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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) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 21: Head coach P.J. Fleck of the Minnesota Golden Gophers leads his team onto the field before the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini on October 21, 2017 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers defeated the Fighting Illini 24-17. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 21: Head coach P.J. Fleck of the Minnesota Golden Gophers leads his team onto the field before the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini on October 21, 2017 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers defeated the Fighting Illini 24-17. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Bronko Nagurski Career Statistics, 1927-1929

  • Games Played: 24
  • Carries: 135
  • Rushing Yards: 557
  • Total Touchdowns: 6
  • Notables: 1929 All-American, namesake of the Bronko Nagurski Award, #72 retired by Minnesota

To give some an idea of the domination of the legendary Bronko Nagurski, this quote from legendary sportswriter Grantland Rice may help some.

"“Who would you pick to win a football game – 11 Jim Thorpes – 11 Glen Davises – 11 Red Granges – or 11 Bronko Nagurskis? The 11 Nagurskis would be a mop-up. It would be something close to murder and massacre. For the Bronk could star at any position on the field, with 216 pounds (98 kg) of authority to back him up.”"

Nagurski was a physical specimen when he arrived at Minnesota in 1927, standing at 6-foot-2″, 226 lbs. He played right away as a defensive tackle before he began seeing time on the offensive side of the ball as well. In his final two seasons, he carried the ball 135 times for 557 yards, an impressive stat line for the time period.

Nagurski would go on to play for NFL’s Chicago Bears, capturing three NFL Championships.

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