gold star for USAHOF

334. Dave Szott

One of the most underrated Guards in the game, Dave Szott, was never chosen for a Pro Bowl, though he was good enough to make several. 

Szott was not a behemoth like other Linemen but used skill and leverage to outmaneuver his opponent.  Rarely beaten, Szott had no discernable weakness, well except for the lack of accolades!

157. Cameron Wake

Despite playing for a college juggernaut like Penn State, Linebacker Cameron Wake was not drafted in 2005.  He signed with the New York Giants as a Free Agent, but failed to make the team, but he continued to work out and hope for an opportunity, but it took a detour to Canada to get him to the NFL.

Wake made the B.C. Lions in 2007, and in the next two seasons, he was named the CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player in both of them.  The NFL could not ignore that, and he signed with the Miami Dolphins, who were one of several teams interested in the former Nittany Lion.

Wake was a back-up as a 27-year-old NFL rookie, but he became a regular starter on the edge the year after and was one of the top pass-rushers over the next nine seasons.  Going to five Pro Bowls, Wake was a First Team All-Pro in 2012, and he had five 10-plus Sack years, peaking with 15 in 2012.  

Age caught up to Wake, and his final season in Tennessee (2019) was sub-standard compared to what he did before, but he accumulated 100.5 Sacks, an incredible accomplishment considering when he made it to the NFL.

68. Rosey Grier

While Rosey Grier was better known for being one of the inaugural members of the Los Angeles Rams' "Fearsome Foursome," the defensive stalwart was a better player in the first two-thirds of his professional career when he was with the New York Giants.  Grier helped the New York win the 1956 NFL Championship, and the two Pro Bowls (1956 and 1960) he was named to was as a Giant.  He would also be selected as a First Team All-Pro in 1956 and was a two-time Second Team All-Pro.  

262. NaVorro Bowman

NaVorro Bowman would prove to be a tackling machine during his time with the San Francisco 49ers and once he became a starter would help usher in a new wave of strong defense for the team.  Bowman would be a First Team All Pro in 2011 (despite not making the Pro Bowl) and he finished second overall in Solo Tackles.  He would repeat his First Team All Pro performance again in both 2012 and 2013, this time making the Pro Bowl in both years, and in 2012 he helped the Niners reach the Super Bowl, though they would lose to the Baltimore Ravens.  From 2011 to 2013 he had 140 Combined Tackles or more, which was good enough for the top ten each year.  A torn ACL and MCL cost Bowman the 2014 season but his return in 2015 saw him again reach the Pro Bowl, the First Team All Pro and this time he would lead the NFL in Solo and Combined Tackles.

21. Steve Wisniewski

What points do you get for being one of the best players to come out of Vermont?  Okay, not that much, but regardless of what state Steve Wisniewski came from, there was no doubt that he was one of the finest Offensive Linemen of the 1990s.

Steve Wisniewski was the de facto leader of the Silver and Black’s O-Line for over a decade.  Many considered him a dirty player and too many he was the embodiment of the Silver and Black.  Regardless of whatever tactics the “Wiz” would use, there was no doubt that he was a talented Left Guard and in addition to eight Pro Bowls, he was named to the prestigious NFL 1990’s All-Decade team.