12:57 PM ET Our series continues on the best players ever to wear the uniform of a current Big Ten program. Remember, this is not to serve as a judgment on NFL careers. It’s based entirely on each player’s college career and how it was viewed in his respective time period. Up next are the linebackers. Dick Butkus, Illinois, 1962-64: Is there any doubt? This one is every bit as obvious as Bronko Nagurski at defensive tackle. Butkus wrote the book on great linebacker play. Annually, as you know, the top linebacker in the game is presented with the Butkus Award. Any questions? Butkus was a two-time All-American for the Illini and is widely recognized as the best college linebacker ever. ESPN ranked him as the 19th-best college player of all time. He finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting as a junior and third as a senior behind Notre Dame QB John Huarte and Tulsa’s Jerry Rhome…
Continue Reading: Ranking the Big Ten’s top 5 all-time LBs
