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I think there were some outstanding defensive players on that 1966 team that deserve mentioning. This is a defense that recorded 6 shutouts and actually only had 24 points scored against them in 10 games: 1/ Alan Page 2/ Jim Lynch 3/ Pete Duranko 4/ Tom Schoen
and Jim Lynch may have been the best but were only on replays, as we did not see them as much.
Good arguments can be made for a number of guys.
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Page was 21 when he graduated ND.
Browner was 24 when he graduated ND.
Browner was expelled from ND for a year.
Page was an NFL Pro Bowl player by the time he was 24.
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Browner was a defensive end who could manhandle offensive tackles and guards with sheer power, out-leverage them, or finesse his way around them. Even when he got double teamed, he could still beat his blockers.
He could also beat most linebackers in a foot race.
He was a one man wrecking machine who you'd have to assign three blockers to take out of the play, and if you did that, then someone else was going to get through pretty quickly.
A 100% healthy Stephon Tuitt with better footspeed who would have stayed for his senior year (none of which happened) might have been the closest thing we could have had in comparison, and even then, Browner would have been a couple notches ahead of him. .
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Unblickable....
He would have been one of the most impactful NFL tackles of all time had not two knee injuries before the better ACL operations had not derailed him. I heard Cole Kmet is his grandson.
There are already 5 listed below without any in depth thinking.
...Teo 4th.
Guys like Browner, Page, and B Golic were before I could personally watch them, so I only start from when i started seeing them myself.
PS - there a LOT of great players long before the 70's as well, but you have to start somewhere.
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We are not only in the playoff but have a great chance of winning it all.
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Both were shutdown cornerbacks, but Bobby Taylor was the superior physical athlete. There weren't any collegiate receivers who could out muscle-him. He also demonstrated some unearthly leaping ability, as seen in the 1992 Snow Bowl game against Penn State, where he blocked a PAT.
Had he stayed for the 1995 season, he would have undoubtedly been a 1st round pick.
Luther Bradley was the best corner I can remember - consensus All American. Starter on 2 National Champion Teams and the 11th player chosen in the 1978 draft. Also the best bb player I ever saw at the Rock :)
when he kicked UM's ass one year when they played FSU.
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Browner was so good he made Willie Fry a 2nd round draft choice for the Steelers - Art Ronney said it was the worst draft choice in Steeler history.
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