On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 12 NFL Postseason

January 12th, 2024 - 11:25

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ cover boy #ColonKrapernick tried to pinpoint where Iran is on a map before politicized multiple anthems and hug-a-thug 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 12 in football at the professional level (especially Weeb Ewbank and Bud Grant coaching Super Bowl teams and Preston Pearson playing for two separate teams in SB six years apart):

JANUARY 12

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE Rickey Dudley (averaged 13.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg as senior in 1994-95 when leading Ohio State in rebounding and finishing third in scoring) caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Brad Johnson (part-time starting forward for Florida State as freshman in 1987-88 when averaging 5.9 ppg and shooting 89.1% from free-throw line) in 31-6 NFC divisional-round playoff win against the San Francisco 49ers following 2002 season. Johnson threw two second-quarter TD passes. Niners WR Tai Streets (collected four points and seven rebounds in 13 games for Michigan's NIT titlist in 1997 under coach Steve Fisher) caught five passes for 62 yards.

  • Weeb Ewbank (hoops letterman for Miami OH in 1926-27 and 1927-28) coached the New York Jets to a 16-7 victory against the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III following 1968 season. Jets LCB Johnny Sample (freshman hooper for Maryland-Eastern Shore) had an interception plus five solo tackles, Colts RDE Ordell Braase (All-North Central Conference first-team selection for South Dakota in 1952-53 and 1953-54) registered a solo tackle and Colts TEs Tom Mitchell (averaged 6.1 ppg and 9.4 rpg in 10 basketball games for Bucknell in 1963-64) and John Mackey (collected 28 points and 28 rebounds for Syracuse in six basketball contests in 1960-61) combined for four pass receptions for 50 yards. Colts RB Preston Pearson (averaged 5.2 ppg and 3.6 rpg for Illinois from 1964-65 through 1966-67) returned two kickoffs for 59 yards.

  • TE Darren Fells (averaged 10.2 ppg and 6.3 rpg from 2004-05 through 2007-08, leading UCI in rebounding each of last three seasons) gave the Houston Texans a 20-0 lead with first-quarter touchdown reception but they lost 51-31 against the Kansas City Chiefs in AFC divisional-round playoff game following 2019 season.

  • Green Bay Packers TE Jimmy Graham (part-time starter for Miami FL averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 2005-06 through 2008-09) caught three passes for 49 yards in 28-23 win against the Seattle Seahawks in NFC divisional-round game following 2019 season.

  • Bud Grant (third-leading scorer for Minnesota in 1948-49 after named team MVP previous season over first-team All-American Jim McIntyre) coached the Minnesota Vikings when they suffered a 16-6 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl IX following 1974 season. LB Matt Blair (member of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M's seventh-place hoops team in 1970 NJCAA Tournament) accounted for the Vikes' lone score with a fourth-quarter blocked punt. DL teammates Gary Larsen (Concordia MN hooper in early 1960s) and Bob Lurtesma (averaged 12.5 ppg for Michigan Tech in 1962-63) provided one solo tackle and one sack, respectively. Steelers RB Preston Pearson (averaged 5.2 ppg and 3.6 rpg for Illinois from 1964-65 through 1966-67) returned one kickoff for 15 yards.

  • Carolina Panthers WLB Greg Hardy (Mississippi hooper in 2006-07 under coach Andy Kennedy) had one solo tackle and two quarterback hits in 23-10 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in NFC divisional-round playoff game following 2013 season.

  • Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson hooper for seven games in 2010-11 under coach Brad Brownell) caught nine passes for 118 yards in a 51-31 setback against the Kansas City Chiefs in AFC divisional-round game following 2019 season.

  • Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones (collected six points and six assists in eight basketball games for Texas-El Paso in 2013-14 under coach Tim Floyd) rushed for two second-quarter touchdowns in 28-23 win against the Seattle Seahawks in NFC divisional-round playoff game following 2019 season.

  • Baltimore Ravens WR Jacoby Jones (part-time starter averaged 3.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg for Lane TN in 2004-05 and 2005-06) caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco with 31 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the score before they won against the Denver Broncos, 38-35, in double overtime in AFC divisional-round playoff game following 2012 season.

  • Jacksonville Jaguars WR Matt Jones (started two of his 11 Arkansas games in 2001-02 when averaging 4.2 ppg and 2.3 rpg and 10 of 17 in 2003-04 when averaging 5 ppg and 4.5 rpg) opened game's scoring with an eight-yard touchdown catch in a 31-20 AFC divisional-round playoff setback against the New England Patriots following 2007 season. Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis (collected nine points and four rebounds in seven UCLA basketball contests in 2002-03 under coach Steve Lavin) caught four passes for a game-high 74 receiving yards.

  • Oakland Raiders RB Terry Kirby (averaged 2.8 ppg for Virginia's NCAA tourney teams in 1989-90 and 1990-91 under coaches Terry Holland and Jeff Jones) returned three kickoffs for 66 yards in a 38-24 win against the New York Jets in AFC wild-card game following 2001 season.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 31-9 NFC wild-card playoff win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following 2001 season.

  • New England Patriots TE Derrick Ramsey (grabbed three rebounds in two Kentucky games in 1975-76) caught a touchdown pass in 31-14 AFC championship game win against the Miami Dolphins following 1985 season.

  • Green Bay Packers WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88) caught three passes for 53 yards in a 30-13 win against the Carolina Panthers in NFC Championship following 1996 season.

  • Denver Broncos TE Julius Thomas (averaged 6.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg while shooting 66.3% from floor with Portland State from 2006-07 through 2009-10) caught six passes for 76 yards - including team-long 21-yarder from Peyton Manning - in a 24-17 win against the San Diego Chargers in AFC divisional-round playoff contest following 2013 season.