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Bears legend is ranked as the best college linebacker ever!


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Vince Carbonneau
July 9, 2022  (12:39)
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A college football page named Big Game Boomer made a list of the top 100 college linebackers ever. It was a very interesting idea and Bears fans will be happy with it. The #1 player is non-other than Dick Butkus!

Let me remind you that Butkus played both ways as well in college. He was actually playing Center and linebacker from 1962 through 1964.
Butkus was absolutely amazing in college at the University of Illinois. He was chosen for the 1964 All-America team by five of the six major selectors. In a cover story for Sports Illustrated that season, sportswriter Dan Jenkins remarked, "If every college football team had a linebacker like Dick Butkus of Illinois, all fullbacks soon would be three feet tall and sing soprano." He also finished 6th in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1963 and third in 1964. This is something rare both for a lineman and a defensive player.
When Butkus saw the list, he reacted by saying:
not bad for a Lithuanian SouthSider!! what do you think?

We think you deserve it 100%, Dick.

On the same list, other notable former Bears are also inside the top 100.

Mike Singletary is listed at the 11th spot for the University of Baylor.

Roquan Smith is listed at the 23rd spot for the University of Georgia.

Brian Urlacher is listed at the 38th spot for the University of New Mexico.

Here is the list:


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