Chuck Howley — West Virginia (Big 12) (1955-1957)
This one was not a tough call because there is no doubt that Chuck Howley is the best football player to ever come from the program. With the Mountaineers, Howley was the 1957 conference player of the year and a three-time all-conference pick, while he played on the offensive line. In the NFL, he switched to linebacker and he was dominant, winning a Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys in 1972. In addition, he is the only player in the history of the NFL who was named Super Bowl MVP from the losing team, which happened in 1971. He made six Pro Bowl and six All-Pro teams.
Chuck Howley — West Virginia (Big 12) (1955-1957)
Mike Webster — Wisconsin (Big Ten) (1971-1973)
This was a toss-up between Joe Thomas and Mike Webster, but the latter’s Super Bowl wins and long NFL career decided it. At Wisconsin, Webster played center and was a two-time All-Big Ten selection, which made him stand out and noticed by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Webster spent almost his entire NFL career with the Steelers, holding the franchise record for the most seasons and games played, and he was part of four teams there that was legendary and Super Bowl-winning. He was a nine-time Pro Bowler, seven-time first-team All-Pro selection, and a Pro Football Hall of Famer. His death at 50 years old and his brain’s posthumous examination revealed that he was the first player to ever be diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and this has drastically changed how concussions in football are viewed in recent years.
Mike Webster — Wisconsin (Big Ten) (1971-1973)
