By: Daniel Gunn (@DanielGunn)
While the 90’s were best worn on defensive players, it’s a different story for the 80’s. Numbers 89-80 didn’t seem to be as popular as the single digits and teens for skill players, but there were some amazing players to ball out in the 80s. Let’s take a deeper dive and see who wore it best in the 80’s.
#89 – Blaze Gunner
One thing for sure is that Blaze does not have an empty trophy case at his house. In his 4 year career, one at Nebraska, three at Miami, he was able to rack up two All-Americans at WR, two Offensive Player of the Weeks, a National Championship, and was awarded Most Outstanding Senior in Season 9.
Not only was he a dominant wide receiver, he was a dynamic returner as well. Gunner has the tenth most kick return yards all-time. Blaze’s name is littered throughout the career record books for the Early Era, fifth in receiving yards, sixth in kick return yards, seventh in receiving touchdowns, and tenth in punt return yards. You can also find his name all over the Miami record books as well.
#88 – Jessica Stephens
Wide Receiver Jessica Stephens spent her entire four-year career at the University of Illinois. Jessica is easily the best wide receiver to play for the Fighting Illini and has a strong argument to be the best player to ever play there, regardless of position. She is the career leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns at Illinois. Stephens also has the second-most career kick and punt return yards, and the third-most career pancakes in school history.
#87 – Gunny McGuire
Gunny McGuire spent his first two seasons at Oregon, year three at Bowling Green, and finished his career at North Carolina, where he was named an All-American at the WR position. At Oregon, he snagged the second most touchdowns in a single season with 11.
In his one season at Bowling Green earned multiple spots in the school’s career record book. He has the most receiving and kick return touchdowns, second most receiving and kick return yards, and the fifth most punt return yards. Despite only playing one season at UNC, he holds the fifth most receiving touchdowns in school history.
#86 – Cross Ferry III
Playing all three seasons at Auburn, Cross Ferry III was a dynamic wide receiver and return man. At Auburn, he was named an All-American returner in Season 5 and helped the Tigers win the National Championship in Season 6. Ferry has the seventh most punt return yards in the Early Era. You can find Ferry’s name all over the Auburn career record books. At Auburn he has the most receiving touchdowns, most kick return yards, second most punt return yards, and fourth most receiving yards.
#85 – Jackson James
Tight End Jackson James is a two-time All-American, one-time National Champion, and was voted to the content team’s Mt. Rushmore of tight ends. In his three seasons at Texas, James has the sixth most receptions in the Early Era. Texas has been in the CFSL since Season 3 which makes it even more impressive that this 4-star TE has the fifth most receptions and fifth most receiving yards in school history.
#84 – Damien Butler
Damien Butler spent the first of his five seasons in the league at Eastern Michigan and his final four at Missouri, where he was selected as an All-American WR in his last year. During his one season at EMU, he racked up 7 pancakes which is tied for the fourth most in school history.
Damien is unarguably the best WR to play at Missouri, where he has the most receptions, most receiving yards, most receiving touchdowns and the third most pancakes in school history. Butler was also a dynamic return man at Missouri, having the most kick return and punt return yards for the Tigers.
#83 – Vernon Mills
One-time All-American WR, Vernon Mills spent two seasons at Oklahoma and two seasons at Florida State. He won a National Championship in Season 14 with the Seminoles. Mills sits in the eighth spot for career receiving yards in the Steroid Era.
Despite only playing two seasons at each Oklahoma and FSU, you can find Vernon’s name in both school’s career record books. At Oklahoma, Mills has the third most receiving yards, third most pancakes, fourth-most receiving touchdowns and fifth most kick return yards. In his time at FSU, he has the second most pancakes in school history.
#82 – Cadbury Wellington
Cadbury Wellington, aka Beef, is arguably the best tight end in CFSL history. He played all 4 seasons for North Carolina. Wellington was a unanimous selection for the content team’s Tight End Mt. Rushmore, the Season 18 Offensive Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Senior, and was a two-time All-American.
You can find Beef all over the UNC career record books. Wellington has the most receptions, most pancakes, second-most receiving yards, and second-most receiving touchdowns in school history. Also, Cadbury was a very good returner which is rare for a tight end. He has the most punt return yards and second most kick return yards at North Carolina.
#81 – Deuce Bolden
Bolden is one of the most decorated wide receivers in the CFSL. Playing all four seasons at Miami, he won Offensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player in Season 19, won an Offensive Player of the Week, and is a two-time All-American WR.
Deuce has the second-most receiving touchdowns, fourth-most receiving yards, and tenth-most receptions All-Time in the CFSL. In the Steroid Era career record book, Bolden has the second-most receiving TDs, third-most receiving yards, sixth-most receptions, and eighth-most pancakes. He also holds the record for most receiving touchdowns in a season with twenty-two in Season 19.
#80 – Lord Helix
Wide Receiver Lord Helix played his first two seasons at Washington and finished his four-year career at Texas where he won a National Championship and was named an All-American WR. In the Early Era, Helix has the seventh most receiving yards and ninth most receiving touchdowns for a career. While at Washington, Lord Helix has the third-most receiving touchdowns, fourth-most receiving yards, and fifth-most pancakes in school history.
