Who Was More Physically Gifted?

[tastycar]

Was about to say one of my all time favorites was Raynoch Thompson, he hit as hard or harder than anyone on that team, I love Al Wilson as well, tough and definately a team leader, I think Mayo was probably the better all around player tho.

Ray knock you around Thompson... Those were the days

 

[orangebloodgmc]

Anybody that would take a chain saw to their jeep had to be one mean sob!

Yes ... but not a "chainsaw"

 

[IndianaVol]

Question was better physically...
Al played at 6'0" and 240
Jerod at 6'1" and 250

I say it's a tilt as both were dominant LBs.
Could you imagine them on the same team ???

 

[orangebloodgmc]

While not the main part of an LB's job ... I bet Jackie Walker picked off more passes than any other LB that we had.

 

[walkenvol]

Middle Linebacker as a senior.
Although a terror at DE, he was never big enough.

Played DE in the NFL also

 

[mercuryvol]

I’ve been blessed to be able to see all of them since Paul Naumoff and Frank Emanuel. I’m biased toward defense and was privileged to play safety behind three great all state lbs. Made me look great. IMO the best corps we had was the Kiner-Reynolds-Walker combo. That group has not been equaled since. But, the best linebacker of them all from a pure position capability was Mayo. Someone noted above that if they had to build a defense, they would start with Wilson and with all of the intangibles he had, in my book, he’s the greatest I’ve seen.

 

[BreatheUT]

Unpopular opinion, but I thought Mayo (especially from a technique/textbook view) was the better player. Al left with 272 tackles and Mayo left with 236 without playing his Senior season.

Mayo had 140 tackles his Jr year and you have to go back to the Delong or Spiva days when teams never threw to find better numbers.

Now, it goes without saying nobody had Al's intensity or leadership skills. He was truly the QB of the defense.

So, if you'd ask me which player I'd pick to build my defense around....Al all day long

The question was who was more physically gifted. The answer is an easy one.

 

[MurphyVol]

The question was who was more physically gifted. The answer is an easy one.

I didn't know there were rules against expanding the conversation. Actually, you posted without answering as well

 

[keenobserver]

First glance at the question had me conflicted because Al Wilson was without a doubt the better college player. In fact, he's the GOAT best defensive player at UT in my lifetime.

With that said, Mayo had a better pro career because of the organization he ended up with and Al had some pretty substantial injuries

 

[NEO]

wilson imo

You are just not suppose to be that big and that fast.

This has always been one of the most intimating gifs I have seen.

 

[BreatheUT]

This board is like an ADD convention