Our series continues on the best players ever to wear the uniform of a current Big Ten program.
Remember, this is not to serve as a judgment on NFL careers. It’s based entirely on each player’s college career and how it was viewed in his respective time period.
Up next are the linebackers.
Dick Butkus, Illinois, 1962-64: Is there any doubt? This one is every bit as obvious as Bronko Nagurski at defensive tackle. Butkus wrote the book on great linebacker play. Annually, as you know, the top linebacker in the game is presented with the Butkus Award.