Minnesota Football: The Top 20 Golden Gophers of All Time
The Minnesota Golden Gopher football program has been all but relevant in the past decade of Big Ten college football.
Struggling to stay consistent, the Gophers posted solid records in 2002 and 2003 at 8-5 and 10-3 respectively.
But since then, Minnesota has yet to reach that level, causing the program to get lost from the spotlight of college football to teams like Ohio State and Wisconsin.
And even though that is the case, the Minnesota football program is a school that possess a rich college football tradition and past, dating back to its first years in 1886.
In order to fully understand the tradition and past of Minnesota football, here are the top 20 players in the history of the Golden Gopher football program.
20. RB Tellis Redmon
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Although his professional career never came to fruition, Tellis Redmon still had a stellar collegiate career with the University of Minnesota.
In his career at Minnesota, Redmon rushed for 2,481 yards and 15 touchdowns. In his two years as the starting running back Redmon rushed over 1,000 yards each year.
Redmon was also a dynamic punt returner for Minnesota amassing almost 500 yards in two seasons. He only returned one punt return in his sophomore year.
Redmon was the one bright spot on the Minnesota offense that produced a measly 6-6 record in 2000 and a 4-7 record in 2001.
He declared early for the NFL after his junior season in 2001.
19. WR Omar Douglas
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Omar Douglas was a two year standout for the Golden Gophers in 1992 and 1993.
In 1992, he increased his reception total from his 1991 total of eight to 61. While only scoring three touchdowns in his junior year, Douglas still average 11.0 yards per reception and he total more than 600 receiving yards.
In his senior season, Douglas increased his receiving yards again to 880 and also raised his yards per reception to 14.7.
For his career, Douglas totaled 130 receptions and had 14 total touchdowns.
Douglas was named to the All Big Ten Second Team in 1993 along with being name the team's MVP.
18. TE Matt Spaeth
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Growing up in Minnesota, Matt Spaeth was a long time target of the Golden Gophers coming out of high school.
When Spaeth arrived on campus in 2003, he took advantage of his playing time and was named to the Rivals.com Freshman All-American Team.
Spaeth went on to start the next three years for Minnesota at tight end.
In 2005, Spaeth was named to the All-Big Ten First Team after a season where he caught 26 receptions and totaled more than 300 yards and four touchdowns.
His senior season was his most productive year. Spaeth, who would later be a First-team All-American, attained a career high in both receptions (47) and receiving yards (564).
Spaeth led his team to the Insight Bowl in 2006 and was then drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
17. QB Rickey Foggie
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Rickey Foggie was recruited by Lou Holtz to play football for the Golden Gophers in 1984.
Foggie was a four-year starter for Holtz and was a key component in Minnesota's improvement to an above .500 record in those four years.
As a starter, Foggie led Minnesota to upsets over Michigan and Iowa and led the Golden Gophers to two bowl game appearances.
He totaled 5,162 passing yards for his career and 34 touchdowns.
In his senior season, Foggie was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team and was also given the team's Bronko Nagurski Award which is given to the team's most valuable player after every season.
Foggie continued his football career in the CFL and Arena Football League. Once he retired, Foggie moved on to become a coach in the Arena Football League and then in local high school football in Minnesota.
(photo courtesy of fanbase.com)
16. OG/ FB Clarence Munn
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In the late 1920s, Clarence Munn made a name for himself in the world of college football.
Playing both offensive guard and fullback for his hometown Minnesota Golden Gophers, Munn was a two-time All-Big Ten First team representative.
Going into his senior season in 1931, Munn was also named the team captain of both football and track and field.
Munn received more accolades in his senior season, attaining both a spot on the AP All-American team and the Chicago Tribune's Silver Football which is given to the Big Ten's best football player.
Along with being a guard and fullback for Minnesota, Munn was also widely considered the best punter in the nation.
(photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org)
15. QB Asad Abdul-Khaliq
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Asad Abdul-Khaliq was a four-year letterman for the Golden Gophers from 2000-2003.
Receiving starting time his when he was a true freshman, Abdul-Khaliq threw for only 767 yards. Eventually, he had to split time with another quarterback named Travis Cole. Cole did take much of the starting time in Abdul-Khaliq's sophomore year.
But in 2002, Abdul-Khaliq was named the Gophers' full-time starter.
He led the Gophers to their best two records of the decade in 2002 and 2003 at 8-5 and 10-3.
Abdul-Khaliq threw for 6,600 passing yards in his career along with 55 touchdowns.
In those two years, the Gophers played in the Music City Bowl and the Sun Bowl.
After he finished his college career with Minnesota, he signed a contract with the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League in 2003.
14. DE Willie VanDeSteeg
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Willie VanDeSteeg was regarded as one of the Gophers' top competitors during his time at the University of Minnesota.
VanDeSteeg was three-year starter who garnered all-Conference honors in both his sophomore and senior seasons.
In those two seasons, VanDeSteeg record 10.5 sacks as a sophomore and posted another 10 sacks as a senior.
According to Sports Illustrated in 2009, VanDeSteeg is a "hard-working defensive end who makes a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage."
He will always be remembered by Minnesota fans as one of the hardest working defensive players in the history of the program.
13. WR Ernie Wheelwright
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Ernie Wheelwright is one of the most celebrated wide receivers in Minnesota history.
From 2004-2007, Wheelwright started 44 of his 49 career games played. He tied the school record for most consecutive games with a touchdown at a total of seven in 2006-2007.
Wheelwright is No. 3 on the Gophers' all-time list for career receptions and career receiving yards.
His numbers include 159 receptions along with 2,434 yards and 26 touchdowns.
He also had six 100-yard receiving games.
Wheelwright was a consistent threat in the Minnesota passing attack in those four years and remains a popular name around the history of the program.
Many consider him the fourth best wide receiver in school history.
12. WR Ron Johnson
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Ron Johnson was a 6'3 wide receiver from Detroit, Mich.
When he arrived on the Minnesota football team in 1998, Johnson made an immediate impact with almost 500 yards receiving and four touchdowns.
As his career progressed, Johnson became one of the school's elite playmakers and the team's best wide receiver.
Johnson is the schools all-time leader in career touchdowns with 31. He also has 2,989 total receiving yards and averaged 15.1 yards per reception.
Johnson accumulated many accolades over his career, among those being a Biletnikof Award and All-American candidate.
His numbers throughout his career and the playmaking ability he brought to the Gophers makes him arguably the best wide receiver in school history.
He debuted in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens in 2002.
11. RB Marion Barber III
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Marion Barber III has been on of the most recognizable names to come out of the Minnesota football program over the last decade.
Barber III was the son of another famous Minnesota running back Marion Barber, Jr.
He posted two 1,000-yard seasons in 2003 and 2004 and scored 17 touchdowns in his junior year.
Barber was an All-Big Ten First team member in 2003 and was named the team's most valuable player and best offensive player in 2004.
He remains second on the school's all-time rushing touchdown list with 35 career touchdowns.
Barber's running game was primarily described as a strong "north-south" style. Barber was known for running over his opponents and gaining those tough yards in the trenches.
Eventually, Barber totaled 3,276 rushing yards after his four years were completed at Minnesota.
He went on to be drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and is still producing a mildly successful career in the NFL.
10. RB Lawrence Maroney
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Along with Marion Barber III, Laurence Maroney helped bring some relevance to the Minnesota football program over the last decade.
Maroney came onto the scene during Barber's junior season.
In 2003 and 2004, Maroney's freshman and sophomore seasons, he and Barber formed one of the nation's best running back duos.
In his three years at Minnesota, Maroney rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of those three seasons.
His performance in 2003 brought Maroney the Big Ten Freshman of the Year because of his 1,121 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Over his career, Maroney totaled 3,933 rushing yards 32 touchdowns. His rushing yards total is the second highest in school history behind only Darrell Thompson.
Maroney helped lead the Gophers to three straight bowl appearances from 2003 to 2005.
He was later drafted by the Patriots after declaring early for the 2005 NFL draft.
9. C Ben Hamilton
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Ben Hamilton was one of the best offensive lineman in Minnesota history.
Hamilton was a two-time All-American selection as well as a two-time All-Big Ten First team selection.
Hamilton was also awarded with the Butch Nash Award for his excellent play on the field as well as in the classroom at Minnesota.
At 6'4", 290 lbs, Hamilton was the anchor of the Gopher offensive line from 1999-2000.
He has gone on to have a successful NFL career with the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks.
8. S Tyrone Carter
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Tyrone Carter as been remembered as one of the Gopher's best defensive players of all-time.
During the course of his stellar collegiate football career, Carter recorded 584 tackles and 414 of those were solo tackles. Both of these are still Division 1 records.
In 1998 and 1999, Carter began to receive accolades for his outstanding ability. He was selected as an All-American in both years and received recognition as the winner of the Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back) in 1999.
Carter was also a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy which is also given to the best overall defensive player in the nation.
The Gophers also named Carter the top defensive player on the entire Minnesota team in both of those years.
Carter has gone on to play for the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers.
7. DL Bobby Bell
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During his high school years Bobby Bell received All-State honors as a quarterback.
But when Bell arrived at Minnesota, the coaches switched him over to defensive line.
Bell performed highly as he anchored the Minnesota defensive line in the early 1960's. He was a two-time All-American team selection in 1961 and 1962.
Also in 1962, Bell received the Outland Trophy which is given to the nation's top interior lineman and also finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Bell helped lead the Gophers to a National Championship in 1960 along with two Rose Bowl appearances in 1961 and 1962.
After a stellar professional career as well, Bell has been inducted into both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
(photo courtesy of arrowheadpride.com)
6. QB Adam Weber
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Adam Weber is one of the best quarterbacks in the history of Minnesota football.
Although he was only named to a All-Big Ten Second team, Weber broke numerous passing records at Minnesota.
In his freshman year Weber set single-season school records in passing yards, completions, passing touchdowns and total offense.
In his four years with the Gophers, Weber led Minnesota to an astounding 7-1 start in 2008 before dropping the final five games after star wide receiver Eric Decker went out with an injury.
Weber broke the school record for career touchdown passes against USC on Sept. 18 when he threw his 56th career touchdown pass. After the 2010 season ended, Weber eventually brought that number up to 72.
He also became the fifth quarterback in Big Ten history to throw for at least 10,000 passing yards in a career.
Despite the numerous records Weber broke, he was unable to lead the Gophers to any sort of dominant season in the Big Ten.
5. WR Eric Decker
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Eric Decker is widely considered the best wide receiver in the history of Minnesota football.
He holds the team record for career receiving yards and receptions.
A starter all four years, Decker could have posted even bigger numbers, but he was forced to miss the last four games of his senior season after suffering an injury against Ohio State.
Decker provided the Gophers with consistent and elite play out of the wide receiver position all four years that he was there.
He totaled 3,119 receiving yards and 228 receptions in his four years at Minnesota.
Sports Illustrated columnist Stewart Mandel regarded Decker as the third best wide receiver in college football behind A.J. Green and Dez Bryant in 2009.
Decker was named to the All-Big Ten First team in 2008 and then to the Second team in 2009.
He currently plays in the NFL on the Denver Broncos.
4. QB Sandy Stephens
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The most memorable aspect of Sandy Stephen's career at Minnesota was that the was the school's first African American football player to play quarterback.
Stephens is the only quarterback in Minnesota history to lead the team to the Rose Bowl. And he did it twice, in both 1961 and 1962.
He also was the quarterback of the 1960 National Championship football team.
In 1961, he became the first African American quarterback from a major university to be named as an All-American and he placed fourth in the Heisman voting for that year.
Similar to Clarence Munn, Stephens also received the Chicago Tribune Silver Football in 1961 as he was named the Big Ten Player of the Year.
After his football career was over, Stephens was inducted into both the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.
(courtesy of gophersports.com)
3. RB Darrell Thompson
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Darrell Thompson was a stat-machine for the Golden Gophers from 1986-1989.
A dominating rusher, Thompson is one of the greatest players to ever wear a Minnesota jersey.
He is the only running back in school history to rush for more than 4,000 career yards, placing him as the all-time school record holder in rushing yards with 4,654.
In his career he recorded 40 career rushing touchdowns and 23 100-yard games.
He was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1986 along with being named to the All-Big Ten First team.
He was later named to the All-Big Ten Second team twice more in his career.
There has yet to be another running back as dominating as Darrell Thompson was in a Minnesota uniform.
And most likely, there never will be.
He is arguably one of the best running backs in the history of the school.
2. FB/DT Bronko Nagurski
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In his time at Minnesota in the late 1920s, Bronko Nagurski played both ways for the Gophers at both the fullback and defensive tackle positions.
In 1929, he led the nation in rushing as a fullback and was named a consensus All-American. Then, also made other All-American teams at the defensive tackle position.
Sports Illustrated name Nagurski as one of the four greatest athletes in Minnesota state history along with Dave Winfield, Kevin McHale and Joe Mauer.
The Football Writers Association of America eventually created the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 1993, and it was given to the most outstanding defensive player in the nation.
In 2007, ESPN named Nagurski the No. 17 best college football player of all-time.
He went on to win two Super Bowls with the Chicago Bears and many division titles.
(courtesy of sbnation.com)
1. RB Bruce Smith
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It is fitting that the only player in the school's history to win a Heisman Trophy is the No. 1 greatest Golden Gopher of all time.
Running back Bruce Smith dominated the competition in the early 1940s.
He was a standout player amongst the back-to-back national championship teams for Minnesota in 1940 and 1941.
Along with the Heisman Trophy in 1941, Smith went on to be named to All-Big Ten First team and a consensus All-American.
For his accomplishments, Smith was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1972.
Following his induction, Smith was the first player in the history of the University of Minnesota to have his jersey retired by the football program.
Until another Minnesota player can reach Smith's level and claim a Heisman Trophy, Smith will be in a class all by himself in the history of the football program at Minnesota.
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