By Kent Schmidt, CSN Columnist

(List: Ranking. Player, Position, School, NFL Draft)

1. Richard Dent, DE, Tennessee State, 8th Rnd-1983

Dent was a two-time All-American and played for the TSU Tigers from 1979 to 1982. He was the Sheridan National Defensive Player of the Year as a senior and was a member of three Black College National Championship teams during his tenure. Following TSU, he embarked on his highly successful NFL career, playing with the Chicago Bears from 1983-93 and then having stints with the San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, and the Philadelphia Eagles. Dent was named to play in four Pro Bowls and was on five NFC Pro Bowl teams. He helped the Bears to their only Super Bowl title and capped off the stellar 1985 season by being named MVP of Super Bowl XX as the Bears routed the New England Patriots, 56-10. He recorded 137.5 quarterback sacks in his career.

2. Michael Strahan, DE, Texas Southern, 2nd Rnd-1993

As a senior at Texas Southern in 1992, Strahan was selected as an All-America when he recorded 62 tackles with a school-record 19 quarterback sacks and 32 tackles totaling 142 yards in losses. He was selected as the FCS Defensive Player of the Year by The Poor Man's Guide that year as well. In 1992, he was the SWAC's Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and was also named Black College Defensive Player of the Year. As a junior in 1991, Strahan led the SWAC with 14.5 quarterback sacks. His 41.5 career sacks is a Texas Southern record. He played his entire NFL career with the New York Giants and retired after the Giants defeated New England in last year's Super Bowl. He has the record for sacks in a season of 22.5, which he obtained in 2001 when he won the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year Award. He finished his career with a total of 141.5 sacks. He made seven Pro Bowls in his career (1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005).