We are 52 days away from college football kickoff. Happiest of Hump days to one and all. Today, we have Harry Gilmer of Alabama, Ray Lewis from The U, and Jack Del Rio from USC, the California USC, not the South Carolina USC. We hope you enjoy learning more about these great players. Be sure to check back tomorrow for #51 in our countdown to kickoff. Enjoy!
Harry Gilmer (52) Days Away From College Football Kickoff
Harry Gilmer played left halfback for Alabama from 1944 to 1947. As a freshman, he went 8 for 8 passing against Duke in the Sugar Bowl. In his sophomore year, he faced Southern California in the Rose Bowl, rushing for 116 yards and passing for 59. That same season against Kentucky, Gilmer completed two passes for 50 yards and rushed six times for 216 yards, scoring touchdowns on runs of 55 and 95 yards. His best season was 1945, when Gilmer led the nation with 13 touchdown passes and ran for nine more. He averaged 7.0 yards on 79 rushing attempts and completed 64.8% of his 88 passes. Gilmer’s total offense of 1,457 yards ranked second in the country.
Gilmer also handled punting and kick returns for Alabama. In 1946, he returned 37 punts and led the nation with a 14.5-yard average. Over his college career, he passed for 26 touchdowns and ran for 24, totaling 2,894 passing yards and 1,673 rushing yards. Gilmer’s punting average was 36.4 yards, and he averaged 28.7 yards on kickoff returns and 13.5 on punt returns.
During Gilmer’s time, Alabama went 30-9-2, including a perfect 10-0 season in 1945. Known for his unique style, Gilmer often jumped in the air to throw passes.
Gilmer played quarterback in the NFL for Washington and Detroit from 1948 to 1956, and later served as head coach of the Detroit Lions from 1965 to 1966.
Another Great #52, Ray Lewis, Miami
Ray Lewis’s powerful presence on the field forced teams to rethink how they played against the Hurricanes. As a linebacker, he was so tough that coaches designed special plays just to stop him. Quarterbacks and running backs always kept an eye out for #52. From his first year as a true freshman, Lewis posted impressive stats and earned numerous honors over his three years at Miami.
Lewis set the University of Miami’s single-season record for tackles by a middle linebacker with 95. He is also tied for second in career total tackles and assists with 160. He earned All-BIG EAST honors in both 1994 and 1995. In 1993, he received the last available scholarship.After being named the Jack Harding MVP of the team in 1995, Lewis entered the NFL draft and was chosen in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens. He later became the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2000 and was named MVP of Super Bowl XXXV, helping the Ravens win their first world championship.
One More Great #52, Jack Del Rio, USC
Jack Del Rio made his mark as a standout outside linebacker for the USC football team and as a reliable catcher for the Trojan baseball team. He earned consensus All-American honors and was the Lombardi Award runner-up in 1984, helping USC win the 1985 Rose Bowl, where he was named Co-MVP.
During Del Rio’s four years from 1981 to 1984. He was twice selected for the All-Pac-10 first team and received the 1984 Pop Warner Award as the top senior on the Pacific Coast. On the baseball field, Del Rio caught for USC in 1983 and 1984, batting over .300 both years.
After college, Del Rio played 12 seasons in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, and Miami Dolphins. Since 1997, he has coached in the NFL.
Editor’s Note: The countdown to college football kickoff has been a series on the Last Word on College Football social media platforms for the past 9 years. They consisted of a photo and a small blurb for each player, with the jersey corresponding to the number of days until kickoff. The rank of the players is sourced from articles by Bleacher Report, Fox Sports, and The Athletic. There are also some favorite players of the Last Word on College Football writers. Their bios are sourced from multiple online sources, including but not limited to the College Football Hall of Fame, their Heisman profiles, and school websites.
Main Photo: University of Alabama
