Oct 5, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights mascot during the game against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Rutgers football’s long history of talented players has opened the door for even greater team accomplishments in the Big Ten.
Nearly 146 years ago, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Princeton Tigers played in the first college football game. While Rutgers has not parlayed their status as the “Birthplace of College Football” into major success on the gridiron, the Scarlet Knights have produced their fair share of All-Americans and Hall of Famers.
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In each decade, exemplary Knights have taken the lead on both sides of the ball, etching their names among the all-time greats. While there are a few obvious selections who truly stand out from the rest, narrowing down generations of football talent into a definitive top ten list is no easy task.
Each player’s contributions to victorious seasons were acknowledged, but stars who excelled during losing stretches were not excluded, either. Conversely, players who had noteworthy individual success in a Rutgers uniform, but were not regarded as leaders of their teams, had a tougher time making the cut.
So, without further ado, let’s take a stroll down “the banks of the old Raritan” to recount the greatest players who donned the scarlet and white.
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