Here's one look at an All-Time NFL Team made up of players from the University of California.
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers
This is a pretty automatic pick but it should be pointed out that Cal has had a few quarterbacks lead teams to the Super Bowl. Joe Kapp, Craig Morton, Vince Ferragamo, and Rodgers. Gale Gilbert made it to an incredible five consecutive Super Bowls as a member of the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers.
Running backs
Marshawn Lynch
Chuck Muncie
I really wanted to have Johnny Olszewski on this team. Johnny O! He was a great player at Cal and had a nice NFL career, mostly with the Chicago Cardinals, but I have to go with Lynch and Muncie. If it wasn't for some personal demons Muncie might have been one of the best backs to ever play. He could do it all. Jackie Jensen might have been the greatest athlete to ever compete at Cal and he might have made this team if he had chosen football over baseball as his professional pursuit.
Receivers
Wesley Walker
DeSean Jackson
There's some speed there.
Tight end
Tony Gonzalez
Not much needs to be said here.
Tackles
Tarik Glenn
Bob Reinhard
Glenn kept Peyton Manning safe for nine years. Reinhard was one of the best linemen in the four-year history of the All-America Football Conference. He played a single season in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams in 1950 so it might be a stretch to put him on an All-Time NFL team but he was great.
Guards
Ed White
John Welbourn
White's an easy choice. He was an excellent guard for the Minnesota Vikings and San Diego Chargers. He was part of each of the Vikings Super Bowl teams. Welbourn was an integral part of a very good Kansas City Chiefs offensive line.
Center
Alex Mack
Mack's one of the best centers in the game today.
Defensive ends
Andre Carter
Sherman White
Carter was one of the top pass rushers in the league for most of his 13-year career. White was a solid player for 12 years for the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills.
Defensive tackles
Brandon Mebane
Chidi Ahanotu
Each is/was a run-stopping force in the middle of a couple of the best defenses in recent memory. Mebane for the current Seahawks and Ahanotu for the Buccaneers in the 1990s and Mebane on the current Seahawks.
Linebackers
Les Richter
Hardy Nickerson
Ken Harvey
This might be the most competitive position. Richter is an automatic pick. He's currently the only Cal player that has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Nickerson is an easy choice as well. He was a leader of the great Buccaneers defenses of the late 1990s. Harvey was a terrific player for the Phoenix Cardinals and Washington Redskins. Despite playing only six seasons for the team he was voted one of the 70 Greatest Redskins. It's tough to leave players like Matt Hazeltine, Gary Plummer, and Ron Rivera off of this team.
Cornerbacks
Nnambi Asomugha
Deltha O'Neal
Asomugha was one of the best corners in the game for several years. O'Neal was a solid corner and punt returner for the Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals.
Safeties
Herman Edwards
Thomas DeCoud
This might be the least competitive position. Edwards was more corner than safety in the NFL but he's a safety on this team. He's needed there. DeCoud was a solid player for most of his six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.
Kicker
Ryan Longwell
Longwell wins a battle with Ray Wersching.
Punter
Bryan Anger
Anger is one of the best punters in the league.
Cal's greatest football teams were Andy Smith's "Wonder Teams" of the early 1920s and that was a time when a professional football career was barely a thing. The football success in Berkeley since those glory teams has been spotty at best. That can be seen in the quality of this All-Time team. There are some great players. Les Richter will be joined soon by Tony Gonzalez in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Five years after he retires from the game Aaron Rodgers will follow them to Canton. An argument will be made for the inclusion of Marshawn Lynch and Nnambi Asomugha. Most of the players on this All-Time team fall into the good-to-very good category in terms of their NFL careers. That's pretty good for a school that has seen the football success that Cal has seen.
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