Bruce Smith — Virginia Tech (ACC) (1981-1984)
Virginia Tech may have produced Michael Vick, the most exciting offensive player who has come from the school, but Bruce Smith is definitely the best Hokie football star ever. In 1984, he won the Outland Trophy, one of two seasons which he was a unanimous All-American while playing at Virginia Tech as a defensive end. He was first overall in the 1985 NFL Draft and went to the Buffalo Bills, becoming one of the league’s most imposing defenders of all time. Smith was an 11-time Pro Bowler and a 10-time All-Pro, eight of which was a first-team selection. Also, he was a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and still holds the record for most sacks at 200.
Bruce Smith — Virginia Tech (ACC) (1981-1984)
Bill George — Wake Forest (ACC) (1949-1952)
With roughly 8,000 students, Wake Forest is actually the smallest school which currently plays in a Power Five conference, but several memorable NFL stars have come from the program. Brian Piccolo and Norm Snead are two examples, with the former’s tragic story still making many football fans cry, but the best football player to ever come from Wake Forest has to be Bill George, who was the first football player to become an All-American in the Demon Deacons program. He went on to become a Chicago Bears middle linebacker and won an NFL championship. He was a consecutive eight-time Pro Bowler and an eight-time All-Pro before being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Bill George — Wake Forest (ACC)
