Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Big Ten Football: Ranking the 30 best players of all time

By Quinn Douglas

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after their 27-21 win over the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after their 27-21 win over the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
11 of 32
Next

Otto Graham Career Statistics, 1941-1943

  • Games Played: 26
  • Carries: 311
  • Rushing Yards: 823
  • Yards per Carry: 2.6
  • Completions: 157
  • Passing Attempts: 320
  • Completion Percentage: 49.1
  • Passing Yards: 2181
  • Total Touchdowns: 18
  • Notables: 1943 Chicago Tribune Silver Football winner, 1943 First Team All-American, 1943 First Team All-Big Ten, 1941 & 1942 Second Team All-Big Ten

When you are known by a legendary nickname like “Automatic Otto”, you better live up to that, and Otto Graham surely did. Before leading the Cleveland Browns to seven championships, Graham was a star for Northwestern in football, basketball and baseball. Graham finished his football career with 3,004 yards of total offense and 18 touchdowns, a true renaissance man on the gridiron.

Graham came to Northwestern from nearby Waukegan High School in Waukegan, Illinois. He had a solid first season, rushing for 259 yards and passing for 599 yards, leading the Wildcats to a 5-3 record. In 1942, the Wildcats roster was depleted due to World War II, which forced Graham to carry the team. Despite his best statistical season, Northwestern finished 1-9.

His senior year provided a better result as a team, as the Wildcats finished the year 6-2, with only a loss to Michigan preventing them from a chance at the Big Ten title. Graham went on to play quarterback with the AAFC and eventual NFL franchise Cleveland Browns.

Home/Big Ten