On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling September 13 NFL Gridiron

September 13th, 2023 - 8:50

Long before kneeling knuckleheads and 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 September 13 in football at the professional level (especially receivers in 2015):

SEPTEMBER 13

  • Seattle Seahawks TE John Carlson (played in three Notre Dame basketball games in 2003-04 under coach Mike Brey) caught two touchdown passes from QB Matt Hasselbeck in a 28-0 season-opening victory against the St. Louis Rams in 2009.

  • HB Bob Davis (Kentucky hoops letterman in 1937 under legendary coach Adolph Rupp) opened the Philadelphia Eagles' scoring with a rushing touchdown en route to 24-14 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1942 season opener. Eagles rookie E Len Supulski (Dickinson PA hooper) had 41-yard pass reception for a touchdown.

  • 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) had four pass receptions for 82 yards in a 31-19 win against the New Orleans Saints in 2015 season opener, amassing the most receiving yardage by an Arizona Cardinals TE since mid-November 1989.

  • Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (hooper in seven games for Clemson in 2010-11) caught two touchdown passes in a 27-20 setback against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2015 season opener. Five years later in his debut with the Arizona Cardinals, Hopkins had 14 pass receptions in a 24-20 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 2020 season opener.

  • New York Giants' Dave Jennings (forward averaged 5.9 ppg for St. Lawrence NY in 1972-73 and 1973-74) punted 11 times for 46.5-yard average in a 17-7 win against the Washington Redskins in 1981. Giants DE George Martin (Oregon basketball teammate of freshman sensation Ron Lee in 1972-73) returned fumble recovery eight yards for a touchdown.

  • Los Angeles Rams DE Lamar Lundy (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.5 rpg for Purdue in mid-1950s) returned an interception 14 yards for a touchdown in 26-14 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1964 season opener.

  • In NFL debut, Philadelphia Eagles E Eggs Manske (point guard led Northwestern to share of 1933 Big Ten Conference crown) opened the game's scoring with a pass reception touchdown in 17-7 setback against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1935 season opener.

  • 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 38-10 win against the Carolina Panthers in 2009 season opener.

  • Buffalo Bills TE Pete Metzelaars (averaged 19.2 ppg and 11.4 rpg for Wabash IN while setting NCAA Division III field-goal shooting records for single season as senior in 1981-82 and career) caught two third-quarter touchdown passes from Jim Kelly (53 and 24 yards) in a 34-31 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1992.

  • Oakland Raiders WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57 caught seven passes for 135 yards in a 17-14 setback against the Boston Patriots in 1964 AFL season opener.

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (averaged 1.1 ppg and 2.1 rpg as Washington freshman in 2011-12) caught #1 draft pick overall Jameis Winston's first two touchdown passes in a 42-14 setback against the Tennessee Titans in 2015 season opener. Titans WR Kendall Wright (Baylor hooper as freshman in 2008-09) caught rookie Marcus Mariota's first NFL TD pass (52 yards).

  • Miami Dolphins DE Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) returned fumble recovery four yards for a touchdown in 38-21 win against the Denver Broncos in 1999 season opener.

  • New York Jets DE Marvin Washington (played in 1985 NCAA Tournament with UTEP under coach Don Haskins before averaging 2.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg for Idaho under Tim Floyd in 1987-88) had two sacks in a 27-10 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1992.