On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling October 15 NFL Gridiron

October 15th, 2023 - 9:54

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 15 in football at the professional level (especially in 1967):

OCTOBER 15

  • New York Giants E O'Neal Adams (three-year letterman was third-leading scorer in 1941 when Arkansas reached NCAA Tournament national semifinals) caught a 35-yard touchdown pass in fourth quarter for decisive score in 14-7 win against the Brooklyn Tigers in 1944.

  • New York Giants DB Erich Barnes (played hoops briefly for Purdue as sophomore in 1955-56) returned an interception 102 yards for touchdown in 31-10 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 1961.

  • Los Angeles Rams LB Connor Barwin (Cincinnati hooper in 2006 NCAA Tournament) contributed seven solo tackles in a 27-17 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017.

  • Chicago Bears E Connie Mack Berry (All-Southern Conference second-team hoops selection as North Carolina State center in 1937 and 1938) caught two touchdown passes (51 and 15 yards) in a 34-7 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1944.

  • Dallas Cowboys DE Shante Carver (Arizona State hooper in 1992-93) had two sacks in a 23-9 win against the San Diego Chargers in 1995.

  • New York Giants B Stu Clancy (Holy Cross hoops letterman from 1928 through 1930 was captain as senior) scored a 46-yard rushing touchdown in 56-0 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1933. Giants rookie B Kink Richards (Simpson IA hoops letterman) scored two fourth-quarter TDs.

  • Kansas City Chiefs QB Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) completed 24-of-37 passes for 364 yards in a 45-31 setback against the San Diego Chargers in 1967. Chiefs FL Otis Taylor (backup small forward for Prairie View A&M) caught nine of Dawson's passes for 134 yards. Five years later, Taylor had 10 receptions in a 23-16 setback against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1972.

  • New York Giants rookie B Scott Eaton (three-year Oregon State letterman averaged 6 ppg and 2.8 rpg) had an 18-yard pass reception in 27-24 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1967.

  • Dallas Cowboys TE Steve Folsom (Utah hooper in 1980-81) caught a career-high five passes from Steve Walsh in 31-14 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1989.

  • San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught two first-half touchdown passes from Philip Rivers in a 35-24 setback against the Denver Broncos in 2012.

  • Cleveland Browns QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 34-24 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1950.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB King Hill (Rice hoops letterman in 1955-56 and 1956-57) punted six times for 283 yards (47.2 average) in a 20-7 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1961.

  • Chicago Bears QB Johnny Lujack (averaged 3.4 ppg as starting guard for Notre Dame in 1943-44) rushed for three touchdowns in a 28-14 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1950.

  • Minnesota Vikings DB Earsell Mackbee (teammate of Utah State All-American Wayne Estes averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.4 rpg in 1964-65) had two interceptions in a 10-7 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1967.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw two third-quarter touchdown passes in a 27-24 setback against the New Orleans Saints in 2006.

  • Frankfort Yellow Jackets rookie B Ken Mercer (three-year hoops letterman as Simpson IA forward) rushed for two touchdowns in a 54-0 win against the Buffalo Bisons in 1927.

  • Chicago Bears B Ray Nolting (Cincinnati hoops letterman in 1936) scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns (pass reception and interception return) in a 44-7 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1939.

  • San Francisco 49ers WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes from Jeff Garcia in a 31-28 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 2000. Six years later with the Dallas Cowboys, Owens caught three second-half TD passes in a 34-6 win against the Houston Texans in 2006.

  • Cleveland Rams E Steve Pritko (Villanova two-year hoops letterman) caught two second-half touchdown passes in a 20-17 win against the Detroit Lions in 1944.

  • Atlanta Falcons LB Marion Rushing (Southern Illinois hooper from 1954-55 through 1956-57) had an interception in 20-20 tie against the Washington Redskins in 1967.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers DB Johnny Sample (freshman hooper for UMES) had two interceptions in a 20-0 win against the Washington Redskins in 1961.

  • New York Jets TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (averaged 1.1 ppg and 2.1 rpg as Washington freshman in 2011-12) had career-high eight pass receptions - including touchdown in second of three straight games - in a 24-17 setback against the New England Patriots in 2017.

  • Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) caught three touchdown passes from Brian Griese in a 44-10 win against the Cleveland Browns in 2000.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw three touchdown passes in a 28-27 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1967.

  • Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) threw three touchdown passes in a 24-21 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1978.

  • New York Jets SS Shafer Suggs (averaged 10.7 ppg and 7.9 rpg in three-year career, setting Ball State record with nine consecutive field goals without miss and leading Cardinals in rebounding in 1974-75) returned an interception 32 yards for touchdown in 14-7 win against the Minnesota Vikings in 1979.