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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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Dick Butkus Career Statistics, 1962-1964

  • Games Played: 28
  • Tackles: 374
  • Notables: Third Place in 1963 Heisman Trophy, 1963 & 1964 Consensus First Team All-American, 1963 Chicago Tribune Silver Football winner, 1964 UPI Lineman of the Year, #50 retired by Illinois, Namesake of the Butkus Award.

Since his departure from Illinois in 1965, Dick Butkus is still the gold standard in which all linebackers look up to, even in 2018. Butkus was a fierce, hard-hitting linebacker that amassed a total of 374 tackles during his career with the Fighting Illini. He was an integral part of the 1963 Illini team that was Big Ten Champions and won the Rose Bowl against Washington.

Butkus played in every game possible during his three years, 26 in all. He stepped in right away as a sophomore and ended 1962 with 97 tackles. In 1963, his production rocketed up to 145 tackles in ten games, which earned the Chicago Tribune Silver Football. His senior year saw him rack up 132 tackles in nine games, a great finishing touch to a legendary career.

Butkus was a two-time consensus First Team All-American and was named UPI Lineman of the Year in 1964 as he played center in addition to linebacker. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 1965 NFL Draft.

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