Pros With Wrestling Background
Stephan Neal - The Football Player
28 years old, was originally
Signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free
The 6-foot-4-inch, 305-pound offensive lineman has played in 34 career games with 31 starts.
Recorded the longest current consecutive starts streak on the Patriots offensive line.
Stephan Neal - The Wrestler
San Diego native
Did not play football in college and instead was a championship
wrestler at Cal State-Bakersfield.
He compiled a 156-10 record and won two NCAA Division I titles.
In 1999, Neal won the Dan Hodge Award - known as the Heisman
Trophy of wrestling - following a year in which he won the U.S.
Freestyle Championship, the Pan-American Games title and the World
Championships.
Ray Lewis - The Football Player
Seven-time Pro Bowler
2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year
Super Bowl XXXV MVP
Arguably the greatest LB and 1 of the best players in NFL
history.
Ray Lewis- The Wrestler
Florida native
Florida State 4A Wrestling
Credits wrestling as the training ground for his prolific football career
We received the following email from Dan Gaul
regarding, arguably, U-E's most famous Football
Player/Wrestler and I felt it was definitely worth sharing -
Thank You Dan
To: jlupo@uewrestling.com
Subject: Website list of football players that wrestled
Date: Saturday, October 20, 2007
John,
That is an excellent list of wrestler/football athletes and makes a huge point that U-E football coaches have ignored for many years. Wrestling is a great way of preparing for football. The list looks like it may have been copied from another site or something so I will not get TOO excited about a glaring omission which is kind of embarrassing.
Is there a way to add ONE person to that list? Maybe put him at the TOP??? ..... I spent 2 years of my coaching career rolling around at practice with a future NFL player by the name of Isaiah ... 2nd place in NY State, 1996. His opponent in the finals, Morlon Greenwood IS on that list of NFL players.
PS - Isaiah got screwed in the finals :(
Dan
Just A Few More Names
**Isaiah
Kacyvenski
Ricky Williams*,
RB, Miami
Dolphins
Jim Thorpe**, HB, New York Giants
Randy White*, DT, Dallas Cowboys
Charles White*, HB, Los Angeles Rams
Adam Vinatieri*, K, New
England Patriots
Bruce Smith**, DE, Washington Redskins
Steve Sefter, DT, Philadelphia Eagles, 2x PA State Champ & NCAA
All- American
Cory Schlesinger, LB, Detroit Lions - NE State Champ
Warren Sapp*, DT Tampa Bay Buccaneers FL State Champ
Chuck Noll, Pittsburgh Steelers PA State Champ
Lorenzo Neal, FB, Tennessee Titans - NCAA Champ
Jim Nance, FB, New England Patriots NCAA Champ
Ronnie Lott**, DB, San Francisco 49ers
Bo Jackson*, RB, Oakland Raiders
Jim Everett, QB, New Orleans Saints
Carl Edwards, San Diego Chargers 3x MD State Champ
Larry Czonka**, RB, Miami Dolphins
Curley Culp*, DL, Kansas City Chiefs NCAA Champ
Roger Craig*, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Tiki Barber, RB, New York Giants
Rhonde Barber, SS, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Patterson, DT, Philadelphia Eagles 1st Round Pick
Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons - 2x SC State Champ 1st Round
Pick
Lincoln "Drew" Hodgdon, C, Houston Texans - CA State
ChampShane Olivea
Alex Stepanovich
Nick Leckey - TX State Champ
Gregory Walker - State Finalist
Jonathan Condo
Zachary Wilson
Chris Laskowski
Luis Castillo, DT, San Diego Chargers (First Round Pick)
Lincoln "Drew" Hodgdon, C, Houston Texans - CA State Champ
Nick Hardwick
Fred Weary, C, Houston Texans - AL State Champ
Coy Wire, SS, Buffalo Bills - PA State Champ
Kevin Breedlove - SC State Finalist
Kevin Sampson - NJ State Champ
Benjamin Claxton - GA State Finalist
Trevor Johnson
Clinton "C.J." Brooks, Jr.
Tai Tupai
Leon Robinson - GA State Runner-Up
Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons - 2x SC State Champ (First Round
Pick)
Eric Ghiaciuc, C, Cincinatti Bengals - MI State Champ
Joey Hildbold
Adam Seward, ILB, Carolina Panthers - NV State Champ
Cody Johnson
Rodney Michael
Marques Harris - CO State Champ
Larry Turner
Andrew "Tyler" Lenda - District Champ
Tim Anderson - OH State Champ
Tony Pape
Matt Roth - IA State Champ
Mike Patterson, DT, Philadelphia Eagles (First Round Pick)
David Pollack
Tim Burrough - OK State Champ
Antoineo Harris - IL State Champ
Claude Harriott
Scott Wells - TN State Champ
Alex Lewis - District Champ
Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami Dolphins (#2 Pick)
Rodney Leisle
Nick Newton
Sean Tufts
Brian Save
Kevin Atkins
Josh Minkins - District Runner-up
Tim Euhus
Andrew Tidwell-Neal - MN State Champ
Renaldo Works
Patrick "Bucky" Babcock - IL State Champ
Morgan Pears
Art Baker, RB, Buffalo Bills
Rhonde Barber, SS, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tiki Barber, RB, New York Giants
Walter Barnes, DL, Washington Redskins - SEC Champ
Eric Bateman, OL, New York Jets
Harris Benton
Brad Benson, New York Giants PA State Champ
Greg Boone, RB, Oakland Raiders
Jeff Bostic*, C, Washington Redskins SC State Champ
Tedy Bruschi*, ILB, New England Patriots
Bob Bruenig*, LB, Dallas Cowboys
Phil Bryant, Philadelphia Eagles 2x National Prep Champ
Ralph Cindrich, Houston Oilers PA State Runner-Up
Jonathan Condo, LS, Dallas Cowboys - PA State Champ, Dapper Dan
Champ
Tom Cousineau*, LB, Cleveland Browns 3rd State
Tom Covert*, OT, Chicago Bears
Chris Cooley, WR, Washington Redskins
Roger Craig*, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Damien Covington, LB, Buffalo Bills
Curley Culp*, DL, Kansas City Chiefs NCAA Champ
Larry Czonka**, RB, Miami Dolphins
|
|
Hall of Fame Running Back from the Miami Dolphins, Larry Czonka, pounded opponents on the wrestling mat as well as the gridiron. |
Rob Davis, ST, Green Bay Packers
Dan Dierdorff**, OT, St. Louis Cardinals
Donnie Edwards, OLB, San Diego Chargers
Carl Edwards, San Diego Chargers – 3x MD State Champ
Rob Essink, Seattle Seahawks – NCAA DII Champ
Jim Everett, QB, New Orleans Saints
DeMarco Farr, St. Louis Rams
Patrick Flannery, OL, Houston Oilers
Ed Flanagan, C, Detroit Lions
Terrell Fletcher, RB, San Diego Chargers
Bill Fralic*, G, Atlanta Falcons
Doug France*, LT, Los Angeles Rams – OH State Runner-Up
Frank Garcia, C, St. Louis Rams – 2x AZ State Champ
William George, Chicago Bears – 2x PA State Champ
Charlie Getty, RG, Kansas City Chiefs – 2x NCAA All-American
John Gilmore, TE, Chicago Bears
Kevin Glover*, C, Detroit Lions
La’Roi Glover*, DE, Dallas Cowboys
Mike Goff, G, Cincinnati Bengals
Bob Golic*, DT, Cleveland Browns – OH State Champ
Mike Golic, DE, Philadelphia Eagles
Darien Gordon, PR/CB, Denver Broncos
Scottie Graham, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Tim Green, DE, Atlanta Falcons
Kelly Gregg, NT, Baltimore Ravens, 3x KS State Champ
Morlon Greenwood, OLB, Miami Dolphins
Archie Griffin, HB, Cincinnati Bengals
Nick Griesen, LB, New York Giants
Randy Grossman, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
John Hannah**, G, New England Patriots
John Hartunian
Carlton Haselrig*, Pittsburgh Steelers, 3x NCAA Champ
Ron Heller, TE, Seattle Seahawks
Chad Hennings, DT, Dallas Cowboys – IA State Champ
Jay Hilgenberg*, C, Chicago Bears – IA State Runner-Up
Orlando Huff, MLB, Seattle Seahawks
Corey Hulsy, G, Oakland Raiders
Bo Jackson*, RB, Oakland Raiders
Mario Johnson, DT, New England Patriots
Dahanie Jones, LB, New York Giants
Henry Jordan**, DT, Green Bay Packers
Dave Joyner, OL, Green Bay Packers
John Jurkovich*, DT, Cleveland Browns
Alex Karras, Detroit Lions
Tim Krumrie*, DL, Cincinnati Bengals – WI State Champ
Ernie Ladd, DL, Kansas City Chiefs
Nick Lecky, C, - KS State Champ (in 2004 NFL Draft)
Jess Lewis, LB, Houston Oilers
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Ray Lewis, Pro Bowl Linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, was a Florida 4A State Wrestling Champion at 189 lbs. |
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Ray Lewis*, Baltimore Ravens – 2x FL State Champ
Ronnie Lott**, DB, San Francisco 49’ers
Kirk Lowdermilk*, OL, Minnesota Vikings
Sean Mahan, G, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Malczyk, LS, New York Giants
Joel Mackavicka, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Steve Martin, DT, Houston Texans
Mickey Marvin, RG, Oakland Raiders
Napolean McCallum, RB, Oakland Raiders
Randle McDaniel*, G, Minnesota Vikings
Mark McDonald, SS, Arizona Cardinals
Chris McIntosh, T, Seattle Seahawks
Bryant McKinnie, T. Minnesota Vikings
|
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Future Hall of Famer Randall McDaniel was a wrestler before he was named to 12 NFL Pro Bowls. |
Greg Meisner, DL, Los Angeles Rams
Matt Millen*, LB, Oakland Raiders
Ronald Moore, RB, Cleveland Browns
James Mungro, HB, Indianapolis Colts
Jim Nance, FB, New England Patriots – NCAA Champ
Lorenzo Neal, FB, Tennessee Titans - NCAA Champ
Stephen Neal, OL, New England Patriots – NCAA Champ
Jeremy Newberry, C, San Francisco 49’ers
Chuck Noll, Pittsburgh Steelers – PA State Champ
Leo Nomellini*, T, San Francisco 49’ers – Big 10 Champ
Jonathan Ogden*, OT, Baltimore Ravens
Irv Pankey, Los Angeles Rams – 2x MD State Champ
David Patten, WR, New England Patriots
Scott Peters, G, New York Giants
Bob Pickens, OL, Chicago Bears
Jim Plunkett*, QB, Oakland Raiders
Dave Porter, T, Green Bay Packers
Mike Pyle, C, Chicago Bears – IA State Champ
Rocky Rasley, G, Detroit Lions
Mike Reid, Cincinnati Bengals
Eric Rhett, RB, Cleveland Browns – FL State Champ
Willie Roaf*, OT, New Orleans Saints
Warren Sapp*, DT Tampa Bay Buccaneers – FL State Champ
Mark Schlereth*, OL, Washington Redskins - Alaska State Champ
Cory Schlesinger, LB, Detroit Lions - NE State Champ
Steve Sefter, DT, Philadelphia Eagles, 2x PA State Champ & NCAA All-American
Tony Siragusa*, DT, Baltimore Ravens – NJ State Champ
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Pro Bowl Defensive Tackle Warren Sapp was a Florida State Champion wrestler in High School. |
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Fred Smerlas*, Buffalo Bills - MA State Champ
Bruce Smith**, DE, Washington Redskins
Brad St. Louis, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
Matt Suhey, RB, Chicago Bears
Bill Szott, OL, Washington Redskins – NJ State Champ
Dave Szott, Kansas City Chiefs – NJ State Champ
Woody Thompson, RB, Atlanta Falcons – PA State Champ
Jim Thorpe**, HB, New York Giants
Mike Trgovac, DC, Carolina Panthers – OH State Champ
Kyle Turley*, T, St. Louis Rams
Ryan Turnbull, RB, Cleveland Browns
Tommy Vardell, RB, San Francisco 49’ers
Adam Vinatieri*, K, New England Patriots
John Ward, OL, New York Jets – NCAA All-American
Fred Weary, DB, St. Louis Rams
Charles White*, HB, Los Angeles Rams
Randy White*, DT, Dallas Cowboys
Cory Widmer, LB, New York Giants
Leo Wisniewski, NT, Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts - PA State Champ
Steve Wisniewski, G, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders - CA State Champ
Ricky Williams*, RB, Miami Dolphins
Coy Wire, LB, Buffalo Bills – PA State Runner-Up
Greg Wojochowski, St. Louis Rams
*Pro-Bowler
**Hall of Famer
Crossover Skills:
Many
of the positions and skills are absolutely transferable between both
sports
Some of those skills include but are not limited to footwork,
hand-eye coordination, mental toughness, explosive movements, and
balance
Learning the ability too beat the man in front of you can not be
ignored.
A Look at The Numbers
32
Professional Football Teams
65 Man Rosters
2080 Professional Football Players
185 Wrestlers in the NFL
11.24% of the NFL has a wrestling background
5% of the Hall of Fame inductees
The Link Cannot Be Dismissed
The
relationship between wrestling and football is real.
There are too many legends in both sports who have proved it.
Hall of fame football coaches and players espouse the benefits
of wrestling for football players.
Football never made a wrestler a better wrestler BUT Wrestling
made every football player a better football player!!!
Influence of Wrestling in the NFL
10
Hall of Fame Football Players
43
Multiple Pro-Bowlers
60
Individual State Championships
13
NCAA Wrestling Championships
3
Heisman Trophy Winners Wrestled
14
1st Round Draft Picks Wrestled
23
RBs / 20 LBs / 2 QBs / 66 Lineman / 6 DBs /
1 K / 54 NP
The Coaches Perspective
I draft wrestlers because they
are tough, I have never had a problem with a wrestler. - Joe Gibbs, Hall of fame Football Coach "I would have all of my Offensive Lineman wrestle if I could."- John Madden, Hall of Fame Football Coach
I love wrestlers, they are tough and they make great football players. Mike
Stoops, National Championship Football Coach - University of Oklahoma. Wrestlers make coaching football easy, they have balance, coordination, and as a coaching staff we know theyre tough. - Tom Osborne - College Hall of Fame Football Coach - University of Nebraska
"Well-respected by coaches and teammates for his tough, aggressive nature (comes from his prep wrestling background)"
- NFL Draft Scout on Alex Stepanovich
"One of the messages Denney hopes to relay to the Valley high school coaches and athletes is that wrestling is the perfect complement to football. While football is in its offseason, wrestling provides the perfect opportunity for the athletes to remain active, while working on their agility and conditioning, Denney said.
Shawhan can attest to Denney’s theory, also having an extensive gridiron background. Along with playing semi-pro football, Shawhan also has years of being an assistant football coach throughout the Rio Grande Valley (Mission High, Harlingen High, PSJA High, McAllen Memorial and McHi).
"In Texas, everyone knows that high school football is king," Denney said. "I’m telling you, though, Texas is catching up in wrestling. And a lot of the football coaches are realizing how much wrestling can help their football team. And believe me, that’s the truth. I know it firsthand. You have to remember when I started out I was a football coach in high school, and I would go to the wrestling team and get everyone that could to sign up for my football team."
- By Wade Baker,The McAllen Monitor MCAllen, Texas.
"My football coach told me, 'You better get in wrestling or I'll beat you up,'"
-- Tim Lee, Texas High School All-American
Lee said that wrestling helps him on the football field because he knows he has to stay low.
"In wrestling, you've got to have self-discipline and self-motivation. As a lineman, it's the same thing ... me vs. you. He brings that mentality to the football field."
- Lee's High School Football Coach, Tim Howard
"Some of Matt Roth’s intensity can also be attributed to his successful run as a state-champion wrestler in high school. Many coaches, scouts and wrestlers-turned-football-players will laud wrestling for the leverage and quick hands it provides for football. Roth credits wrestling for the never-say-die attitude it gave him.
"It’s the attitude. (Wrestling) helps you with your hips, your hands and your balance, but more than anything it helps you with your attitude," he said. "A lot of these kids that are basketball players, we eat those kids up. It’s just our mentality - you’re going to get the job done and you’re going to punish them."
Roth said his dream partner on the wrestling mat would be Ravens LB Ray Lewis, himself an accomplished high school wrestler."
-- By Chris Neubauer, Pro Football Weekly