Just as I did yesterday with building an all-time Tech basketball roster, I spent today building a 53-man football roster. I elected against an 85-man roster because of redshirts and transfers, etc. While I think the NFL's roster sizes are a little restrictive, they have a standard and I'm rolling with it.
I elected to utilize a spread offense (duh, it's Tech) and a 3-4 defense to take advantage of the great tacklers we've had in Tech history. Without further ado, here's my squad.
Offense
QB: Tim Rattay, Terry Bradshaw, Luke McCown
Rattay gets the nod as the starter over Bradshaw and McCown, who both had better pro careers. But from an efficiency and production standpoint, Rattay is the best QB in Tech history.
RB: Ryan Moats, Kenneth Dixon, Joe Smith, Daniel Porter
Moats and Dixon are the top two backs in school history and would split carries with the first team. Smith would be the short-yardage back and play some fullback. Porter, with two 1,000-yard seasons, gets the nod over Boston Scott.
WR: Troy Edwards, Quinton Patton, Trent Taylor, Roger Carr, Pat Tilley, Chad Mackey
Edwards and Patton would start on the outside with Taylor in the slot. There’s a lot of depth here, and a lot of guys being left out. Carr provides some much-needed size on the outside, while Tilley and Mackey can provide depth in the slot. It’s really hard to leave Bobby Slaughter and Carlos Henderson off this list, but hard cuts have to be made.
TE: Josh Bradley, Mike Barber, Dennis Morris
Bradley is the most productive TE in school history, but Barber was an All-American in both Division II and Division I and had a strong NFL career. Morris was underutilized for three years, but his senior season was outstanding.
OL: Willie Roaf, Tom Hinton, Aaron Lips, O’Shea Dugas, Grant Williams, Jordan Mills, Joey Chustz, Pat Hinton, Joe Hinton
I have an NFL Hall of Famer protecting my QB’s blind side in Roaf and a 9-year NFL vet at RT. Hinton was an All-American, while Lips and Dugas were four-year starters. I’m a little tackle-heavy on the bench, but Mills is an NFL starter and the Hinton brothers are legends.
Defense
DL: Jaylon Ferguson, Fred Dean, Vernon Butler, D’Anthony Smith, Justin Ellis, Matt Broha, IK Enemkpali
My starting front would be Ferguson, Dean and Butler. Dean is a Hall of Famer, Ferguson owns the school’s sack record and Butler is a 330-pound anchor in the middle. Broha, Enemkpali, Smith and Jelly provide great depth. I love this group!
LB: Walter Johnson, Glenell Sanders, Joe McNeely, Tank Landry, Eldonta Osborne, Myron Baker, Ronnie Alexander, Adrien Cole, Damon Harrington
Johnson and Landry would start on the outside with Sanders and McNeely manning the middle. We wouldn’t be missing many tackles. I have plenty of depth here, and the bulk of my special teams units would be made up of these guys.
DB: Amik Robertson, Doug Evans, Xavier Woods, Bobby Gray, Tramon Williams, Antonio Baker, Doyle Adams, John Causey
For my money, Amik is the best DB in Tech history. He just has to go prove it. Doug Evans and Tramon Williams picked off a combined 62 passes in the NFL. Amik can slide into the nickel corner spot and allow them to play outside. Woods and Gray are both versatile safeties, and Baker was a tackling machine. Adams and Causey have the most INTs in school history.
Specialists
K: Matt Stover
There are some great choices here with Stover, Josh Scobee, Chris Boniol and Jonathan Barnes, but Stover’s 57-yard FG is the school record and his 19-year NFL career win him the job. (It’s really hard not to argue Jonathan Barnes is the best kicker in school history.)
P: Ryan Allen
This one is a no-brainer. Allen, a transfer from Oregon State, won the Ray Guy Award twice. He averaged 45 yards per punt, including 48 as a senior. He went on to win three Super Bowls with the Patriots and currently plays for the Falcons. He has averaged 45.1 yards per punt in the seven NFL seasons.
DS: Trey Junkin
Junkin played tight end and linebacker at Tech and was drafted in the fourth round of the 1983 NFL Draft. He went on to play 19 years in the NFL as a deep snapper.
KR: Phillip Livas
Six was just electric with the ball in his hands. He had eight career return TDs, which is a school record and at the time was tied for the most in NCAA history. Livas also can play some slot receiver.