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HBCU Football: 10 of the best players of all time

ByDante Pryor|
Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair (9) scrambles out of the pocket during the game against the Jaguars at Alltell Stadium in Jacksonville Dec. 22, 2002. The Titans defeated their AFC South foe 28-10.021222 B
Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair (9) scrambles out of the pocket during the game against the Jaguars at Alltell Stadium in Jacksonville Dec. 22, 2002. The Titans defeated their AFC South foe 28-10.021222 B
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PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 4: Quarterback Mark Malone #16 of the Pittsburgh Steelers passes as he is pressured by linebacker Robert Brazile #52 of the Houston Oilers as running back Frank Pollard #30 blocks during a game at Three Rivers Stadium on November 4, 1984, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Oilers 35-7. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 4: Quarterback Mark Malone #16 of the Pittsburgh Steelers passes as he is pressured by linebacker Robert Brazile #52 of the Houston Oilers as running back Frank Pollard #30 blocks during a game at Three Rivers Stadium on November 4, 1984, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Oilers 35-7. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

2. Robert Brazile, LB, Jackson State

This season, Jackson State head coach Deon Sanders has recruited the best class in the history of HBCU football. The 1974 Jackson State Tigers would beg to differ. That team featured three NFL Hall of Famers; Walter Payton, Jackie Slater and linebacker Robert Brazile.

Brazile was recruited originally as a tight end. With injuries to the Tigers’ top three linebackers, he was moved to linebacker. The move worked out for both Jackson State and Brazile. The Tigers won 33 games and two SWAC titles during Brazile’s time, and the Mobile, Ala., native became a top-10 pick in the NFL draft.

Both he and his teammate, Walter Payton, would go in the top 10 of the 1975 NFL Draft.

Brazile would play ten seasons for the Houston Oilers and have a Hall of Fame career. Known as Dr. Doom, Brazile was the progenitor of the 3-4 rush linebacker. Before Lawrence Taylor was terrorizing quarterbacks, Brazile was making a living in offensive backfields.

Since quarterback sacks were not an official statistic until 1982, Brazile is credited with only 11 career sacks officially. Unofficially, Brazile has 48. No matter the number of sacks Dr. Doom is credited with, he forever changed how the position is played.

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