catfish Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Influence of Wrestling in the NFL 10 Hall of Fame Football Players 43 Multiple Pro-Bowlers 60 Individual State Championships 13 NCAA Wrestling Championships 3 Heisman Trophy Winners Wrestled 14 1st Round Draft Picks Wrestled 23 RB?s / 20 LB?s / 2 QB?s / 66 Lineman / 6 DB?s / 1 K / 54 NP The Coaches Perspective ?I draft wrestlers because they are tough, I have never had a problem with a wrestler.? - Joe Gibbs, Hall of fame Football Coach "I would have all of my Offensive Lineman wrestle if I could."- John Madden, Hall of Fame Football Coach ?I love wrestlers, they are tough and they make great football players.? Mike Stoops, National Championship Football Coach - University of Oklahoma. ?Wrestlers make coaching football easy, they have balance, coordination, and as a coaching staff we know they?re tough.? - Tom Osborne - College Hall of Fame Football Coach - University of Nebraska Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookies03 Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 Nick Hardwick all pro center for the chargers was in the finals and never played HS football. Jeff Saturday also was a very good HS wrestler in Georgia (I think). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hbmcgee Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 lets not forget soon to be nfl lineman dexter larimore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWengel171 Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 I know 2 off the top of my head who were state champs in their respective states. Ravens LB Ray Lewis (florida) and Falcons WR Roddy White (south carolina i believe?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hbmcgee Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 I know 2 off the top of my head who were state champs in their respective states. Ravens LB Ray Lewis (florida) and Falcons WR Roddy White (south carolina i believe?) i heard ray lewis was killer at wrestling. : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grecoref Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 Stephen Neal right guard of the dreaded New England Patriots was an NCAA and World Champion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimtown 138 Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 Back in the day, the Golics were good wrestlers for Notre Dame... They use to have the NCAA regionals at ND. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffith Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 Roger Craig, RB, San Francisco 49?ers - Oakland Raiders Chad Hennings, DT, Dallas Cowboys ? IA State Champ Jay Hilgenberg, C, Chicago Bears ? IA State Runner-Up Matt Roth - IA State Champ Mike Pyle, C, Chicago Bears ? IA State Champ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
npwrestler189 Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 Warren Sapp was a FL state champ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 An older list: Shane Olivea Alex Stepanovich Nick Leckey - TX State Champ Gregory Walker - State Finalist Jonathan Condo Zachary Wilson Chris Laskowski Luis Castillo, DT, San Diego Chargers (First Round Pick) Lincoln "Drew" Hodgdon, C, Houston Texans - CA State Champ Nick Hardwick Fred Weary, C, Houston Texans - AL State Champ Coy Wire, SS, Buffalo Bills - PA State Champ Kevin Breedlove - SC State Finalist Kevin Sampson - NJ State Champ Benjamin Claxton - GA State Finalist Trevor Johnson Clinton "C.J." Brooks, Jr. Tai Tupai Leon Robinson - GA State Runner-Up Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons - 2x SC State Champ Eric Ghiaciuc, C, Cincinatti Bengals - MI State Champ Joey Hildbold Adam Seward, ILB, Carolina Panthers - NV State Champ Cody Johnson Rodney Michael Marques Harris - CO State Champ Larry Turner Andrew "Tyler" Lenda - District Champ Tim Anderson - OH State Champ Tony Pape Matt Roth - IA State Champ Mike Patterson, DT, Philadelphia Eagles (First Round Pick) David Pollack Tim Burrough - OK State Champ Antoineo Harris - IL State Champ Claude Harriott Scott Wells - TN State Champ Alex Lewis - District Champ Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami Dolphins (#2 Pick) Rodney Leisle Nick Newton Sean Tufts Brian Save Kevin Atkins Josh Minkins - District Runner-up Tim Euhus Andrew Tidwell-Neal - MN State Champ Renaldo Works Patrick "Bucky" Babcock - IL State Champ Morgan Pears Art Baker, RB, Buffalo Bills Rhonde Barber, SS, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tiki Barber, RB, New York Giants Walter Barnes, DL, Washington Redskins - SEC Champ Eric Bateman, OL, New York Jets Harris Benton Brad Benson, New York Giants ? PA State Champ Greg Boone, RB, Oakland Raiders Jeff Bostic*, C, Washington Redskins ? SC State Champ Tedy Bruschi*, ILB, New England Patriots Bob Bruenig*, LB, Dallas Cowboys Phil Bryant, Philadelphia Eagles ? 2x National Prep Champ Ralph Cindrich, Houston Oilers ? PA State Runner-Up Jonathan Condo, LS, Dallas Cowboys - PA State Champ Tom Cousineau*, LB, Cleveland Browns ? 3rd State Tom Covert*, OT, Chicago Bears Chris Cooley, WR, Washington Redskins Roger Craig*, RB, San Francisco 49?ers Damien Covington, LB, Buffalo Bills Curley Culp*, DL, Kansas City Chiefs ? NCAA Champ Larry Czonka**, RB, Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame Running Back from the Miami Dolphins, Larry Czonka, pounded opponents on the wrestling mat as well as the gridiron. Rob Davis, ST, Green Bay Packers Dan Dierdorff**, OT, St. Louis Cardinals Donnie Edwards, OLB, San Diego Chargers Carl Edwards, San Diego Chargers ? 3x MD State Champ Rob Essink, Seattle Seahawks ? NCAA DII Champ Jim Everett, QB, New Orleans Saints DeMarco Farr, St. Louis Rams Patrick Flannery, OL, Houston Oilers Ed Flanagan, C, Detroit Lions Terrell Fletcher, RB, San Diego Chargers Bill Fralic*, G, Atlanta Falcons Doug France*, LT, Los Angeles Rams ? OH State Runner-Up Frank Garcia, C, St. Louis Rams ? 2x AZ State Champ William George, Chicago Bears ? 2x PA State Champ Charlie Getty, RG, Kansas City Chiefs ? 2x NCAA All-American John Gilmore, TE, Chicago Bears Kevin Glover*, C, Detroit Lions La?Roi Glover*, DE, Dallas Cowboys Mike Goff, G, Cincinnati Bengals Bob Golic*, DT, Cleveland Browns ? OH State Champ Mike Golic, DE, Philadelphia Eagles Darien Gordon, PR/CB, Denver Broncos Scottie Graham, RB, Minnesota Vikings Tim Green, DE, Atlanta Falcons Kelly Gregg, NT, Baltimore Ravens, 3x KS State Champ Morlon Greenwood, OLB, Miami Dolphins Archie Griffin, HB, Cincinnati Bengals Nick Griesen, LB, New York Giants Randy Grossman, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers John Hannah**, G, New England Patriots John Hartunian Carlton Haselrig*, Pittsburgh Steelers, 3x NCAA Champ Ron Heller, TE, Seattle Seahawks Chad Hennings, DT, Dallas Cowboys ? IA State Champ Jay Hilgenberg*, C, Chicago Bears ? IA State Runner-Up Orlando Huff, MLB, Seattle Seahawks Corey Hulsy, G, Oakland Raiders Bo Jackson*, RB, Oakland Raiders Mario Johnson, DT, New England Patriots Dahanie Jones, LB, New York Giants Henry Jordan**, DT, Green Bay Packers Dave Joyner, OL, Green Bay Packers John Jurkovich*, DT, Cleveland Browns Alex Karras, Detroit Lions Tim Krumrie*, DL, Cincinnati Bengals ? WI State Champ Ernie Ladd, DL, Kansas City Chiefs Nick Lecky, C, - KS State Champ (in 2004 NFL Draft) Jess Lewis, LB, Houston Oilers Ray Lewis, Pro Bowl Linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, was a Florida 4A State Wrestling Champion at 189 lbs. Ray Lewis*, Baltimore Ravens ? 2x FL State Champ Ronnie Lott**, DB, San Francisco 49?ers Kirk Lowdermilk*, OL, Minnesota Vikings Sean Mahan, G, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mike Malczyk, LS, New York Giants Joel Mackavicka, RB, Seattle Seahawks Steve Martin, DT, Houston Texans Mickey Marvin, RG, Oakland Raiders Napolean McCallum, RB, Oakland Raiders Randle McDaniel*, G, Minnesota Vikings Mark McDonald, SS, Arizona Cardinals Chris McIntosh, T, Seattle Seahawks Bryant McKinnie, T. Minnesota Vikings Future Hall of Famer Randall McDaniel was a wrestler before he was named to 12 NFL Pro Bowls. Greg Meisner, DL, Los Angeles Rams Matt Millen*, LB, Oakland Raiders Ronald Moore, RB, Cleveland Browns James Mungro, HB, Indianapolis Colts Jim Nance, FB, New England Patriots ? NCAA Champ Lorenzo Neal, FB, Tennessee Titans - NCAA Champ Stephen Neal, OL, New England Patriots ? NCAA Champ Jeremy Newberry, C, San Francisco 49?ers Chuck Noll, Pittsburgh Steelers ? PA State Champ Leo Nomellini*, T, San Francisco 49?ers ? Big 10 Champ Jonathan Ogden*, OT, Baltimore Ravens Irv Pankey, Los Angeles Rams ? 2x MD State Champ David Patten, WR, New England Patriots Scott Peters, G, New York Giants Bob Pickens, OL, Chicago Bears Jim Plunkett*, QB, Oakland Raiders Dave Porter, T, Green Bay Packers Mike Pyle, C, Chicago Bears ? IA State Champ Rocky Rasley, G, Detroit Lions Mike Reid, Cincinnati Bengals Eric Rhett, RB, Cleveland Browns ? FL State Champ Willie Roaf*, OT, New Orleans Saints Warren Sapp*, DT Tampa Bay Buccaneers ? FL State Champ Mark Schlereth*, OL, Washington Redskins - Alaska State Champ Cory Schlesinger, LB, Detroit Lions - NE State Champ Steve Sefter, DT, Philadelphia Eagles, 2x PA State Champ Tony Siragusa*, DT, Baltimore Ravens ? NJ State Champ Fred Smerlas*, Buffalo Bills - MA State Champ Bruce Smith**, DE, Washington Redskins Brad St. Louis, TE, Cincinnati Bengals Matt Suhey, RB, Chicago Bears Bill Szott, OL, Washington Redskins ? NJ State Champ Dave Szott, Kansas City Chiefs ? NJ State Champ Woody Thompson, RB, Atlanta Falcons ? PA State Champ Jim Thorpe**, HB, New York Giants Mike Trgovac, DC, Carolina Panthers ? OH State Champ Kyle Turley*, T, St. Louis Rams Ryan Turnbull, RB, Cleveland Browns Tommy Vardell, RB, San Francisco 49?ers Adam Vinatieri*, K, New England Patriots John Ward, OL, New York Jets ? NCAA All-American Fred Weary, DB, St. Louis Rams Charles White*, HB, Los Angeles Rams Randy White*, DT, Dallas Cowboys Cory Widmer, LB, New York Giants Leo Wisniewski, NT, Indianapolis Colts - PA State Champ Steve Wisniewski, G, Oakland Raiders - CA State Champ Ricky Williams*, RB, Miami Dolphins Coy Wire, LB, Buffalo Bills ? PA State Runner-Up Greg Wojochowski, St. Louis Rams *Pro-Bowler **Hall of Famer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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