The Top Ranked Football Players by Rookie Year-1971 Help Keep the Site Ad Free By Supporting us at Patreon
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The Top Ranked Football Players by Rookie Year-1971
Notes: This is a list of the greatest football players to start their pro career in the year listed.
| Rnk | Athlete | POS | Overall Rank |
| 1 | Jack Ham | LB | 46 |
| 2 | Jack Youngblood | DL | 58 |
| 3 | Ken Anderson | QB | 90 |
| 4 | Harold Carmichael | WR | 155 |
| 5 | Isiah Robertson | LB | 271 |
| 6 | Dan Dierdorf | OL | 300 |
| 7 | John Riggins | RB | 336 |
| 8 | Lyle Alzado | DL | 410 |
| 9 | Jim Plunkett | QB | 507 |
| 10 | Mel Gray | WR | 530 |
| 11 | Tom Banks | OL | 716 |
| 12 | Dan Pastorini | QB | 749 |
| 13 | Phil Villapiano | LB | 754 |
| 14 | Jack Tatum | DB | 770 |
| 15 | John Brockington | RB | 878 |
| 16 | Dwight White | DL | 896 |
| 17 | Bob Chandler | WR | 966 |
| 18 | Archie Manning | QB | 967 |
| 19 | Mike Wagner | DB | 1031 |
| 20 | Ron Jessie | WR | 1321 |
| 21 | Frank Lewis | WR | 1324 |
| 22 | Lynn Dickey | QB | 1400 |
| 23 | Glen Edwards | DB | 1469 |
| 24 | Tony Greene | DB | 1587 |
| 25 | Vern Den Herder | DL | 1746 |
| 26 | Clarence R. Scott | DB | 1860 |
| 27 | Charlie Hall | LB | 1865 |
| 28 | Toni Fritsch | K | 1959 |
| 29 | Bob Pollard | DL | 1960 |
| 30 | Charlie Weaver | LB | 2065 |
| 31 | J.D. Hill | WR | 2127 |
| 32 | Dave Elmendorf | DB | 2140 |
| 33 | Don McCauley | RB | 2176 |
| 34 | Ray M. Brown | DB | 2238 |
| 35 | Julius Adams | DL | 2360 |
| 36 | Tom Blanchard | P | 2418 |
| 37 | Clarence Davis | RB | 2448 |
| 38 | Doug Dieken | OL | 2463 |
| 39 | Randy Vataha | WR | 2488 |
| 40 | Larry Brown | OL | 2810 |
| 41 | Mike Lewis | DL | 3165 |
| 42 | Wilbur Young | DL | 3259 |
| 43 | John Leypoldt | K | 3278 |
| 44 | Vern Holland | OL | 3366 |
| 45 | Mike Sensibaugh | DB | 3373 |
| 46 | Don Nottingham | RB | 3380 |
| 47 | Norm Thompson | DB | 3437 |
| 48 | Gerry Mullins | OL | 3452 |
| 49 | Jim Braxton | RB | 3659 |
| 50 | Fred Willis | RB | 3731 |
| 51 | Willie Alexander | DB | 3796 |
| 52 | Ken Mendenhall | OL | 3812 |
| 53 | Jim Clack | OL | 3870 |
| 54 | Ken Burrow | WR | 4045 |
| 55 | Ron Yankowski | DL | 4368 |
| 56 | Tom Hayes | DB | 4391 |
| 57 | Earl L. Thomas | WR | 4406 |
| 58 | Scott Hunter | QB | 4437 |
| 59 | Ken Geddes | LB | 4439 |
| 60 | Tony E. McGee | DL | 4470 |
| 61 | Dwight Harrison | DB | 4484 |
| 62 | Floyd Rice | LB | 4563 |
| 63 | Bob Moore | TE | 4715 |
| 64 | Ray Jarvis | WR | 4837 |
| 65 | Richard Harris | DL | 4925 |
| 66 | Bill Gregory | DL | 5218 |
| 67 | Bob Newton | OL | 5295 |
| 68 | Billy Parks | WR | 5336 |
| 69 | Don Morrison | OL | 5346 |
| 70 | Bo Cornell | LB | 5557 |
| 71 | Pete Athas | DB | 5725 |
| 72 | Bob Bell | DL | 5736 |
| 73 | Bob Newland | WR | 5813 |
| 74 | Neal Craig | DB | 6117 |
| 75 | Bob Gresham | RB | 6209 |
| 76 | Dave Roller | DL | 6265 |
| 77 | Jeff R. Wright | DB | 6267 |
| 78 | Horace Jones | DL | 6334 |
| 79 | Larry Schreiber | RB | 6350 |
| 80 | Tody Smith | DL | 6437 |
| 81 | Dave Chapple | P | 6517 |
| 82 | Dan Pastorini (P) | P | 6538 |
| 83 | Mike Adamle | RB | 6571 |
| 84 | Donnie Green | OL | 6606 |
| 85 | Tommy Lyons | OL | 6621 |
| 86 | Nate S. Allen | DB | 6958 |
| 87 | Steve Davis | RB | 7033 |
| 88 | Phil Wise | DB | 7125 |
| 89 | Bryant Salter | DB | 7161 |
| 90 | Rick Kingrea | LB | 7171 |
| 91 | Larron Jackson | OL | 7234 |
| 92 | Glen Edwards (PR) | PR | 7274 |
| 93 | Elmo Wright | WR | 7309 |
| 94 | Charlie Ford | DB | 8025 |
| 95 | Ken R. Johnson | DL | 8052 |
| 96 | Mike Montgomery | RB | 8066 |
| 97 | Rich Sowells | DB | 8084 |
| 98 | Jerry Patton | DL | 8100 |
| 99 | Clarence Davis (KR) | KR | 8419 |
| 100 | Otto Stowe | WR | 8594 |
| 101 | Chris Farasopoulos (PR) | PR | 8659 |
| 102 | Marv Montgomery | OL | 9182 |
| 103 | Jim McCann | P | 9288 |
| 104 | Willie N. Parker | OL | 9403 |
| 105 | Pete Athas (PR) | PR | 9415 |
| 106 | Kerry Reardon | DB | 9472 |
| 107 | John Watson | OL | 9486 |
| 108 | Dan Ryczek | OL | 9578 |
| 109 | Dave Tipton | DL | 9874 |
| 110 | Dave Elmendorf (PR) | PR | 9965 |
| 111 | Henry Reed | DL | 10095 |
| 112 | Ron Jessie (KR) | KR | 10355 |
| 113 | Bivian Lee | DB | 10376 |
| 114 | Moses Denson | RB | 10639 |
| 115 | Dennis Havig | OL | 10758 |
| 116 | Steve Davis (KR) | KR | 10870 |
| 117 | Wes Chesson | WR | 10912 |
| 118 | Al Clark | DB | 10993 |
| 119 | Len Gotshalk | OL | 11193 |
| 120 | Happy Feller | K | 11326 |
| 121 | Charlie V. Hall | DB | 11369 |
| 122 | Chris Farasopoulos (KR) | KR | 11401 |
| 123 | Willie Belton (PR) | PR | 11445 |
| 124 | Jan White | TE | 11637 |
| 125 | Chuck Dicus | WR | 11647 |
| 126 | Jim Harrison | RB | 11817 |
| 127 | Mel Gray (KR) | KR | 11846 |
| 128 | Willie Belton (KR) | KR | 11927 |
| 129 | Tom Bailey | RB | 11988 |
| 130 | Randy Montgomery (KR) | KR | 12000 |
| 131 | Bob Gresham (KR) | KR | 12144 |
| 132 | Ray M. Brown (PR) | PR | 12521 |
| 133 | Dee Martin | DB | 12680 |
| 134 | Ron Hornsby | LB | 12763 |
| 135 | Lenny Dunlap (PR) | PR | 12815 |
| 136 | Bob L. Thomas | RB | 12862 |
| 137 | Joe Sweet | WR | 13069 |
| 138 | Lenny Dunlap | DB | 13076 |
| 139 | Ed Marshall | WR | 13172 |
| 140 | Charlie Evans | RB | 13193 |
| 141 | Dave Davis | WR | 13209 |
| 142 | Larry Willingham (PR) | PR | 13382 |
| 143 | Tony Greene (KR) | KR | 13801 |
| 144 | Virgil Robinson (KR) | KR | 13926 |
| 145 | Chris Farasopoulos | DB | 14145 |
| 146 | Jerry Moore | DB | 14147 |
| 147 | Mickey Zofko (KR) | KR | 14208 |
| 148 | Mike Fanucci | DL | 14276 |
| 149 | Steve Lawson | OL | 14661 |
| 150 | Ike Thomas | DB | 14804 |
| 151 | Len Garrett | TE | 14903 |
| 152 | Doug Adams | LB | 14923 |
| 153 | Vern Studdard (KR) | KR | 14994 |
| 154 | Jesse Taylor (KR) | KR | 15161 |
| 155 | John Andrews | TE | 15448 |
| 156 | Ralph Anderson | DB | 15505 |
| 157 | Craig Hanneman | DL | 15616 |
| 158 | Willie Belton | RB | 16159 |
| 159 | Phil Croyle | LB | 16160 |
| 160 | Paul Staroba | WR | 16326 |
| 161 | Larry Woods | DL | 16372 |
| 162 | Dave Thompson | OL | 16382 |
| 163 | Joe Moore | RB | 16473 |
| 164 | Steve Harkey | RB | 16516 |
| 165 | Kevin Hunt | OL | 16680 |
| 166 | Gordon Jolley | OL | 16770 |
| 167 | Tim Webster | K | 16815 |
| 168 | John Tanner | LB | 16859 |
| 169 | Rocky Thompson (KR) | KR | 17252 |
| 170 | Rex Kern | DB | 17358 |
| 171 | Tony Gabriel | TE | 17475 |
| 172 | Willie Zapalac | LB | 17694 |
| 173 | Mickey Zofko | RB | 17696 |
| 174 | Wayne Tosh | DB | 17859 |
| 175 | Larry Highbaugh | DB | 17897 |
| 176 | Sam Scarber | RB | 17921 |
| 177 | Paul Staroba (P) | P | 17932 |
| 178 | Ward Walsh | RB | 17948 |
| 179 | Ike Thomas (KR) | KR | 17982 |
| 180 | Lonnie Hepburn | DB | 17988 |
| 181 | Ron Kadziel | LB | 18323 |
| 182 | Henry Allison | OL | 18396 |
| 183 | Bill Manchuk | LB | 18495 |
| 184 | Ray Hester | LB | 18663 |
| 185 | Terry Mendenhall | LB | 18690 |
| 186 | Honor Jackson | DB | 18778 |
| 187 | George Wells | DL | 18855 |
| 188 | Joe Profit | RB | 18904 |
| 189 | Tim Roth | DL | 18913 |
| 190 | Doug Mooers | DL | 18938 |
| 191 | Bruce Jarvis | OL | 18956 |
| 192 | Jim R. Miller | OL | 19002 |
| 193 | Lee Thomas | DL | 19160 |
| 194 | Don Warrington | WR | 19609 |
| 195 | Leon Burns | RB | 19676 |
| 196 | Jesse Taylor | RB | 19694 |
| 197 | Larry Rowden | LB | 19695 |
| 198 | Willie Young (1947) | OL | 19696 |
| 199 | Gene Mack | DL | 20141 |
| 200 | Ray White | LB | 20228 |
| 201 | James Ford | RB | 20429 |
| 202 | Tony Proudfoot | DB | 20470 |
| 203 | Rudy Sims | DL | 20536 |
| 204 | Gerry Organ (K) | K | 20593 |
| 205 | Ken Lee | LB | 20719 |
| 206 | John Mooring | OL | 20825 |
| 207 | Rocky Thompson | RB | 21117 |
| 208 | Bob Leahy | QB | 21176 |
| 209 | Bob Kraemer | WR | 21203 |
| 210 | Matt Maslowski | WR | 21463 |
| 211 | Don Martin | DB | 21584 |
| 212 | Bill Line | DL | 21683 |
| 213 | George Anderson | LB | 21691 |
| 214 | Greg Slough | LB | 21791 |
| 215 | Gerry Organ | WR | 21952 |
| 216 | Louis Ross | DL | 22193 |
| 217 | Larry Brame | LB | 22282 |
| 218 | Rodney Wallace | OL | 22294 |
| 219 | Larry Willingham | DB | 22355 |
| 220 | John Forzani | OL | 22406 |
| 221 | Layne McDowell | OL | 22547 |
| 222 | Pete Ribbins | DB | 22586 |
| 223 | Andy Hopkins | RB | 22654 |
| 224 | Wayne Matherne | DB | 22768 |
| 225 | Mel Holmes | OL | 22857 |
| 226 | Tom Laputka | DL | 22990 |
| 227 | Harris Jones | OL | 23010 |
| 228 | Don Moorhead | QB | 23016 |
| 229 | Rick Ogle | LB | 23071 |
| 230 | Al L. Young | WR | 23098 |
| 231 | Sonny Davis | RB | 23204 |
| 232 | Donnell Smith | DL | 23205 |
| 233 | Wayne Walton | OL | 23230 |
| 234 | Sam Holden | OL | 23301 |
| 235 | Tim Beamer | DB | 23321 |
| 236 | Vince Clements | RB | 23344 |
| 237 | Reynaud Moore | DB | 23379 |
| 238 | Bob Creech | LB | 23426 |
| 239 | Mark Ellison | OL | 23464 |
| 240 | James Bond | OL | 23470 |
| 241 | Roger Williams | DB | 23550 |
| 242 | Gerry Organ (P) | P | 23573 |
| 243 | Dale Farley | LB | 23805 |
| 244 | Jim DeLisle | DL | 23894 |
| 245 | William Anderson | DB | 23897 |
| 246 | Larry Highbaugh (KR) | KR | 24001 |
| 247 | Art May | DL | 24011 |
| 248 | Tim Beamer (KR) | KR | 24042 |
| 249 | Don Burchfield | TE | 24044 |
| 250 | Karl Douglas | QB | 24054 |
| 251 | Jim Stillwagon | DL | 24091 |
| 252 | Virgil Robinson | RB | 24264 |
| 253 | Richard Winther | OL | 24271 |
| 254 | Larry Shears | DB | 24302 |
| 255 | Warren Koegel | OL | 24376 |
| 256 | Perry Pruett | DB | 24457 |
| 257 | Roy Kirksey | OL | 24487 |
| 258 | Bill McKinley | DL | 24689 |
| 259 | Chuck Winfrey | LB | 24741 |
| 260 | Bruce Bergey | DL | 24873 |
| 261 | Leo Hart | QB | 24899 |
| 262 | Dennis Coleman | LB | 24983 |
| 263 | Scott Palmer | DL | 25014 |
| 264 | Tyrone Walls | TE | 25062 |
| 265 | Bob McKeown | OL | 25139 |
| 266 | Mike Lee | LB | 25247 |
| 267 | Larry Highbaugh (PR) | PR | 25273 |
| 268 | Jim Lindsey (QB) | QB | 25450 |
| 269 | Bill Atessis | DL | 25487 |
| 270 | Gary Nowak | DL | 25488 |
| 271 | Mike J. Walker | DL | 25489 |
| 272 | Leroy Howard | DB | 25558 |
| 273 | Archie McCord | OL | 25680 |
| 274 | Brian Donnelly | DB | 25715 |
| 275 | Dave Buchanan | WR | 25752 |
| 276 | Mike Walker (DL) | DL | 25757 |
| 277 | Skip Eaman | WR | 25833 |
| 278 | Moody Jackson | WR | 25876 |
| 279 | Jesse Mims | RB | 26114 |
| 280 | Marty Huff | LB | 26118 |
| 281 | Jack Smith | DB | 26181 |
| 282 | Gord Stewart | DL | 26190 |
| 283 | Tom Beard | OL | 26735 |
| 284 | Clay McEvoy | RB | 26782 |
| 285 | Dave Walker | DB | 26839 |
| 286 | Tim Delaney | WR | 26938 |
| 287 | Emery Hicks | LB | 27065 |
| 288 | Brian Jack | TE | 27264 |
| 289 | Eddie Williams (RB) | RB | 27670 |
| 290 | Tom Schultz | LB | 27683 |
| 291 | Rock Perdoni | DL | 27684 |
| 292 | John Trainor | OL | 27967 |
| 293 | Bob Richards | OL | 28391 |
| 294 | Kevin Grady | OL | 28392 |
| 295 | Terry Shelsta | OL | 28559 |
| 296 | John Steele | DB | 28724 |
| 297 | Jim Chasey | QB | 29296 |
| 298 | Jim Foley (PR) | PR | 29688 |
| 299 | Michel Leveille | RB | 29885 |
| 300 | Stan Brown | RB | 30090 |
| 301 | Pete Rajecki | K | 30200 |
| 302 | Bill Massey | RB | 30565 |
| 303 | Edgar Scott | WR | 30702 |
| 304 | Jim Kalili | LB | 30703 |
| 305 | Bubba Pena | OL | 31056 |
| 306 | Mike Sikich | OL | 31057 |
| 307 | Ron Maree | OL | 31058 |
| 308 | Bill Bynum | QB | 32027 |
| 309 | Craig McLeod | LB | 32028 |
| 310 | Jim White | LB | 32517 |
| 311 | Sam Dickerson | WR | 32518 |
| 312 | Dick Bumpas | TE | 32530 |
| 313 | Cliff Powell | LB | 32742 |
| 314 | Brad Upshaw | DB | 33040 |
| 315 | Larry James (RB) | RB | 33356 |
| 316 | Reggie Holmes | DB | 33365 |
| 317 | Michel Leveille (PR) | PR | 33489 |
| 318 | Tony Proudfoot (PR) | PR | 33517 |
| 319 | Thomas Gipson | DL | 33630 |
| 320 | Merv Visneskie | RB | 33753 |
| 321 | Brian Kelsey | RB | 33907 |
| 322 | Skip Eaman (PR) | PR | 33908 |
| 323 | Moody Jackson (KR) | KR | 33923 |
| 324 | Chip Kell | OL | 33930 |
| 325 | Jim White (LB) | TE | 34027 |
| 326 | Joe Blake | DL | 34143 |
| 327 | Bryan White | DB | 34176 |
| 328 | Hal Phillips | DB | 34177 |
| 329 | Bruce Jankowski | WR | 34384 |
| 330 | Kenny Price | LB | 34535 |
| 331 | Brad Upshaw (PR) | PR | 34545 |
| 332 | Jesse Mims (KR) | KR | 34548 |
| 333 | Moses Denson (KR) | KR | 34693 |
| 334 | Tim Beamer (PR) | PR | 34753 |
| 335 | Pete Ribbins (PR) | PR | 35358 |
| 336 | Russ Jenkins | DL | 35359 |
| 337 | Wayne Matherne (KR) | KR | 35360 |
| 338 | Bruce Taupier | DL | 35568 |
| 339 | Sam Scarber (KR) | KR | 35569 |
| 340 | Dave Walker (KR) | KR | 35942 |
| 341 | Moody Jackson (PR) | PR | 35943 |
| 342 | Stan Brown (KR) | KR | 35944 |
| 343 | Reggie Holmes (PR) | PR | 36497 |
| 344 | Mike Yancheff | QB | 37235 |
| 345 | Jack Schultz | DB | 37349 |
| 346 | Jim Cooch | DB | 37350 |
| 347 | Phil Webb | DB | 37351 |
| 348 | Brian Donnelly (PR) | PR | 37714 |
| 349 | Wayne Matherne (PR) | PR | 37928 |
| 350 | Dave Walker (PR) | PR | 38022 |
| 351 | Joe Profit (KR) | KR | 38198 |
| 352 | John Steele (PR) | PR | 38293 |
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