Saturday Blitz
Fansided

HBCU Football: 10 of the best players of all time

By Dante 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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 11
Next
FRISCO, TX – JANUARY 6: (L to R) Former head coach Willie Totten of the Mississippi Valley State Devils, former wide receiver Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49ers, and President and CEO Mickey Charles of The Sports Network great each other during the FCS Awards Banquet at the Frisco Convention Center on January 6, 2012, in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Wade/Getty Images for The Sports Network)
FRISCO, TX – JANUARY 6: (L to R) Former head coach Willie Totten of the Mississippi Valley State Devils, former wide receiver Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49ers, and President and CEO Mickey Charles of The Sports Network great each other during the FCS Awards Banquet at the Frisco Convention Center on January 6, 2012, in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Wade/Getty Images for The Sports Network) /

9. Willie Totten, QB/HC, Mississippi Valley State

When writers make lists about quarterbacks who ran a version of the spread (air-raid, run and shoot, K-gun), names like Robby Bosco, Ty Detmer, Timmy Chang or Case Keenum arise. Heisman Trophy winners Andre Ware and Dave Klingler won those awards, running a variant of the spread.

One name that writers need to add is former Mississippi Valley State quarterback Willie Totten. Because Jerry Rice had the great Hall of Fame career, Totten goes largely forgotten, which is unfortunate. Frankly, Rice needed a quarterback to throw him all of those passes.

Totten held over 50 passing records at one time and still holds several to this day. Totten is the SWAC all-time leader in touchdown passes and is second in yards to Steve McNair (also on this list).

The version of the spread innovated by MVSU head coach Archie “Gunslinger” Cooley often featured five wide receivers and Totten calling plays at the line of scrimmage. The Delta Devils scored 57 points per game in 1984.

Totten and the Delta Devils did not huddle and scored 40 or more points in nine of 11 games. Totten has been forgotten in the annals of college football history. However, down in Itta Bina, Miss., Totten and the Delta Devils spread teams out before lots of teams.

Home/College Football All-Time Lists