John Elway — Stanford (Pac-12) (1979-1982)
It is not hard to see Stanford’s legacy of producing talented quarterbacks — just think of Andrew Luck and Jim Plunkett — but John Elway definitely exemplifies that the best. He was the Pac-10 Player of the Year and a consensus All-American in 1982, which led to the Cardinal football program retiring his number. Elway went first overall to the Denver Broncos in the 1983 NFL Draft, and he more than lived up to the high selection. He was NFL MVP one season, a nine-time Pro Bowler, and a three-time All-Pro, but the sweetest part of his career came at the end – Elway won two consecutive Super Bowls, then retired on top.
John Elway — Stanford (Pac-12) (1979-1982)
Jim Brown — Syracuse (ACC) (1954-1956)
Over the years, some outstanding football talents have come from the Syracuse Orange, including Donovan McNabb, Marvin Harrison, Art Monk and Larry Csonka, but Jim Brown gets the nod for being arguably the most dominant player in football history. At Syracuse, Brown was named All-American fullback twice, including as a consensus selection in 1956. In the NFL, he trampled anyone who got in the way. His career may have lasted only nine seasons, but Brown was an All-Pro selection and Pro Bowler every single year, a league leader in rushing for eight seasons and a three-time NFL MVP. His average yards per game was more than 100 for his entire career, the only player in football history who can say that.
Jim Brown — Syracuse (ACC) (1954-1956)
