Former College Hoopers From Football Playoff National Title Participants

December 31st, 2023 - 13:19

Wanna commence countdown to winning your first bar bet in 2024? Do you know the only individual who played both basketball and football for Alabama and Washington? In 1929, Mark Antoncich Sr. claimed he played football and basketball at Bama with his younger brother (Pete) before becoming homesick and returning to the Northwest. Antoncich, a right tackle letterman for UW in 1932, was a hoops letterman in 1933 under coach Hec Edmundson.

In an era of specialization, two-way athletes are becoming a dying breed. In the "good old days," a striking number of versatile athletes such as Antoncich participated in both college basketball and football. Amid Florida State fans eating 60-point defeat crow during this multi-sport mosaic, sports history buffs might not want to do likewise by knowing football players who also played hoops for the following four participants in this year's College Football Playoff National Championship since the start of national postseason competition in basketball in the late 1930s:

ALABAMA

FB-BKB Player Summary of Football Career Summary of Basketball Career
John Hite Nashville native was letterman halfback in 1944. Guard was a letterman during second half of 1940s.
Ralph Jones All-SEC second-team selection in 1944 was an end who caught three passes for the AAFC's Baltimore franchise in 1947. The 6-3, 200-pounder was a basketball letterman for the Crimson Tide in 1945 as a center.
Wheeler Leeth Letterman end in 1941 and 1942. Three-year letterman was an All-SEC third-team selection as a senior center in 1941-42.
Hugh Morrow Back caught 20 passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns in 1945 and 1946. Letterman guard in 1945.
James "Shorty" Robertson Running back scored two touchdowns in 1945 (rushing 27 times for 169 yards and catyching six passes for 118 yards). Letterman forward in 1945.
Perron "Tex" Shoemaker Three-year letterman end the second half of the late 1930s. All-SEC second-team selection in 1936 and 1937. Letterman guard from 1936 through 1938.
Roy "Rebel" Steiner Letterman second half of 1940s. All-SEC end in 1945 led the Tide in pass receptions that year (18) and in 1947 (23). Scored 179 points in 1947-48 and 1948-49.
W.L. "Bud" Waites Letterman halfback in 1938. Letterman forward in 1938.
Erwin "Tut" Warren Letterman from 1937 through 1939. All-SEC end in 1937. Letterman guard in 1938.
Jim Whatley Three-year letterman was an All-SEC first-team tackle and All-American second-team selection as a senior in 1935. Starting tackle for 1934 team compiling a 10-0 record and defeating Stanford, 29-13, in the Rose Bowl. Tackle and end for the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers from 1936 through 1938. The 6-4 1/2 center in basketball was a sophomore starter and fourth-leading scorer in the league for 1933-34 squad winning the school's first SEC title by compiling a 16-2 record. He was a first-team selection on the All-SEC Tournament team in 1934 and 1936. Whatley served as head basketball coach with Western Carolina, Mississippi (1946-47 through 1948-49) and Georgia (1949-50 and 1950-51).

MICHIGAN

FB-BKB Player Summary of Football Career Summary of Basketball Career
Robert M. Brown End caught 11 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns in 1961 and as senior captain in 1962. Picked in 20th round by the Detroit Lions in 1962 NFL draft. Center averaged 3.6 ppg and 7.1 rpg from 1959-60 through 1961-62.
Pete "Bump" Elliott Executive director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame earned All-American honors as a QB for the Wolverines' 1948 national champion. Big Ten Conference MVP led Michigan to a 49-0 victory over USC in the 1948 Rose Bowl. Former head coach at Nebraska (4-6 record in 1956), California (10-21 from 1957 through 1959) and Illinois (1960 through 1966) led Cal and the Illini to Rose Bowl berths. A four-year starter as a 6-0, 190-pound guard on UM teams from 1945-46 through 1948-49. Captain of squad as a sophomore and member of Big Ten Conference championship team in 1947-48. First-team all-conference choice as a junior and second-team selection as a senior. Second-team pick on Helms All-American team in 1947-48 when he scored a team-high 15 points in the Wolverines' first NCAA Tournament victory, a 66-49 decision over Columbia in the Eastern Regional third-place game. Excerpt from school guide: "At times his defensive work was almost uncanny as he held high-scoring opposition practically scoreless in several games. Outstanding at recovering rebounds."
Kelvin Grady Slot receiver had a brother, Kevin, who was a running back for the Wolverines. On October 17, 2009, they became the first pair of brothers to score a touchdown in the same game for Michigan as far as could be determined by the school's record books. The next year, Kelvin had a career-long 43-yard reception and career-long 15-yard rush against Massachusetts en route to catching 17 passes for 211 yards. Kelvin started as a 5-9 point guard most of his freshman season in 2007-08 before his minutes were drastically reduced as a sophomore the next campaign when the Wolverines reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 11 years.
Tom Harmon Two-time consensus All-American HB won Heisman Trophy in 1940. First pick overall in the 1941 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears. Rushed for 542 yards and five touchdowns, including an 84-yard jaunt, in two seasons (1946 and 1947) with the Los Angeles Rams following World War II military service. Averaged 7.6 ppg as a sophomore in 1938-39 and led the Wolverines in scoring in five contests. Posted 2.5-point average the next year as a junior. UM coach Bennie Oosterbaan said Harmon "had a great fake and cut, a great shot, and aggressiveness."
Bruce Hilkene Captain and starting left tackle of undefeated 1947 team before becoming 30th-round pick by Pittsburgh Steelers in NFL draft. Caught four passes for 72 yards as wide receiver in 1943 and 1944 before serving in U.S. Navy during WWII. Played in 12 games as backup center in 1944 and 1945.
Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. First-round draft choice by Cleveland in 1945 (5th pick overall). Played HB, DB back and OE end as a pro with the Chicago Rockets of the All-America Football Conference from 1946 through 1948 and Los Angeles Rams of the NFL from 1949 through 1957. Caught 387 passes and scored 66 touchdowns as a pro. Played in four NFL championship games. Held the Rams' team record for most touchdown receptions for almost 40 years until it was broken by Isaac Bruce in 2001. Starting C for the Wolverines' basketball team in 1944 while undergoing military training there. Sketch in UM guide: "Naval transfer from Wisconsin was a big aid, chiefly through his flaming competitive spirit."
Paul Jokisch Split end caught 55 passes for 1,037 yards and six touchdowns from 1984 through 1986. He had a pass reception in both the 1986 Fiesta Bowl and 1987 Rose Bowl. Fifth-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 1987 NFL draft. Forward averaged 3.9 ppg and 1.7 rpg in 1982-83 and 1983-84 under coach Bill Frieder.
Gary Kane Wide receiver caught one pass each year in 1958 and 1959. Guard averaged 3.5 ppg in 10 games in 1958-59.
Ron Kramer OE for 10 seasons (1957 and 1959 through 1967) with the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. First-round draft choice caught 229 passes for 3,272 yards and 16 touchdowns in the NFL. Pro Bowl selection in 1963. Had 53 receptions for 880 yards and eight TDs with the Wolverines, including a career-best 70-yarder against UCLA as a senior in 1956. The 6-3, 220-pound F-C led the Wolverines in scoring as a sophomore (16 ppg) and junior (20.4) before finishing second on the team as senior (14.5). Three-time All-Big Ten Conference selection (second-team pick as a sophomore and junior and first-team choice as a senior) was named UM's team MVP all three seasons. Kramer was a second-team All-American selection by Converse and third-team pick by the National Association of Basketball Coaches as a senior captain in 1956-57. Selected in the fifth-round of the 1957 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons. Excerpt from school guide: "Can leap and battle as well as shoot, and he's an inspirational type player who picks up his teammates when he's in there."
Don Lund Fullback rushed 141 times for 628 yards from 1942 through 1944. Forward averaged 4.4 ppg from 1943 through 1945.
Scott Maentz Wide receiver caught 14 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns from 1959 through 1961. Forward averaged 8.1 ppg and 9.4 rpg in 1959-60 and 1960-61.
Bennie Oosterbaan Member of College Football Hall of Fame coached Michigan's football team to a 63-33-4 record in 11 seasons (1948 through 1958). His first team finished with a 9-0 record and was voted national champion in the AP poll. He won Big Ten Conference titles in 1948, 1949 and 1950. In 1943, the Helms Athletic Foundation named him to its 10-man All-American basketball teams it selected for the 1926-27 and 1927-28 seasons. Finished third in Western Conference (forerunner of Big Ten) scoring in 1926-27 (9.3 points per game) and led the league as a senior the next year (10.8 ppg).
Gary Prahst WR caught 41 passes for 588 yards and three touchdowns while rushing once for 31 yards from 1956 through 1958, leading the Wolverines in receiving each of his last two seasons. Fourth-round selection by the Cleveland Browns in 1959 NFL draft (37th pick overall). Missed his only field-goal attempt in three basketball games in 1956-57.
Dick Rifenburg E for back-to-back undefeated national champions in 1947 and 1948. Seventh-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1948 NFL draft caught 10 passes for 96 yards and one touchdown with the Detroit Lions in 1950. Led Big Ten Conference in pass receptions as an All-American senior in 1948. Held UM single-season touchdown reception record (eight) for more than 30 years until broken by Anthony Carter in 1980. Scored nine points in five basketball games in 1948-49.
Jim Skala Reserve E for UM in 1949 (caught one pass for 31 yards) and 1950 (two receptions for 33 yards before beating favored Cal in Rose Bowl). The 6-3 Skala averaged 8.1 ppg for the Wolverines from 1949-50 through 1951-52. Captain, leading scorer/rebounder and MVP as senior. Compiled a 43-86 coaching record for Eastern Michigan in six seasons from 1954-55 through 1959-60.
Dan Smick Wide receiver caught one pass for 13 yards and rushed once for six yards in 1938. Guard averaged 3.2 ppg from 1936-37 through 1938-39.
Tai Streets WR was sixth-round selection in 1999 NFL draft before catching 196 passes for 2,268 yards and 14 touchdowns with the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions in six years through 2004. Managed at least four receptions for at least 50 yards in all three of his NFL playoff games. Leader in pass receptions for the Wolverines in 1996 and 1998. Second-leading receiver for 1997 national champion when he had two TD receptions of more than 50 yards from Brian Griese in 21-16 Rose Bowl win against Washington State. Caught 131 passes for 2,016 yards and 17 TDs for UM from 1995 through 1998 (including six catches for 192 yards - one for 76 yards from Tom Brady - at Minnesota his senior season). Collected four points and seven rebounds in 13 games for NIT titlist in 1996-97 under coach Steve Fisher. Allegedly paid the father of Brian Bowen Sr. $5,000 cash in a misdeed cited during 2019 federal trial investigating nationwide corruption in NCAA hoops.
Milo Sukup Letterman guard from 1938 through 1940. Forward played in 10 games in 1938-39.
Eugene "Bob" Topp End caught 28 passes for 390 yards and three touchdowns in 1952 and 1953 (All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection had team-high 23 pass receptions). Caught six passes for 90 yards and three touchdowns after becoming 13th-round pick by the New York Giants in 1954 NFL draft. Forward averaged 1.4 ppg in 1951-52 and 1952-53.
Rex Wells Letterman guard in 1943. Averaged 1.8 ppg in six games in 1944.
Rick White Split end in 1976 and 1977 caught two touchdown passes in his second season. Forward averaged 3.9 ppg and 2.4 rpg in 1973-74 and 1974-75 under coach Johnny Orr.
Bob Wiese Fullback and occasional quarterback rushed for 1,542 yards from 1942 (led UM with 466 yards) through 1946 (captain missed end of 1944 season and all of 1945 serving in U.S. military during WWII). Fifth-round choice by the Detroit Lions in 1945 NFL draft (39th pick overall) rushed 20 times for 61 yards and caught five passes for 53 yards while intercepting four passes with them in 1947. Averaged 3.9 ppg in 1943 and 1944.
Irvin "Whiz" Wisniewski E caught 21 passes for 256 yards from 1947 through 1949, including runner-up with 11 receptions for 126 yards and one touchdown as a senior. Member of 10-0 national championship team as a sophomore. Compiled a 2-6 mark as Hillsdale (Mich.) football coach in 1951. Averaged 1.6 ppg for the Wolverines from 1947-48 through 1949-50. Scored two points in UM's first NCAA playoff win (66-49 against Columbia in 1948 Eastern Regional third-place game). Posted a 111-154 record (.419) as Delaware's coach for 12 seasons from 1954-55 through 1965-66 when the Blue Hens made transition to NCAA Division I level.

TEXAS

FB-BKB Player Summary of Football Career Summary of Basketball Career
Ed Kelley Letterman tackle from 1946 through 1948. Selected in 30th round by New York Giants in 1948 NFL draft. Started two games for the AAFC's Los Angeles Dons in 1949. Letterman in 1949.
Malcolm "Mal" Kutner Two-time All-Pro halfback/defensive back caught 145 passes for 3,060 yards and 31 touchdowns plus 13 interceptions with the Chicago Cardinals in five years from 1946 through 1950. Led NFL receivers in total yardage and average per reception in 1947 and 1948. Paced the NFL in TDs in 1948 with 15. Fourth-round selection in 1942 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers (26th pick overall). First UT player chosen to compete in the Chicago Tribune's All-Star Game was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974. The 6-2, 195-pounder was a two-year basketball letterman in the early 1940s. The Longhorns got a lot of mileage out of him late in the 1941-42 campaign when he scored 14 points in a victory against SMU before leading them in scoring in back-to-back games at Arkansas.
Bobby Layne Six-time All-Pro quarterback passed for 26,768 yards and 196 touchdowns with the Chicago Bears, New York Bulldogs, Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers in 15 years from 1948 through 1962. Led the NFL in passing yardage in back-to-back seasons in 1950 and 1951, pacing the league in passing TDs with 26 in 1951. First-round draft choice in 1948 (3rd pick overall) helped the Lions capture three NFL championships (1952-53-57). Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967. Co-MVP of the 1946 Cotton Bowl before being named MVP of the 1948 Sugar Bowl. The 6-1, 200-pound backup hooper for the Longhorns in 1944-45 scored eight points in an annual charity game against Bergstrom Army Air Field.
Bobby Moers Letterman in 1938. Letterman from 1938 through 1940.
Jack Wallace Letterman in 1945. Letterman in 1945.

WASHINGTON

FB-BKB Player Summary of Football Career Summary of Basketball Career
Al Akins Back rushed for two touchdowns, caught one TD pass and intercepted two passes in AAFC with Cleveland, Brooklyn and Buffalo in three years from 1946 through 1948. The 6-1 forward was a UW hoops letterman in 1944 after lettering with Washington State the previous two years (averaging 6 ppg in 1941-42 and 6.2 ppg in 1942-43).
Hal Arnason Jr. Quarterback letterman in 1945. Scored 139 points from 1947-48 through 1949-50.
Connor Griffin Sandwiched between pair of hoop stints, walk-on tight end/wide receiver made one start and one catch for nine yards in two seasons with UW in 2015 and 2016. The 6-3 Griffin collected 18 points and 15 rebounds in 88 minutes for Gonzaga's NCAA playoff squads in 2013-14 and 2014-15. He was an All-Golden State Athletic Conference selection with NAIA Vanguard in 2017-18 while averaging team-high 16.1 ppg and contributing 6.9 rpg plus shooting 63.5% from the floor.
Richard King Halfback letterman in 1944 and 1948. Hoops letterman in 1945.
Doug McClary End from 1951 through 1953. Led UW in pass receptions in 1951 with 29 for 343 yards and three touchdowns. Averaged 6.4 ppg and 10.7 rpg from 1950-51 through 1952-53 (All-PCC first-team selection).
Sam Mitchell Defensive back from 1950 through 1952. Scored 10 points in nine basketball games in 1951-52.
Mike Monroe Halfback in 1953 and 1955. Caught a 57-yard touchdown pass vs. Colorado in 1953. Selected in 23rd round by the San Francisco 49ers in 1956 NFL draft after catching team-high 11 passes for the Huskies. Averaged 1.4 ppg and 1.5 rpg in 1953-54 and 1954-55 under coach Tippy Dye.
M. "Dean" Parsons Tackle in 1952. Two-time All-PCC North Division first-team selection averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.3 rpg from 1951-52 through 1954-55 under coach Tippy Dye.
Steve Roake Quarterback from 1953 through 1955. Led team in passing yardage in 1955 including an 80-yard touchdown pass vs. USC. UW's top punter in 1955. Scored four points in eight basketball games in 1952-53.
Nate Robinson Started the last half of his freshman season (2002) with the Huskies as a cornerback, intercepting two passes for their Sun Bowl team. Son of Jacque Robinson, a tailback for UW who earned MVP honors in both the Rose Bowl (1982) and Orange Bowl (1985). Led UW's basketball team in scoring as a freshman with 13 ppg. Went on to play in the 2010 NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics after beginning his career with the New York Knicks.
Reggie Rogers First-team All-American defensive lineman was a first-round draft choice of the Detroit Lions in 1987 (7th pick overall). He also played with the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a six-year NFL career. His older brother, Don, an outstanding safety at UCLA, was a starter for the Cleveland Browns when he died tragically. Averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.9 rpg in three varsity basketball seasons (1982-83 through 1984-85). The 6-6, 260-pounder hit four-of-five field-goal attempts in their 80-78 second-round victory over Duke in 1984 in Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski's first NCAA playoff game. Rogers' best year was his first when he averaged 8.4 ppg and 5.3 rpg, including a 22-point, 12-rebound outing against UCLA. Excerpt from school guide: "Many of his points come on thunderous sky-walking dunks."
Austin Seferian-Jenkins Tight end started 10 of 13 games in 2011, posting two-TD games against California and Oregon State before catching 5 passes for 59 yards in Alamo Bowl against RGIII-led Baylor in the highest-scoring regulation bowl game in history. Amassed 538 receiving yards that ranked No. 2 in UW single-season history for a true freshman (any position). Upon completing his sophomore season, he had already set school tight end career standards for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. Following UW's win in the 2013 Fight Hunger Bowl, the 6-6 Seferian-Jenkins announced he would leave school early and enter the 2014 NFL draft (2nd-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers). He had two TDs among his 38 receptions as a rookie. Averaged 1.1 ppg and 2.1 rpg in 17 games as a freshman in 2011-12, collecting 7 points and 9 rebounds in four contests for NIT semifinalist.
Dick Sprague Led Huskies in punt return yardage in 1950 and in kickoff return yardage in 1951. Caught a 56-yard TD pass vs. Cal before becoming a 14th-round pick by the Chicago Cardinals in 1953 NFL draft. Averaged 1.6 ppg in eight contests in 1951-52.