On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 5 NFL Gridiron

January 5th, 2024 - 9:39

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ cover boy #ColonKrapernick tried to pinpoint where Iran is on a map before politicized multiple anthems and NFL funding anti-cop activist groups, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoops selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on January 5 in football at the professional level (especially Antwaan Randle El in wild-card playoff games following 2002 and 2007 seasons):

JANUARY 5

  • New England Patriots LB Don Blackmon (collected 42 points and 32 rebounds in 12 games for Tulsa in 1977-78) registered two sacks in a 27-20 AFC divisional-round playoff win against the Oakland Raiders following 1985 season. Brad Van Pelt (averaged 3.6 ppg and 2.4 rpg for Michigan State in 1970-71 and 1971-72) was starting LOLB for the Raiders.

  • Boston Patriots DE Larry Eisenhauer (collected 14 points and 18 rebounds in four basketball games for Boston College in 1959-60) recovered a fumble in 51-10 setback against the San Diego Chargers in AFL Championship following 1963 season.

  • Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson hooper for seven games in 2010-11 under coach Brad Brownell) caught five passes for 37 yards in a 21-7 setback against the Indianapolis Colts in AFC wild-card game following 2018 season.

  • San Diego Chargers DT Ernie Ladd (intended on only playing hoops for Grambling before legendary coach Eddie Robinson got him to play football) had a sack in 51-10 win against the Boston Patriots in AFL championship game following 1963 season. Pats rookie WR Art Graham (collected one point and three rebounds in two basketball games for Boston College in 1961-62) caught two passes for 68 yards.

  • Jacksonville Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis (collected nine points and four rebounds in seven UCLA basketball contests in 2002-03 under coach Steve Lavin) caught two passes in a 31-29 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC wild-card game following 2007 season.

  • San Francisco 49ers WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) had nine pass receptions for 177 yards - including two touchdowns from Jeff Garcia (76 and 26 yards) - in a 39-38 wild-card win against the New York Giants following 2002 season. Owens also had a 25-yard pass completion to WR Tai Streets (collected four points and seven rebounds in 13 games for Michigan's NIT titlist in 1997 under coach Steve Fisher), who caught game-winning TD pass from Garcia with one minute remaining in fourth quarter. Giants CB Jason Sehorn (averaged 12.5 ppg and 6 rpg for Shasta Community College CA in 1990-91) intercepted one of Garcia's passes.

  • Rookie WR Antwaan Randle El (member of Indiana's 1999 NCAA Tournament team coached by Bob Knight) returned a punt 66 yards for the Pittsburgh Steelers' first touchdown and also contributed five pass receptions for 85 yards in 36-33 AFC wild-card playoff win against the Cleveland Browns following 2002 season. Five years later, Randle El had a seven-yard TD reception for the Washington Redskins' first score among his game-high 10 catches in 35-14 NFC wild-card playoff setback against the Seattle Seahawks following 2007 campaign.