Ranking the Big 12's top all-time players

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By Brian George
BGeorge@pigskinpodcast.com

Over the past few weeks, I've started a rundown of the three greatest players from each team in each of the six BCS conferences, based primarily on the players' accomplishments in college.

Feel free to agree or disagree by sending us an e-mail. We may even use your e-mail and response on an upcoming show! We'll continue this week with Part 1 of the Big XII.

(Archive: Big Ten 1; Big Ten II; ACC I; ACC II.)

BAYLOR

1. Mike Singletary (LB): Three-time All-American - twice unanimously -- was the only junior to be selected to the All-Southwest Conference Team of the 1970s and won the Davey O'Brien Memorial Award Trophy, given to the Outstanding Player in the SWC, twice. Singletary was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995.
2. Don Trull (QB): All-American was a two-time winner of the Sammy Baugh Trophy, and was the only player to win the award twice since its 1959 inception. He finished fourth in the 1963 Heisman vote.
3. Thomas Everett (FS): Two-time first-team All-American was the 1986 Jim Thorpe winner. Two-time conference MVP, and selected Southwest Conference athlete of the year in 1986-87.

COLORADO

1. Byron "Whizzer" White (RB): School's first All-American (1937) is one of only three players to have their number (No. 24) retired in Buffs history. His average of 246 rushing yards/game in 1937 stood for 51 years. College Footabll Hall of Fame inductee in 1952.
2. Bobby Anderson (QB/RB): Set 18 single-game, season and career marks en route to consensus All-American honors in his senior year with the Buffs. Along with White, one of three Buffs players to have his number (No. 11) retired.
3. Rashaan Salaam (RB): Set school marks for touchdowns and rushing yards in route to a unanimous All-American selection and 1994 Heisman Trophy and Walter Camp and Doak Walker awards.

IOWA STATE

1. Troy Davis (RB): Nation's leading rusher and All-American in 1995 and '96, and set three school records. He was the first back in school history to twice top 2,000 yards. Finished fifth in the '95 Heisman race and finished a close second to Danny Wuerffel in 1996.
2. Ed Bock (G): First All-American in ISU history, consensus in 1938 and inducted in 1970 into the College Football Hall of Fame.
3. Mike Busch (TE): Consensus All-American in 1989 and first-team All-Big 8 in 1988 and '89.

KANSAS

1. Gale Sayers (RB): Two-time All-American set a then-Division I record in 1963 with a 99-yard run and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977. One of three Jayhawks to have their number (No. 48) retired.
2. Ray Evans (QB/DB): All-American in 1947 is the only player in NCAA history to lead the nation in passing offense and interceptions on defense in the same year. Owns Jayhawk records for interceptions in a season and career, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1964. One of three former Jayhawks to have their number (No. 42) retired.
3. John Hadl (QB/HB): All-American running back in 1960 and All-American quarterback in 1961. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame inductee in 1994 has his No. 21 retired.

KANSAS STATE

1. Darren Sproles (RB): All-American left Manhattan with the sixth-most all-purpose yards in NCAA history. He's 11th on the all-time rushing list, set 23 school records, and led the Wildcats to their first Big 12 Conference title. Finished fifth in the 2003 Heisman voting.
2. Michael Bishop (QB): 1998 Davey O'Brien Award winner finished second in the Heisman voting to Texas' Ricky Williams. A consensus All-American, the 1998 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year finished fourth all-time at KSU in passing and tops in career touchdown passes despite playing only two seasons.
3. Gary Spani (LB): First consensus All-American in KSU history in 1977, he was a one-time Big Eight defensive player of the year and three-time All-Big Eight selection. Still holds the tackles record at KSU and is a 2002 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame.

MISSOURI

1. Roger Wehrli (DB): Two-time All-Big Eight and conference defensive player of the year as a senior, and also earned unanimous All-American honors. Finished his career with four school records, including career punt returns and punt return yardage, and was a 2003 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame. His No. 22 is one of seven retired by the Tigers
2. Brad Smith (QB): 2002 All-American and the first player in 1-A history to pass for 8,000 and run for 4,000 yards in a career and twice pass for 2,000 and run for 1,000 in a season. All-time 1-A leader for rushing by a quarterback and left school with six Tiger records.
3. Kellen Winslow Sr. (TE): Back-to-back All-conference pick and a consensus All-American his senior year. Has his No. 83 retired.

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