My Favorite Virginia Cavalier Football Players of All-Time(5-1)
Finishing this list was long overdue, but allow me to finish my list of Top 10 Favorite Virginia Football players of all-time. Let's get down to it shall we!
special thanks to hoosfootball.com for the classic poster image of Billy McMullen and Angelo Crowell
5. Angelo Crowell--nicknamed "Maximus" by his teammates--if there could be an award given to the toughest Virginia Cavalier football player in history--Angelo Crowell would clearly be it. He played on two bad knees during his final year at Virginia, but still manage to play through it and rack up astronomical numbers--155 tackles in 2002--a Virginia football record that will stand for quite some time. Did I mention that he also tallied 6 tackles for loss, 4 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries that same season? Filthy.
Perhaps even more ridiculous is the fact that it wasn't the first time that Crowell had set the school record in tackles. He broke his OWN record! He set the school record for the first time a year earlier in 2001, when he was dialed in for 144 tackles.
Another testament to his toughness was the fact that he became one of only three players in school history to play in 50 collegiate games(including bowls).
In terms of productivity, Crowell set the gold standard for production at the linebacker position at Virginia. His 420 tackles in his career rank 3rd all-time in Virginia football history, only Charles McDaniel(432) and Jamie Sharper(435) have put up better numbers during their days in Charlottesville.
The Winston-Salem, NC native was an absolute tackling machine and simply had a knack for being around the football. He also had 10 forced fumbles in his career, one shy of the Virginia school record set by Stuart Anderson.
In terms of accolades, Crowell was arguably one of the most underrated linebackers in the country during his days at Virginia. How a guy can rack up 144 tackles in a season and not land on a post-season awards list is beyond me?! In 2002, he was named as a second-team All-America by the NFL Draft Report and was named a first-team All-ACC selection as well. One place where he was not underrated was in the Virginia locker room, he earned the Ned McDonald award for the 2001 and 2002 seasons--the award given to the team's most outstanding defensive player.
Underrated and underappreciated, all "Maximus" did in his days at Virginia was pepper his name all over the school's record books and play the game with class. You never heard of him getting in any kind of trouble during his days at Virginia and he was known for giving back to charities on his website http://www.angelocrowell55.com/ when he was with the Buffalo Bills.
He has posted some excellent numbers in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills--racking up 343 tackles during his five year career with them(2003-2007). Injuries have slowed his career as of late, but he is currently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Underappreciated elsewhere around the country, rest assured here at TWWHP--Angelo Crowell's exploits on the gridiron at UVA did not go unnoticed. "Maximus" will always be one of my favorite Virginia Cavalier football players.
4. Thomas Jones--all Thomas Jones did during his four years at Virginia was become arguably the best all-purpose running back in Virginia football history not named "Bullet" Bill Dudley.
A native of Big Stone Gap, Virginia--Jones had a legendary high school career for the Powell Valley Vikings--becoming one of the best football players to ever grace the gridiron in the state of Virginia. He led Powell Valley to back-to-back state championships in 1994 and 1995. He plastered his name all over the VHSL record books after it was all said and done--he currently ranks in the top five of the VHSL record book with: most scoring in a career, most scoring in a single season(twice), rushing yards in a career, most rushing yards in a single season(twice), and most rushing yards in a single game. He rushed for 462 yards during ONE game when he was a junior at Powell Valley--numbers that would be hard to reach on a video game--let alone the real deal.
Anybody who knows about Thomas Jones' family bloodlines shouldn't be surprised that another legendary running back came out of the family bloodlines. Jones' uncle was Ed Clark, also known as "The Stonega Stallion"--one of the best running backs ever to come out of southwest Virginia. In 1994, Jones broke Ed Clark's single-season rushing yardage record--racking up a staggering 3,319 yards. He also set the single-season touchdown record at Powell Valley in 1995--dominating opposing defenses to the tune of 49 touchdowns. Perhaps even more impressive is the number of touchdowns he scored thoughout his high school career--104--a mind-boggling amount by anyone's standards.
If you want to check out some classic footage of Thomas Jones dominating the gridiron for the Powell Valley Vikings--then check out this classic video I found on YouTube--many thanks to SWVA video for the footage--Jones is in the powder blue uniforms--he's number 6. Just copy and paste this link into your browser.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urUrAsUoYr0
Look for numbers 3 through 1 to come later this week!
special thanks to hoosfootball.com for the classic poster image of Billy McMullen and Angelo Crowell5. Angelo Crowell--nicknamed "Maximus" by his teammates--if there could be an award given to the toughest Virginia Cavalier football player in history--Angelo Crowell would clearly be it. He played on two bad knees during his final year at Virginia, but still manage to play through it and rack up astronomical numbers--155 tackles in 2002--a Virginia football record that will stand for quite some time. Did I mention that he also tallied 6 tackles for loss, 4 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries that same season? Filthy.
Perhaps even more ridiculous is the fact that it wasn't the first time that Crowell had set the school record in tackles. He broke his OWN record! He set the school record for the first time a year earlier in 2001, when he was dialed in for 144 tackles.
Another testament to his toughness was the fact that he became one of only three players in school history to play in 50 collegiate games(including bowls).
In terms of productivity, Crowell set the gold standard for production at the linebacker position at Virginia. His 420 tackles in his career rank 3rd all-time in Virginia football history, only Charles McDaniel(432) and Jamie Sharper(435) have put up better numbers during their days in Charlottesville.
The Winston-Salem, NC native was an absolute tackling machine and simply had a knack for being around the football. He also had 10 forced fumbles in his career, one shy of the Virginia school record set by Stuart Anderson.
In terms of accolades, Crowell was arguably one of the most underrated linebackers in the country during his days at Virginia. How a guy can rack up 144 tackles in a season and not land on a post-season awards list is beyond me?! In 2002, he was named as a second-team All-America by the NFL Draft Report and was named a first-team All-ACC selection as well. One place where he was not underrated was in the Virginia locker room, he earned the Ned McDonald award for the 2001 and 2002 seasons--the award given to the team's most outstanding defensive player.
Underrated and underappreciated, all "Maximus" did in his days at Virginia was pepper his name all over the school's record books and play the game with class. You never heard of him getting in any kind of trouble during his days at Virginia and he was known for giving back to charities on his website http://www.angelocrowell55.com/ when he was with the Buffalo Bills.
He has posted some excellent numbers in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills--racking up 343 tackles during his five year career with them(2003-2007). Injuries have slowed his career as of late, but he is currently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Underappreciated elsewhere around the country, rest assured here at TWWHP--Angelo Crowell's exploits on the gridiron at UVA did not go unnoticed. "Maximus" will always be one of my favorite Virginia Cavalier football players.
4. Thomas Jones--all Thomas Jones did during his four years at Virginia was become arguably the best all-purpose running back in Virginia football history not named "Bullet" Bill Dudley.
A native of Big Stone Gap, Virginia--Jones had a legendary high school career for the Powell Valley Vikings--becoming one of the best football players to ever grace the gridiron in the state of Virginia. He led Powell Valley to back-to-back state championships in 1994 and 1995. He plastered his name all over the VHSL record books after it was all said and done--he currently ranks in the top five of the VHSL record book with: most scoring in a career, most scoring in a single season(twice), rushing yards in a career, most rushing yards in a single season(twice), and most rushing yards in a single game. He rushed for 462 yards during ONE game when he was a junior at Powell Valley--numbers that would be hard to reach on a video game--let alone the real deal.
Anybody who knows about Thomas Jones' family bloodlines shouldn't be surprised that another legendary running back came out of the family bloodlines. Jones' uncle was Ed Clark, also known as "The Stonega Stallion"--one of the best running backs ever to come out of southwest Virginia. In 1994, Jones broke Ed Clark's single-season rushing yardage record--racking up a staggering 3,319 yards. He also set the single-season touchdown record at Powell Valley in 1995--dominating opposing defenses to the tune of 49 touchdowns. Perhaps even more impressive is the number of touchdowns he scored thoughout his high school career--104--a mind-boggling amount by anyone's standards.
If you want to check out some classic footage of Thomas Jones dominating the gridiron for the Powell Valley Vikings--then check out this classic video I found on YouTube--many thanks to SWVA video for the footage--Jones is in the powder blue uniforms--he's number 6. Just copy and paste this link into your browser.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urUrAsUoYr0
The southwest Virginia native continued his stardom on the gridiron when he got to Charlottesville--plastering his name all over the Virginia and ACC record books. He shattered 15 school records and eight ACC records. After it was all said and done, Jones would leave Mr. Jefferson's academic village as the school's all-time leading rusher, chewing up 3,998 yards of real estate--mind-blowing numbers.
He became the first player in ACC history to rush for over 200 yards and have over 100 receiving yards in one game against the lowly Buffalo Bulls--331 all-purpose yards. He also set an ACC record with six-200 yard rushing performances during his career at UVA. After he left the grounds at Virginia he finished with 4,698 all-purpose yards, fourth all-time.
One of my favorite memories of Thomas Jones came in the 1998 game against Virginia Tech--when he played a crucial role in the greatest comeback in Virginia football history. With the Cavaliers trailing in the fourth quarter, quarterback Aaron Brooks lobbed a pass into the middle of the end zone, where Jones leaped into the sky, fully extended his body, and crashed back down to the turf with the football wrapped up in his arms. Simply an incredible football catch.
That's an excellent example of what makes Thomas Jones such a lethal all-purpose threat--while he is an excellent runner with uncanny cutback ability, he was also blessed with a super soft set of hands.
His best season for the Virginia Cavaliers came in 1999, when he blazed his way for 1,798 yards and 16 touchdowns on 334 carries--numbers that were good enough to land him many accolades. He finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1999, was a Doak Walker Award finalist, and landed ACC Player of the Year honors. He scorched opposing defenses to the tune of 2,054 all-purpose yards that season as well--numbers that Virginia fans will not see from another running back in Charlottesville for quite some time--if ever. His staggering numbers earned him consensus first-team All-American honors--becoming only the third running back in ACC history to earn such an honor.
Thomas Jones will always be a fan favorite as far as Virginia football players are concerned. He raced his way from the coal mines of Big Stone Gap, Virginia and overcame alot of adversity in becoming a star on every level of the gridiron. As a writer for the Kingsport Times News Online so eloquently put it, "Jones scorched a rather legendary trail across the gridiron grass of Bullitt Park, the Powell Valley High School Vikings home field."
Not only did Thomas Jones scorch a legendary trail on the gridiron, but the manner in which he did it is equally as impressive--Jones has always been a class-act and you've never heard about him getting in any major kind of trouble. He graduated from the University of Virginia in three years with his degree in psychology. Forever a gridiron legend in the state of Virginia, Thomas Jones will not soon be forgotten by Virginia football fans. He's very deserving of the number four spot on this list.
That's it for now!
Look for numbers 3 through 1 to come later this week!
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