College Football Throwbacks

Bringing back the names you forgot
And the ones you never will

Players • Coaches • Teams from every era

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

Bob Kalsu
Oklahoma (1964–1967)
📍 Del City High School (OK)

Today on Memorial Day, we remember Bob Kalsu.

Long before Pat Tillman, Kalsu became one of the few major football players to leave the game behind to serve his country during wartime. He remains one of only two active professional football players killed in combat during the Vietnam War. The other being Don Steinbrunner.

An All-American offensive tackle at Oklahoma, Kalsu helped lead the Sooners to a Big Eight Championship while building a reputation for toughness, leadership, and selflessness on and off the field.

*Team captain at Oklahoma
*Helped lead OU to the 1968 Orange Bowl victory
*Started at guard during his rookie season with the Buffalo Bills in 1968, ultimately being voted Bills offensive rookie of the year

A respected leader whose character meant just as much as his accomplishments on the football field.

* Turned down opportunities to avoid military service, choosing to honor his ROTC commitment
* Deployed to South Vietnam in November 1969 as a Second Lieutenant
* Spent much of his deployment stationed at Firebase Ripcord, one of the more heavily contested positions of the Vietnam War campaign.

🏆 First-Team All-American (1967)
🏆 First-Team All-Big Eight
🏆 Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame (Inducted 2000)

➡️ Following the 1968 NFL season, Kalsu entered active duty with the United States Army as part of the 101st Airborne Division. He was tragically killed in action by enemy mortar fire during the Battle of Fire Support Base Ripcord in Vietnam on July 21, 1970, at just 25 years old.

Two days after his death, back home in Oklahoma, his wife Jan gave birth to their son, James Robert Kalsu Jr. She was informed of Bob’s passing only hours after the delivery, leaving behind a newborn son and a young daughter, Jill.

Today, his name graces the football stadium at Del City High School, and Oklahoma still awards the Bob Kalsu Award to the player who best exemplifies his leadership and character.

Again, today is about much more than football. We remember and honor Bob Kalsu, and all of those alike who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.
#MemorialDay #BobKalsu #Oklahoma #Sooners #BoomerSooner #collegefootball #CFB #football #footballhistory #Vietnam #NeverForget #CollegeFootballThrowbacks

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

⏳️ #96 Days Until College Football

Justin "The Cowboy" Smith
📍 Missouri (1998–2000)

#CFB #CollegeFootball #NCAA #Missouri #Mizzou #Big12 #SEC #CFBThrowbacks #CountdownToKickoff

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

Pat Tillman
Arizona State (1994–1997)
📍 Leland High School (CA)
Today on Memorial Day, we remember Pat Tillman and the many others like him who paid the ultimate price.

Before becoming known around the country for his ultimate service and sacrifice, Tillman was one of the toughest, smartest, and most respected players in college football during the 1990s.

Despite being considered undersized for a linebacker at 5-foot-11, Tillman became the emotional leader of Arizona State’s defense and helped the Sun Devils to one of the greatest seasons in program history.

📊 230 career tackles
📊 93 tackles to lead the team during the 1997 season
📊 Led Arizona State to an undefeated regular season and Pac-10 Championship in 1996

A relentless competitor whose passion, toughness, and leadership defined the identity of those legendary Arizona State teams.

* Helped lead Arizona State to the 1997 Rose Bowl
* Voted Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 1997
* Earned Second-Team All-American honors in 1997
* Earned First-Team Academic All-American honors in 1997
* Won the Clyde B. Smith Academic Award in consecutive years (1996, 1997)
* Graduated summa cum laude in 3.5 years with a 3.84 GPA in marketing
* Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010

🏆 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year (1997)
🏆 Sporting News/Honda Scholar-Athlete of the Year (1997)
🏆 Arizona State Hall of Fame

➡️ After being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 1998 and later breaking the franchise record for tackles in a season by a defensive back, Tillman made the courageous decision to leave the NFL. In May 2002, he turned down a multi-million dollar contract extension to enlist in the United States Army following the events of 9/11.

He served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with the 75th Ranger Regiment alongside his brother Kevin. Tillman tragically lost his life in Afghanistan in April 2004 at just 27 years old, but his legacy continues through the Pat Tillman Foundation, which supports veterans, active service members, and military spouses through leadership and scholarship programs.

Today is about much more than football.

We remember and honor Pat Tillman, and all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. 🇺🇸

#MemorialDay #PatTillman #collegefootball #CFB #football #ArizonaState #SunDevils #Pac10 #footballhistory #throwback #CollegeFootballThrowbacks #ASU #FallenHeroes #NeverForget

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

Anthony Dixon
Mississippi State (2006–2009)
📍 Terry High School (MS)

One of the toughest ball carriers to bring down in the late 2000s.

Known to Bulldog fans as “Boobie,” Dixon became the face of Mississippi State’s offense thanks to his punishing running style, toughness between the tackles, and ability to wear defenses down over four quarters.

📊 3,994 career rushing yards
📊 42 career rushing touchdowns
📊 4 straight seasons with 100+ carries

A downhill runner who embraced contact and rarely went down on first hit.

* Finished his career as Mississippi State’s all-time leading rusher at the time
* Rushed for over 1,300 yards during his standout 2009 season
* Helped lead Mississippi State to a Liberty Bowl victory in 2007
* Became one of the most productive backs in school history
* Won the Conerly Trophy as Mississippi’s top college football player

🏆 First-Team All-SEC
🏆 Conerly Trophy winner (2009)

➡️ Selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2010 NFL Draft, later spending time with the 49ers and Bills while earning a reputation as a physical short-yardage back in the NFL.

Who are some other running backs from that era that come to mind? ⬇️

#collegefootball #CFB #NCAA #football #MississippiState #HailState #SEC #runningback #RB #footballhistory #throwback #CollegeFootballThrowbacks

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

Mike Brown
Nebraska (1996–1999)
📍 Saguaro High School (AZ)
Arizona High School Player of the Year ('95)

One of the smartest and hardest-hitting defensive backs Nebraska produced during the Blackshirts era.

Brown became the leader of Nebraska’s defense in the late-1990s, building a reputation for his instincts, toughness, and ability to always be around the football.

📊 287 career tackles
📊 9 career interceptions
📊 Led Nebraska in tackles 3 consecutive seasons (First defensive back in school history to ever do so)

A physical safety who brought intensity and leadership to the Blackshirts defense.

* Helped Nebraska win the 1997 national championship
* Earned First-Team All-American honors in 1999
* Recorded a ridiculous 19 tackles against Texas in 1998
* Finished his career 2nd on Nebraska’s all-time tackles list at the time (287)

🏆 First-Team All-American (1999)
🏆 Academic All-American (1999)
🏆 2x First-Team All-Big 12 (1998, 1999)
🏆 Second-Team All-Big 12 (1997)

➡️ Selected 39th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, later becoming one of the NFL’s top safeties while totaling over 600 career tackles and 20 interceptions.

Brown became especially known in Chicago for his knack for game-changing plays, including multiple walk-off defensive touchdowns during the 2001 season.

One of those classic Blackshirt defenders Nebraska fans remember immediately.

Who are some other old-school Nebraska defenders you loved watching on Saturdays? ⬇️

#collegefootball #NCAA #CFB #football #Nebraska #Huskers #GBR #Blackshirts #Big12 #BigTen #B1G #defense #safety #footballhistory #NFL #ChicagoBears #throwback #CollegeFootballThrowbacks

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

⏳️ #96 Days Until College Football

Justin "The Cowboy" Smith
📍 Missouri (1998–2000)

#CFB #CollegeFootball #NCAA #Missouri #Mizzou #Big12 #SEC #CFBThrowbacks #CountdownToKickoff

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

Marco Coleman
Georgia Tech (1989–1991)
📍 Patterson Cooperative High School (OH)

A relentless pass rusher who helped power one of the best defenses in Georgia Tech history.

Coleman built a reputation as one of the ACC’s toughest defensive linemen to deal with during the Bobby Ross era, constantly creating pressure in the backfield.

📊 28 career sacks
📊 211 career tackles
📊 13 sacks during Georgia Tech’s 1990 national championship season

He constantly found ways to change games with his presence in the backfield.

* Played a major role on Georgia Tech’s 1990 national championship team
* Earned First-Team All-ACC honors twice
* Set Georgia Tech’s career sacks record at the time with 27.5 (later surpassed by teammate Coleman Rudolph, talk about a dominant duo)
* Recorded 5 sacks in a game against Maryland in 1991

🏆 First-Team All-American (1991)
🏆 2× First-Team All-ACC
🏆 Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame

➡️ Selected 12th overall in the 1992 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, later carving out a 14-year NFL career with the Dolphins, Chargers, Redskins, and Eagles while totaling over 65 career sacks.

After football, Coleman transitioned into coaching and eventually returned to Georgia Tech as defensive line coach.

#collegefootball #CFB #football #GeorgiaTech #YellowJackets #ACC #defense #defensiveline #passrush #footballhistory #NFL #MiamiDolphins #throwback #CollegeFootballThrowbacks

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

Ell Roberson
Kansas State (2000–2003)
📍 Baytown Lee High School (TX)

An electrifying dual-threat playmaker who helped elevate Kansas State into one of the Big 12’s most dangerous programs during the early 2000s. Roberson thrived in Bill Snyder’s offense thanks to his incredible speed, toughness, and ability to create explosive plays out of nowhere.

📊 5,099 career passing yards
📊 2,818 career rushing yards (school record)
📊 77 total touchdowns

He became the first quarterback in Big 12 history to surpass both 5,000 passing yards and 2,500 rushing yards in a career.

* Named 2003 Big 12 Championship Game MVP after a 4-touchdown performance against No. 1 Oklahoma
* Guided the Wildcats to consecutive 11-win seasons and Top 10 finishes (2002, 2003)
* Tied the school record for most wins by a starting quarterback (22)
* Finished his career among Kansas State’s all-time leaders in total offense

🏆 Big 12 Championship MVP (2003)
🏆 First-Team All-Big 12
🏆 Kansas State Ring of Honor

➡️ Later spent time in the NFL and CFL following his standout college career.

One of the defining players from the Bill Snyder era at Kansas State.

Who are some other old-school Kansas State players people remember watching? ⬇️

#collegefootball #CFB #football #KansasState #KState #EMAW #Big12 #quarterback #QB #BillSnyder #footballhistory #throwback #CollegeFootballThrowbacks

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

⏳️ #97 Days Until College Football
Cornelius Bennett
📍 Alabama (1983–1986)

One of the greatest linebackers in Alabama history.

Who else could I have used for #97?

#CFB #CollegeFootball #NCAA #Alabama #RollTide #SEC #CFBThrowbacks #CountdownToKickoff

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

J.J. Stokes
UCLA (1991–1994)
📍 Point Loma High School (CA)

Before making plays on Sundays, Jerel Jamal "J.J." Stokes was one of the most dominant receivers throughout the 1990s.

At 6-foot-4, Stokes combined size, body control, and downfield explosiveness to become one of the premier targets in the Pac-10 during the Terry Donahue era at UCLA.

📊 154 career receptions
📊 2,469 career receiving yards
📊 28 career receiving touchdowns (UCLA record)

A matchup nightmare.

* Won Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year in 1993
* Finished 7th in Heisman Trophy voting in 1993
* Set a UCLA single-season record with 17 touchdown catches in 1993
* Recorded 14 catches for 176 yards in the 1994 Rose Bowl
* Set the UCLA single-game record with 263 receiving yards against USC in 1992
* Holds the longest touchdown reception in UCLA history, a 95-yard touchdown against Washington in 1992

🏆 Consensus All-American (1993)
🏆 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year
🏆 UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame

➡️ Selected 10th overall in the 1995 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, later spending 9 seasons in the NFL with the 49ers, Jaguars, and Patriots while totaling over 4,000 receiving yards and winning a Super Bowl with New England.

Still one of the most talented receivers from that era of Pac-10 football.

Who are some other old-school Pac-10 receivers you remember watching? ⬇️

#collegefootball #CFB #football #UCLA #Bruins #Pac10 #widereceiver #WR #footballhistory #RoseBowl #NFL #49ers #throwback #CollegeFootballThrowbacks

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

Matt Millen
Penn State (1976–1979)
📍 Whitehall High School (PA)

An old-school enforcer who fit perfectly with the rugged identity of Penn State football in the late 1970s.

Before he became a standout NFL linebacker, Millen was an absolute terror on the Nittany Lions’ defensive line. Playing alongside Bruce Clark, he formed one of the most feared defensive tackle duos in college football history.

Millen earned a reputation for pure toughness, physicality, and a relentless motor under Joe Paterno.

📊 37–11 record during his 4-year Penn State career
📊 22 career sacks (5th all-time in PSU history)
📊 36 tackles for loss (8th all-time in PSU history)
📊 Two combined 11-1 seasons (1977 & 1978)

A hard-nosed defender who brought intensity to every snap.

* Helped Penn State reach the 1978 national championship game
* Earned All-American honors after a dominant 1978 season
* Fiesta Bowl MVP in Penn State’s 1977 bowl victory
* Helped lead Penn State to multiple Top 10 finishes

🏆 All-American (1978)
🏆 Fiesta Bowl MVP

➡️ Selected 43rd overall in the 1980 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders, later winning Super Bowls with the Raiders, 49ers, and Washington while building a reputation as one of the NFL’s toughest linebackers of the 1980s.

After football, Millen became a longtime NFL broadcaster and executive while remaining closely connected to Penn State football.

One of those legendary Penn State names football fans will never forget.

Who are some other classic Penn State defenders that come to mind? ⬇️

#collegefootball #CFB #football #PennState #NittanyLions #WeAre #LinebackerU #defense #throwback #CollegeFootballThrowbacks #NFL #Raiders #80sFootball

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

Sports Illustrated
November 2nd, 1964

35 cents!

#NotreDame #FightingIrish #GoIrish #NotreDameFootball #CollegeFootball #CFB #CollegeFootballThrowbacks #CFBHistory #SportsIllustrated #SIcover #VintageFootball #1960sFootball #SouthBend #ClassicCollegeFootball

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

⏳️ #98 Days Until College Football
John Henderson
📍 Tennessee (1998–2001)

One of the most feared defensive tackles in football.

Best #98 that comes to mind? ⬇

#CFB #CollegeFootball #Tennessee #Vols #SEC #CFBThrowbacks #CountdownToKickoff

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

Vince Hall & Xavier Adibi
📍Virginia Tech Linebackers (2004–2007)

For a few years, it felt like Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi were involved in every defensive play Virginia Tech made.

The two linebackers became leaders of Bud Foster’s defense during one of the best stretches in Hokies football history, bringing speed, toughness, and nonstop energy to the middle of the field.

📊 Vince Hall: 404 career tackles
📊 Xavier Adibi: 291 career tackles
📊 Combined: 695 career tackles

A linebacker duo that perfectly fit the aggressive identity of Virginia Tech football in the 2000s.

* Helped Virginia Tech win 2 ACC Championships
* Played on multiple Top 10 defenses
* Led the Hokies to 4 straight 10-win seasons together
* Hall recorded 100+ tackles in 3 straight seasons
* Adibi became one of the ACC’s top coverage linebackers
* Both later earned induction into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame

🏆 Vince Hall — First-Team All-ACC (2006)
🏆 Xavier Adibi — First-Team All-ACC (2007)

➡️ Both later spent time in the NFL following standout careers in Blacksburg.

One of the most memorable linebacker tandems from that era of college football.

Who are some other linebacker duos you immediately think of from the 2000s? ⬇️

#collegefootball #CFB #football #VirginiaTech #Hokies #GoHokies #ACC #defense #linebacker #LB #BudFoster #footballhistory #throwback #CollegeFootballThrowbacks

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

Brandon Carter
Texas Tech (2006–2009)
📍 Spring Hill High School (TX)

One of the most recognizable offensive linemen in college football during the late-2000s.

At 6-foot-7 and nearly 345 pounds, Carter became a fan favorite in Lubbock thanks to his mohawks, tattoos, wrestling-style face paint, and aggressive playing style during the Mike Leach era.

📊 39 career starts
📊 Allowed just 1 sack during the 2008 regular season

A dominant interior lineman whose personality and intensity made him unforgettable on Saturdays.

* Protected Graham Harrell during Texas Tech’s record-setting offenses
* A major contributor to the Red Raiders’ 11-2 team in 2008
* Named to the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award watch lists entering 2009

🏆 Consensus All-American (2008)
🏆 First-Team All-Big 12

➡️ Signed with the New Orleans Saints following the 2010 NFL Draft before later spending time with the Buccaneers and Cowboys organizations.

One of those players college football fans instantly remember from that era.

Who are some other unforgettable personalities from the past? ⬇️

#collegefootball #CFB #football #TexasTech #RedRaiders #WreckEm #Big12 #offensiveline #OL #footballhistory #MikeLeach #throwback #CollegeFootballThrowbacks

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

⏳️A little late on this post, but the season is almost amongst us!

#99 Days Until College Football

J.J. Watt
📍Wisconsin (2009–2010)

#CFB #CollegeFootball #NCAA #Wisconsin #Badgers #B1G #BigTen #CFBThrowbacks #CountdownToKickoff

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

#FullbackFriday
Mack Strong
University of Georgia (1989–1992)
📍 Brookstone High School (Columbus, GA)

One of the many great fullbacks to come out of Georgia, Strong played multiple roles in the Dawgs' offense as a runner, blocker, and receiver out of the backfield.

*Part of Georgia’s 10–2 1992 team that finished No. 8 in the country and won the Citrus Bowl.
*Helped pave the way for backs like Garrison Hearst and Terrell Davis during one of the Bulldogs’ top offenses of the era.

➡️ Signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1993

Went on to spend his entire 14-year NFL career in Seattle, earning 2 Pro Bowl selections while blocking for backs like Shaun Alexander, Ricky Watters, and Chris Warren.

Following retirement, Strong remained involved with the Seahawks organization through broadcasting and mentorship work while also helping lead community programs through his TEAM-WORKS Academy foundation.

#collegefootball #CFB #football #SEC #Georgia #GoDawgs #Bulldogs #fullback #runtheball #footballlife #gridiron #footballhistory #NFL #throwback #CollegeFootballThrowbacks

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

Marvin Graves
Syracuse (1990–1993)
📍 Orlando Jones High School (FL)

One of the more exciting quarterbacks from the Big East during the 90s.

A four-year starter, Graves helped lead Syracuse through its transition into the Big East and the coaching change from Dick MacPherson to Paul Pasqualoni while keeping the Orangemen among the East Coast’s top programs.

📊 8,466 career total yards
📊 62 total touchdowns
📊 31–12–3 record as a starting quarterback

* Played a major role in Syracuse going undefeated in-conference during its first season in the Big East
* Helped Syracuse finish 10-2 in back-to-back seasons (1991, 1992)
* Led the Big East in completion percentage and yards per attempt in 1992
* Set a Syracuse single-game record with 476 total yards against Rutgers
* Led Syracuse to 3 bowl victories
* Finished his career as Syracuse’s all-time passing yards leader at the time of his departure.
* Played alongside Syracuse receiver greats Qadry Ismail and Marvin Harrison

🏆 Aloha Bowl MVP (1990)
🏆 Syracuse Orange All-Century Team

➡️ Went undrafted before later building a successful professional career in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

When you think of Syracuse football in the 90s, who else comes to mind? ⬇️

#collegefootball #CFB #football #Syracuse #Orange #SyracuseFootball #BigEast #ACC #ACCfootball #quarterback #QB #footballhistory #throwback #CollegeFootballThrowbacks

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

Mike Hass
Oregon State (2002–2005)
📍 Jesuit High School (OR)

One of the toughest receivers in the Pac-10 during the mid-2000s. Hass made every difficult catch seem routine.

📊 220 career receptions
📊 3,924 career receiving yards
📊 20 career touchdowns

* Set the school's single game record with 293 receiving yards against Boise State in 2004
* Led the nation in receiving yards in 2005 (1,532)
* Finished his career as the Pac-10’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards at the time
* Recorded 90+ catches in back-to-back seasons

🏆 Third-Team All-American (2004)
🏆 Biletnikoff Award winner (2005)
🏆 Consensus All-American (2005)
🏆 Oregon State Hall of Fame (2023)
🏆 College Football Hall of Fame (2022)

➡️ Selected in the 6th round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints before later spending time with the Bears and Seahawks organizations.

Still one of the most memorable receivers from those old Pac-10 days.

Who are some other receivers you loved watching back then? ⬇️

#collegefootball #CFB #football #OregonState #Beavers #GoBeavs #Pac10 #Pac12 #widereceiver #WR #footballhistory #Biletnikoff #throwback #CollegeFootballThrowbacks

[College Football Throwbacks @CFB_Throwbacks]

Bruce Carter
North Carolina (2007–2010)
📍 Havelock High School (NC)

One of the more versatile athletes North Carolina had during the late-2000s.

Originally recruited as a quarterback and safety, Carter eventually developed into one of the ACC’s top linebackers while also becoming a special teams weapon for the Tar Heels.

📊 188 career tackles
📊 25 tackles for loss
📊 12.5 career sacks

A rangy defender who could rush the passer, drop into coverage, and make plays all over the field.

* Set an ACC record by blocking 3 consecutive punts against Connecticut in 2008
* Helped lead North Carolina to back-to-back bowl appearances

🏆 2× Second-Team All-ACC
🏆 Butkus Award finalist

➡️ Selected 40th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, later spending 8 seasons in the NFL with the Cowboys, Buccaneers, Patriots, and Jets.

Who’s some of the more underrated players you ever watched live? ⬇️

#collegefootball #CFB #football #NorthCarolina #TarHeels #UNC #ACC #linebacker #LB #defense #footballhistory #NFL #DallasCowboys #throwback #CollegeFootballThrowbacks