

Mvemjsunpx wrote:

rebla 49er wrote:Barry Sanders went to Oklahoma State, which is not a HBCU

Of course not (neither did Jim Brown), but houndawg made the argument that Payton was the best back from anywhere, not just HBCUs.

Wrong. Houndawg made the argument that he was the best football player from anywhere. He could run, He could catch he could throw, and he could block.

Of course not (neither did Jim Brown), but houndawg made the argument that Payton was the best back from anywhere, not just HBCUs.

Yup. Thanks