USA250: The 10 best college athletes in Mississippi history ranked
Mississippi has, to put it mildly, a complicated history when it comes to race relations. Even as times have changed and attitudes have modernized, a number of the all-time best athletes to compete in college sports did so at schools other than the states flagship campuses.From our perspective, however, it has made the task of choosing the 10 greatest college players more fun. Six different schools are represented on this list, including some hall-of-fame gridiron talents from the states trio of HBCUs. The Magnolia States two SEC schools are also represented, of course, and though football is a rather big deal there weve found some worthy candidates in other sports as well. 10 greatest college athletes from MississippiWalter Payton, Jackson StateThe Football Championship Subdivision player of the year award bears Paytons name with good reason. Before becoming a household name with the Chicago Bears and the NFL's all-time leading rusher (now No. 2 on the list), Sweetness was rewriting the record book with the Jackson State Tigers, where he scored a total of 464 points and rushed for 3,563 yards.USA 250 LISTS:Alaska | Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | MissouriJerry Rice, Mississippi Valley StateThe greatest pass catcher ever to take the field NFL first made his mark on the college game at Mississippi Valley State. From 1981-84 he caught 301 balls for 4,693 yards and 50 touchdowns for the Delta Devils. Along the way he set records for most catches (102) and yards (1,454) in a season and in a game (24) while earning first-team All-America honors.Archie Manning, MisissippiPerhaps better known to present-day fans as the family patriarch, Archie made his share of highlight plays at Ole Miss from 1968-70, leading the Rebels to the Sugar Bowl while finishing fourth and third in the Heisman voting in his junior and senior year, respectively. He accumulated 5,573 yards of total offense in his collegiate career and was named to the Rebels team of the century.Patrick Willis, MississippiOne of the great linebackers of the early 2000s, Willis led the SEC in tackles (128) in his junior season and was a second-team All-American. He improved in his senior year with 134 stops and first-team All-America honors while winning the Butkus Award for the top player at his position.PROGRAM RANKINGS: Top 25 | Big Ten | SEC | ACC | Big 12Brett Favre, Southern MississippiThe most notable name associated with Southern Mississippi football, Favre wasted little time demonstrating the flair for the dramatic that would define his professional career. In four seasons with the Golden Eagles from 1987-90 he threw for 7,695 yards and 52 TDs but also had 34 interceptions.Steve McNair, Alcorn StateNot to be outdone in the FCS record book by Rice, Air McNair smashed a slew of passing marks himself at Alcorn State. He amassed 16,823 yards of total offense, including 14,496 passing, over his career with the Braves and finished third in Heisman voting in 1994 despite not competing in the Bowl Subdivision.Rafael Palmeiro, Mississippi StateThe Mississippi State baseball program has produced its share of future big-leaguers, but Palmeiro arguably had the most impactful stint in Starkville. He clubbed 67 homers and drove in 239 runs from 1982-85, and he won the SEC triple crown in 1984 hitting .415 with 29 homers and 94 RBI. He led the Bulldogs to the College World Series in 1985.Dak Prescott, Mississippi StateNobody quarterback has run the Bulldogs offense better than Prescott. During his 2012-15 career with the Bulldogs he threw for 9,376 yards on 734 completions and 70 touchdowns. In his junior season, Mississippi State was ranked No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff rankings after early wins against top-10 opponents LSU, Texas A&M and Auburn.Morgan William, Mississippi StateThe Mississippi State women's basketball squad that went to consecutive NCAA championship games in 2017 and 2018 lacked star power but made up for it in moxie, exemplified by the diminutive point guard known as Itty Bitty. Often the smallest player on the court, William hit the biggest shot in program history with the overtime game winner in the 2017 NCAA semifinal that snapped UConns 111-game winning streak.Arianne Hartono, MississippiThe Dutch tennis player became Ole Misss first Honda Award winner following her standout senior season in 2018. She concluded that season on a 17-match winning streak and claimed the NCAA singles title. A two-time All-American, Hartono had 37 combined victories in singles and doubles in her senior season to rank second all-time in school history.Dylan DeLucia, MississippiThe right-handed hurler became an instant legend at Ole Miss when he won a pair of games and most outstanding player at the College World Series as the Rebels won their first national championship in 2022. He finished the season with 105 strikeouts in 95.1 innings pitched.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA250: The 10 best college athletes in Mississippi history ranked
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