Y.A. Tittle — Louisiana State (SEC) (1944-1947)
Like some other SEC schools, picking only one player from LSU is a tough task, but between Y.A. Tittle and Patrick Peterson, who are fairly evenly matched, the former gets the nod. In the mid-1940s, Tittle’s career as a quarterback for the Tigers was pretty solid but when he went pro, he became a legend. In the NFL, he made seven Pro Bowls, was a four-time first-team All-Pro, and was a league MVP. Considered a legend with the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers, he went to three consecutive championship games with the Giants in the 1960s.
Y.A. Tittle — Louisiana State (SEC) (1944-1947)
Johnny Unitas — Louisville (ACC) (1951-1954)
At the football stadium of the University of Louisville, there is a statue of Johnny Unitas which all the players touch prior to each home game, so it is pretty clear what his legacy means to the school that he attended. At Louisville, Unitas enjoyed a solid career and was a three-way player of the game, but he was not an All-American and spent plenty of time nursing injuries. In the NFL, he was a longtime Baltimore Colts quarterback and became one of the early football stars in the nation. He won a Super Bowl and three NFL championships with the Colts, made ten Pro Bowls and eight All-Pro teams and was a three-time NFL MVP. With all due respect to Louisville icons like Deion Branch, Tom Jackson and Elvis Dumervil, “The Golden Arm” cannot be topped.
Johnny Unitas — Louisville (ACC) (1951-1954)
