George McAfee — Duke (ACC) (1937-1939)
Duke has produced old-school football heroes including Clarkston Hines and Sonny Jurgensen, but it has been a while since a memorable player came from the Blue Devils. George McAfee was among the school’s first legitimate football stars, and arguably its best. In the 1930s, McAfee played for Duke and was a three-way player for the team, leading in stat categories on defense, offense and special teams. His NFL career was the Hall-of-Fame kind and he played for the Chicago Bears, though his career was divided since he served in the Navy for several years during the Second World War. With the Bears, he won four NFL championships and he still holds the NFL record for punt returns.
George McAfee — Duke (ACC) (1937-1939)
Emmitt Smith — Florida (SEC) (1987-1989)
Apologies to Gators like Tim Tebow and Maurkice Pouncey, but when the greatest rusher in the history of football came from your school, you are taking the back seat. In the late 1980s, Emmitt Smith played at Florida and was already outstanding even during his freshman season, having been an All-SEC first-team selection in all of the three seasons of his college football career. He went on to become an icon in the NFL while playing for the Dallas Cowboys, whom he helped win three Super Bowls. He also made the Pro Bowl eight times, was named to five All-Pro squads, and holds the NFL’s record for career rushing yards, a record that he may always have.
Emmitt Smith — Florida (SEC) (1987-1989)
