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
6 of 11
Next
Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame defensive tackle Buck Buchanan (86) charges upfield during Super Bowl I, a 35-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers on January 15, 1967, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl I played on January 15, 1967, at the Los Angeles Memorial Colesiumin Los Angeles, California. (Photo by James Flores/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame defensive tackle Buck Buchanan (86) charges upfield during Super Bowl I, a 35-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers on January 15, 1967, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl I played on January 15, 1967, at the Los Angeles Memorial Colesiumin Los Angeles, California. (Photo by James Flores/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

6. Buck Buchanan, DE, Grambling State

Telling the story about Buck Buchanan is, to begin with all of the accolades. He was an NAIA All-American and a three-time Black College Football All-American. Buchanan is one of four former Grambling State Tigers who are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Buchanan was part of the first class of the Black College Football Hall of Fame. Buchanan was inducted in the NCAA Football Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. Buchanan also is the first black No. 1 overall draft pick in professional football.

Every accolade and Hall of Fame Buchanan is part of is well deserved. Eddie Robinson said  Buchanan was “the finest lineman I’ve ever seen.” That is high praise for a coach who put over 200 players in the NFL during his coaching career.

Perhaps most impressive about Buchanan is that he’d fit right into the modern NFL. At 6-foot-7 and 287 pounds, the Birmingham, Ala., native has a modern NFL defensive end or tackle’s physical dimensions. Buchanan would be taller and heavier than Jadeveon Clowney.

In addition to his physical size, Buchanan was a freak athlete for any era. Buchanan ran a 4.9 40-yard dash and a 10.2 100-yard dash while at Grambling as well, making him a nightmare for defensive coordinators.

Home/College Football All-Time Lists