CFB51 College Football Fan Community

The Power Four => Big Ten => Topic started by: Cincydawg on March 13, 2026, 03:06:43 PM

Title: Great UnderapprciatedCollege Players You (may have) Never heard of ...
Post by: Cincydawg on March 13, 2026, 03:06:43 PM
My "guy you never heard of" (maybe) is:

1. Terry Hoage (1980-1983)
As good as Scott was for two years, there isn’t a more accomplished defensive back in Georgia history than Terry Hoage. His first game action came in the 1981 Sugar Bowl that made Georgia national champions, and he blocked a field goal that would have tied the game at 3-3. Hoage went on to become a two-time consensus All American in 1982 and 1983, and even finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1983 after picking off 12 passes, which still stands as an SEC record.
Longtime Georgia head coach Vince Dooley once called Hoage “the best defensive player I've ever coached and maybe the best one I've ever seen.” He was a two time SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and takes the crown here as the best safety in Bulldogs history.


The sharp eyed fans here probably know about him.  He's one of my favorite all time Dawgs, graduated with a 3,83 GPA in genetics.  Started a winery out in CA after a career in the League (Philly mostly).


Title: Re: Great UnderapprciatedCollege Players You (may have) Never heard of ...
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on March 13, 2026, 05:58:30 PM
My "don't forget about this guy" will always be DE Corey Moore of VA Tech.  
He was on their near-NC team in 1999.  He was a 220 lb DE who wreaked havoc rushing the passer.
Just to exist and survive as a 220 lb DE is nuts, but he was a unanimous All-American, had 31 career sacks, including 17 in 1999.
He won the Lombardi and Nagurski Trophies, got drafted in the 3rd round, and didn't do jack shit in the NFL.

Legend.
Title: Re: Great UnderapprciatedCollege Players You (may have) Never heard of ...
Post by: FearlessF on March 13, 2026, 06:28:19 PM
Troy Davis attended Iowa State University, and played for the Iowa State Cyclones football team from 1994 to 1996. He played sparingly his freshman year under Jim Walden but flourished under new head coach Dan McCarney during Davis's final two seasons. Davis set numerous Cyclone team records, including most career rushing yards (4,382), total rushing yards in a single season (2,185), rushing yards in a game (378, vs. Missouri, rushing attempts in a game (53, vs. Northern Iowa, most rushing touchdowns in a game (5, vs. UNLV and vs. Northern Iowa), most 100-yard rushing games in a season (11) and career (21), most 200-yard rushing games in a season (5) and career (9), and most consecutive 100-yard rushing games (17, during 1995 and 1996 seasons), and most consecutive games scoring a touchdown (10, during 1995 and 1996 seasons).

He also held the Iowa State Cyclones football record for most career rushing touchdowns (36) and was tied for first for most career total touchdowns (38). He became the first running back in NCAA Division I-A (now Football Bowl Subdivision) history to gain 2,000 yards in two different seasons. During his three seasons at ISU, the Cyclones finished last in the Big Eight standings in his sophomore and junior seasons and last in the Big 12 North division standings his senior year.

In 1996, Davis was selected as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. He was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American at running back in 1995 and 1996.

Davis finished fifth in voting for the Heisman Trophy in 1995. In 1996, he narrowly finished second to winner Danny Wuerffel. He won three out of four Heisman regions, but lost badly in the South region.

Davis was also nosed out for the Doak Walker Award by another Big 12 running back, Byron Hanspard of Texas Tech. Hanspard edged Davis for the award despite Hanspard earning a 0.00 grade point average during his final season playing for Texas Tech.

However, Davis did win the Jim Brown Award and the Chic Harley Award given to the top running back and best college football player respectively.

He was inducted into the Iowa State Hall of Fame in 2007.

Davis was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
Title: Re: Great UnderapprciatedCollege Players You (may have) Never heard of ...
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on March 13, 2026, 11:13:39 PM
The "runaway beer truck", FB Owen Schmit of West Virginia.  There with Pat White and Steve Slaton, he was the jackhammer to their jackrabbit.
Title: Re: Great UnderapprciatedCollege Players You (may have) Never heard of ...
Post by: bayareabadger on March 13, 2026, 11:33:57 PM
John Stocco (more because he had like three resume highlight points that ruled) and Brandon Williams (who just beat ass his last year).
Title: Re: Great UnderapprciatedCollege Players You (may have) Never heard of ...
Post by: MarqHusker on March 14, 2026, 12:56:40 AM
Terrell Farley,    specimen,  22 games at Nebraska. 
Title: Re: Great UnderapprciatedCollege Players You (may have) Never heard of ...
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on March 14, 2026, 02:15:44 AM
I think we have too many All-American guys you've never heard of.....
Title: Re: Great UnderapprciatedCollege Players You (may have) Never heard of ...
Post by: SFBadger96 on March 17, 2026, 12:38:38 PM
Touchdown Tommy Vardell (Stanford).

For Wisconsin, Joe Panos. He was one of the guys that the '94 Rose Bowl team--and the Wisconsin rebuild--was built around.

For Notre Dame, Tom Zbikowski. Safety, return man, clutch, beast of a human.
Title: Re: Great UnderapprciatedCollege Players You (may have) Never heard of ...
Post by: FearlessF on March 17, 2026, 12:44:32 PM
boxer - almost attended Nebraska
Title: Re: Great UnderapprciatedCollege Players You (may have) Never heard of ...
Post by: 847badgerfan on March 17, 2026, 12:47:46 PM
Touchdown Tommy Vardell (Stanford).

For Wisconsin, Joe Panos. He was one of the guys that the '94 Rose Bowl team--and the Wisconsin rebuild--was built around.

For Notre Dame, Tom Zbikowski. Safety, return man, clutch, beast of a human.
Watched him play in HS. Tried (not very hard) to get him to like Wisconsin. He took an official visit and then ND came in. It was over. Good kid otherwise.
Title: Re: Great UnderapprciatedCollege Players You (may have) Never heard of ...
Post by: 847badgerfan on March 17, 2026, 12:49:45 PM
A group of reporters surrounded team captain Joe Panos before the 1993 season and asked him for his thoughts on who would win the Big Ten that season.

Joe Panos: 

"Why not Wisconsin?"

I'll never forget that.
Title: Re: Great UnderapprciatedCollege Players You (may have) Never heard of ...
Post by: Wildcat4E on March 17, 2026, 12:51:36 PM
David Allen

Allen attended Kansas State University, and played for the Kansas State Wildcats football (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_State_Wildcats_football) team from 1996 to 1999. He was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American as an all-purpose athlete and kick returner in 1998. He returned seven punts for a touchdown in his college career, which tied the NCAA record in 1999.

One of the many contributors that had the Cats neck and neck with Va Tech for non-offensive touchdowns over a generation.
Title: Re: Great UnderapprciatedCollege Players You (may have) Never heard of ...
Post by: FearlessF on March 17, 2026, 12:52:41 PM
I remember that guy