Familiar Ring: Anthony Davis Boasts Same Name as Gridiron Great

Kentucky freshman phenom Anthony Davis, pacing the nation in blocked shots, is a lock to become SEC Player of the Year and help UK become the first school ever to have 40 different individuals named as an All-American. But emerging on the scene during the time of year focusing extensively on college bowl games and the NFL playoffs, his name made some observers reminisce about someone else outside the world of basketball. Well-rounded sports fans remember Anthony Davis, a USC running back who was runner-up in the 1974 Heisman Trophy voting to Ohio State's Archie Griffin after scoring four touchdowns in a memorable nine-minute span to help the Trojans erase a 24-0 deficit against Notre Dame.

In the wake of Joe Paterno's passing, to what extent can this contrived name association be taken? Following is an alphabetical list of former basketball all-league first-team choices whose names have a more familiar ring in football:

Willie Brown, G, Texas Western (1961-62 in Border Conference)
Willie Brown, G, Middle Tennessee (1967-68 and 1968-69 in Ohio Valley)
Kevin Green, G, Loyola, Md. (1990-91 and 1991-92 in MAAC)
Charlie Johnson, G, California (1968-69 in Pacific-8)
Jerry Jones, F-C, Southern Illinois (1989-90 in Missouri Valley)
Chris Long, G, Elon (2010-11 in Southern)
Don Miller, G, Morehead State (1950-51 in Ohio Valley)
Joe Paterno, F, Fordham (1987-88 and 1988-89 in MAAC)
Carlos Rogers, C, Tennessee State (1992-93 and 1993-94 in Ohio Valley)
Jerry Smith, G-F, Furman (1960-61 through 1962-63 in Southern)
Jim Turner, F-C, Brown (1985-86 in Ivy League)
Charlie White, F, Oregon State (1965-66 in Pacific-8)
Randy White, C, Louisiana Tech (1987-88 and 1988-89 in American South)
Willie Woods, F, Eastern Kentucky (1969-70 in Ohio Valley)