On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling October 21 NFL Gridiron

October 21st, 2023 - 9:57

Long before kneeling knuckleheads and politicized multiple anthems, 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 do-everything 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 hoop 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 October 21 in football at the professional level (especially in 1956 and 2012):

OCTOBER 21

  • Washington Redskins FB Frank Akins (averaged 1.7 ppg for Washington State's 1941 NCAA Tournament runner-up) rushed for two second-half touchdowns in a 24-14 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1945.

  • LB Connor Barwin (played 34 games for Cincinnati in 2005-06 and 2006-07) opened the Houston Texans' scoring with a safety tackling QB Joe Flacco in 43-13 win against the Baltimore Ravens in 2012.

  • Chicago Bears FB Rick Casares (Florida's scoring and rebounding leader both seasons as All-SEC second-team selection in 1951-52 and 1952-53) rushed for two touchdowns in a 58-27 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1956. Bears E Harlon Hill (Florence State AL hoops letterman in 1951) had two second-quarter TD receptions (37 and 68 yards).

  • Chicago Cardinals B-PK John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1916) accounted for all of game's scoring with three field goals in a 9-0 win against the Minneapolis Marines in 1923.

  • Washington Redskins LB London Fletcher (started two games for St. Francis PA as freshman hooper in 1993-94 before transferring to John Carroll OH) scored a touchdown on a 27-yard interception return in 21-19 win against the Arizona Cardinals in 2007.

  • Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) caught two touchdown passes in a 35-8 win against the Baltimore Ravens in 1999.

  • Miami Dolphins QB Bob Griese (sophomore guard for Purdue in 1964-65) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 27-6 setback against the Buffalo Bills in 1973.

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson (Northern Colorado's scoring leader with 13.6 ppg in 2003-04 while also contributing 5.6 rpg and 3.1 apg) caught seven passes for 216 yards - including one for league-high 95 yards - in a 35-28 setback against the New Orleans Saints in 2012.

  • San Francisco 49ers RB John Henry Johnson (made 5-of-8 FGAs in five games for Saint Mary's in 1950-51) rushed for two touchdowns in a 20-17 setback against the Detroit Lions in 1956.

  • Washington Redskins QB Billy Kilmer (hooper under legendary UCLA coach John Wooden in 1959-60) passed for 294 yards and two second-quarter touchdowns in a 31-13 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973.

  • Atlanta Falcons rookie CB Rolland Lawrence (captain of Tabor KS hoops squad as senior in 1972-73) returned an interception 81 yards in 41-0 win against the San Diego Chargers in 1973. Six years later, Lawrence returned a blocked punt 41 yards for touchdown in 20-15 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1979.

  • WR Greg Little (collected five points and five rebounds in 10 basketball games for North Carolina in 2007-08 under coach Roy Williams) opened the Cleveland Browns' scoring with a touchdown catch from Brandon Weeden in 17-13 setback against the Indianapolis Colts in 2012.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Bill Mackrides (Nevada-Reno hoops letterman in 1944) opened game's scoring with a 22-yard touchdown pass in 26-24 setback against the New York Giants in 1951. Giants DB Emlen Tunnell (forward was top reserve for Toledo team compiling 22-4 record and finishing second in 1943 NIT) returned a punt 71 yards for TD.

  • Atlanta Falcons WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88) had five pass receptions for 161 yards - including two second-half touchdowns - in a 44-24 setback against the Los Angeles Rams in 1990.

  • Boston B Frank Sachse (All-Border Conference second-team forward for Texas Tech in 1937-38 with 16.8 ppg) threw an 80-yard touchdown pass in 38-14 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1945.

  • Baltimore Colts rookie LB Bill Saul (averaged 6.1 ppg for Penn State in 1959-60) secured a safety in 35-15 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1962.

  • Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 45-28 win against the New York Giants in 1973. Six years later, Staubach threw two second-quarter TD passes in a 22-13 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1979.

  • Indianapolis Colts TE Erik Swoope (averaged 2.6 ppg and 1.7 rpg for Miami FL from 2010-11 through 2013-14) caught a touchdown pass from QB Andrew Luck in his third consecutive contest in 2018.

  • Miami Dolphins DE Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) returned an interception 36 yards for touchdown in 49-28 setback against the New England Patriots in 2007.