Top 10 all-time NFL players from small schools

Small schools (current Football Championship Subdivision or below) arguably have produced the most impressive list of NFL greats. Take a look at this impressive list of the top 10 small-school NFL stars, the order of which was determined by the rankings in the "The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players" countdown that originally aired on NFL Network in 2010.

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Small schools (current Football Championship Subdivision or below) arguably have produced the most impressive list of NFL greats. Take a look at this impressive list of the top 10 small-school NFL stars, the order of which was determined by the rankings in the "The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players" countdown that originally aired on NFL Network in 2010.

Brown was not drafted. He played four seasons for the Denver Broncos (1963-66), and then 12 seasons for the Oakland Raiders (1967-1978). He was on the Raiders team that advanced to Super Bowl II and was an integral part of the Raiders' victory in Super Bowl XI (a team voted by fans on NFL.com in 2012 as the greatest team in NFL history). Brown is a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a 1984 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo)

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10. Willie Brown, DB, Grambling

Brown was not drafted. He played four seasons for the Denver Broncos (1963-66), and then 12 seasons for the Oakland Raiders (1967-1978). He was on the Raiders team that advanced to Super Bowl II and was an integral part of the Raiders' victory in Super Bowl XI (a team voted by fans on NFL.com in 2012 as the greatest team in NFL history). Brown is a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a 1984 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo)

Anonymous/AP1970

1967 NFL Draft, first round, Oakland Raiders -- Upshaw played 15 seasons for the Raiders (1967-1981). He was a member of three Raiders teams that advanced to the Super Bowl, including two that emerged victorious (Super Bowl XI and Super Bowl XV). Upshaw was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and a 1987 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

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9. Gene Upshaw, G, Texas A&I

1967 NFL Draft, first round, Oakland Raiders -- Upshaw played 15 seasons for the Raiders (1967-1981). He was a member of three Raiders teams that advanced to the Super Bowl, including two that emerged victorious (Super Bowl XI and Super Bowl XV). Upshaw was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and a 1987 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

NFL/AP2009

1967 NFL Draft, second round, Kansas City Chiefs -- Lanier played 11 seasons for the Chiefs (1967-1977). He was a member of the Chiefs team that advanced to Super Bowl I and part of the team that won Super Bowl IV. Lanier was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and a 1986 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (Rich Clarkson/Rich Clarkson Associates via AP Images)

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8. Willie Lanier, LB, Morgan State

1967 NFL Draft, second round, Kansas City Chiefs -- Lanier played 11 seasons for the Chiefs (1967-1977). He was a member of the Chiefs team that advanced to Super Bowl I and part of the team that won Super Bowl IV. Lanier was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and a 1986 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (Rich Clarkson/Rich Clarkson Associates via AP Images)

Rich Clarkson/1967 AP

1970 NFL Draft, third round, Pittsburgh Steelers -- Blount played 14 seasons for the Steelers (1970-1983). He was a member each of the Steelers' four Super Bowl-winning teams in the decade of the 1970s. Blount was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a 1989 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo)

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7. Mel Blount, DB, Southern

1970 NFL Draft, third round, Pittsburgh Steelers -- Blount played 14 seasons for the Steelers (1970-1983). He was a member each of the Steelers' four Super Bowl-winning teams in the decade of the 1970s. Blount was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a 1989 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo)

CA/1980 AP

1949 NFL Draft, first round, Philadelphia Eagles -- Bednarik played 14 seasons for the Eagles (1949-1962). He was a member of the Eagles' NFL title-winning teams of 1949 and 1960. Bednarik also is recognized as the last of the "60-minute men." He was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and a 1967 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

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6. Chuck Bednarik, C/LB, Pennsylvania

1949 NFL Draft, first round, Philadelphia Eagles -- Bednarik played 14 seasons for the Eagles (1949-1962). He was a member of the Eagles' NFL title-winning teams of 1949 and 1960. Bednarik also is recognized as the last of the "60-minute men." He was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and a 1967 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

NFL

1939 NFL Draft, first round, Chicago Bears -- Luckman played 12 seasons for the Bears (1939-1950). He was a member of Bears teams that appeared in five NFL championship games, winning titles in 1940, 1941, 1943 and 1946. Luckman was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and a 1965 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo)

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5. Sid Luckman, QB, Columbia

1939 NFL Draft, first round, Chicago Bears -- Luckman played 12 seasons for the Bears (1939-1950). He was a member of Bears teams that appeared in five NFL championship games, winning titles in 1940, 1941, 1943 and 1946. Luckman was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and a 1965 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo)

AP2007

Lane was not drated. He played two seasons for the Los Angeles Rams (1952-53), six seasons for the Chicago Cardinals (1954-59) and six seasons for the Detroit Lions (1960-65). Lane was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and a 1974 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/PS)

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4. Dick "Night Train" Lane, DB, Western Nebraska Community College-Scottsbluff

Lane was not drated. He played two seasons for the Los Angeles Rams (1952-53), six seasons for the Chicago Cardinals (1954-59) and six seasons for the Detroit Lions (1960-65). Lane was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and a 1974 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/PS)

PS/AP1962

1961 NFL Draft, 14th round, Los Angeles Rams -- Jones came out of what is now known as Mississippi Valley State to play 11 seasons for the Rams (1961-1971), two seasons for the San Diego Chargers (1972-73) and one season for the Washington Redskins (1974). Jones was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, a 1980 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and left behind a legacy as one of the game's greatest characters. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

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3. Deacon Jones, DE, Mississippi Vocational College

1961 NFL Draft, 14th round, Los Angeles Rams -- Jones came out of what is now known as Mississippi Valley State to play 11 seasons for the Rams (1961-1971), two seasons for the San Diego Chargers (1972-73) and one season for the Washington Redskins (1974). Jones was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, a 1980 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and left behind a legacy as one of the game's greatest characters. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

Uncredited/AP1966

1975 NFL Draft, first round, Chicago Bears -- Payton played 13 seasons for the Bears (1975-1987). He was a member of the team's Super Bowl XX-winning squad, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, a 1993 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and retired as the game's all-time leading rusher. (AP Photo/John Swart)

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2. Walter Payton, RB, Jackson State

1975 NFL Draft, first round, Chicago Bears -- Payton played 13 seasons for the Bears (1975-1987). He was a member of the team's Super Bowl XX-winning squad, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, a 1993 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and retired as the game's all-time leading rusher. (AP Photo/John Swart)

JOHN SWART/AP1999

1985 NFL Draft, first round, San Francisco 49ers -- Rice played 16 seasons for the 49ers (1985-2000), four sasons for the Oakland Raiders (2001-04) and one season for the Seattle Seahawks (2004). He won three Super Bowls with the 49ers (Super Bowl XXIII, Super Bowl XXIV and Super Bowl XXIX), and was a member of the Raiders when they advanced to Super Bowl XXXVII. Rice was a 13-time Pro Bowl selection, a 2010 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and was voted the No. 1 player in NFL history on "The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players" series on NFL Network. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)» For more go to NFL.com/CFB247

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1. Jerry Rice, WR, Mississippi Valley State

1985 NFL Draft, first round, San Francisco 49ers -- Rice played 16 seasons for the 49ers (1985-2000), four sasons for the Oakland Raiders (2001-04) and one season for the Seattle Seahawks (2004). He won three Super Bowls with the 49ers (Super Bowl XXIII, Super Bowl XXIV and Super Bowl XXIX), and was a member of the Raiders when they advanced to Super Bowl XXXVII. Rice was a 13-time Pro Bowl selection, a 2010 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and was voted the No. 1 player in NFL history on "The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players" series on NFL Network. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)

» For more go to NFL.com/CFB247

Greg Trott

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