undefined

Steve Politi | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

undefined

Don't Edit

Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media

The task is impossible ...

... but we're certainly not afraid of a challenge here at NJ Advance Media. So we set out to create the definitive list of the greatest Rutgers athletes, doing our best to narrow 150 years of intercollegiate sports and thousands of candidates to just 50.

We tried to consider their overall achievements, their impact on the wins and losses and their broader legacy that they left behind at the university. Are they remembered and revered? Will athletes 50 years from now still chase their records?

Scroll through the gallery to see our list, and click on share above to invite other Rutgers fans to join the discussion.

Don't Edit

Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media

50. William Leggett

Yes, no one really knows how good the captain of the 1869 football team was as an athlete, but Rutgers is, after all, the Birthplace of College Football. And his presence on the list illustrates just how many athletes have come and gone over the decades that followed that game.

Don't Edit

NJ Advance Media file photo

49. Pat Kivlehan

Can you get on this list for one great season? You can if that one great season is what Kivlehan did in 2012. After playing 43 career games as a backup defensive back for the football team, he hit .392/.480/.693 with 14 home runs, 50 RBI and 24 steals in 51 games to win Big East Player of the Year honors.

Don't Edit

48. Mike Teel

Teel owns most of the Rutgers passing records, including most yards (9,383) and touchdowns (59). It wasn’t always a smooth road for the quarterback from powerhouse Don Bosco, but his teams helped created a different standard for the football program in Piscataway.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Photo courtesy of Rutgers Athletics

47. Bobby Joe Esposito

Esposito started all 76 games in his Rutgers soccer career, recording 16 multiple-goal games and 17 game winners. That career began with a 17-1-2 overall record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 1983, the first berth for Rutgers in the national tournament in over 20 years, and ended with All-American honors in 1986.

Don't Edit

46. Tom Ulan

He was the first Rutgers runner to reach international stature, a three-time All-American who was a nationally recognized middle-distance runner. He was also part of the sprint medley relay team that captured the Scarlet Knights' first track and field national championship.

Don't Edit

Photo courtesy of Ed Hewitt of row2k

45. Jeff Klepacki

It is difficult to choose individual rowers from the deep and proud Rutgers crew team, but Klepacki (in yellow) helped lead the team to an undefeated season and a No. 5 ranking in the 1980s. He and Jim Neil made the national team while still students at Rutgers, going on to multiple Olympics and World Championships.

Don't Edit

Tony Kurdzuk | NJ Advance Media

44. Corey Crawford

One of the best men's track and field athletes in Rutgers history is still competing. The three-time All-American owns four school records, including both the indoor and outdoor long jump marks. He was also the Big Ten long jump champion this season.

Don't Edit

Scott R. Galvin | Galvin Photo

43. Gabrielle Farquharson

One of the best women's track and field athletes in Rutgers history is still competing, too. The four-time All-American is the first ever two-time Big Ten champion set four new school records during her career and has qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the long jump.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

NJ Advance Media file photo

42. Frank Burns

Better known for his 11 years as head coach (he was 78-43-1 during that stretch), "Flinging Frank" was a pretty good quarterback back in the 40s, too. He led the team to a 27-7 record and, in the 1949 College All-Star Game, had 17 tackles as a linebacker against the New York Giants.

Don't Edit

41. Leonte Carroo

Two numbers define the Rutgers receiver: 29 and 30. The first is the number of touchdowns he scored in his career, a record. The second is the number of games he needed to score them, a remarkable pace. He also averaged 19.5 yards per catch.

Don't Edit

40. Roy Hinson

He arrived at Rutgers as a skinny kid from nearby Franklin and graduated as, arguable, the finest defensive frontcourt player in school history. He is the program's second all-time shot blocker (356), and developed into a good enough scorer that the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted him in the first round.

Don't Edit

Stephen Dunn | Getty Images

39. Deron Cherry

How good an athlete was Deron Cherry while he was at Rutgers? Not only was he a lock-down cornerback with nine career interceptions, but he punted for the Scarlet Knights and averaged nearly 40 yards a kick. He flourished in the NFL with the Chiefs, making six Pro Bowls.

Don't Edit

NJ Advance Media file photo

38. James Bailey

"Jammin' James" was the 6-foot-9 freshman center on the 1976 Final Four team and went onto capture All-America honors in 1978. Bailey, who played nine seasons in the NBA, is still near the top of most statistical categories at Rutgers. His number 20 was retired in 1992.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Courtesy of Rutgers Athletics

37. Elliott Quow

Quow is certainly one of the fastest Scarlet Knights ever, a three-time All-American who held the American record in the 300-meter run. In 1983, he was the NCAA Champion in the 200 meters and named Athlete of the Year by Eastern Track and won a silver medal at the World Championships.

Don't Edit

NJ Advance Media file photo

36. Tasha Pointer

Pointer will always have a special place in Rutgers women's basketball lore for leading the Scarlet Knights to their first-ever Final Four appearance in 2000. She is the school's all-time assist leader and, as one of the program's most complete players, registered four triple doubles in her career.

Don't Edit

Larry Levanti photo

35. Reid Jackson

The three-time All-American is one of the best lacrosse players in Rutgers history, and after the 1994 season was honored as the top Division 1 defenseman in the country. He went onto win a gold medal with the U.S. national team in 1998.

Don't Edit

NJ Advance Media file photo

34. Mike Dabney

The smooth guard from East Orange was the second-leading scorer on the 1976 Final Four team and led the team with 110 steals – many of which, longtime Rutgers fans remember, he turned into fast-break baskets. He is still fourth all-time in scoring, with 1,902 points.

Don't Edit

Photo courtesy of Rutgers Athletics

33. Marco Battaglia

The big tight end finished his career as one of the most decorated players in Rutgers football history, a consensus All-American and Big East offensive Player of the Year after leading the nation with 69 catches for 894 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Photo courtesy of Rutgers Athletics

32. JJ Jennings

Jennings led the nation in scoring in 1973, with 128 points, earning All-America honors in the process. He set the school record with 2,935 rushing yards on 650 attempts, marks that would stand for 20 years.

Don't Edit

Jacquelyn Martin | AP Photo

31. Peter Vermes

Vermes is better known now as a successful Major League Soccer coach -- that's him talking to President Obama after Sporting Kansas City won the 2013 title -- but he also had one of the finest careers for a soccer player in Rutgers history. The 1987 All-American and runner-up for National Player of the Year is still in the top 10 in several statistical categories.

Don't Edit

Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media

30. Anthony Perrotti

The two-time All-American wrestler is one of the major reasons this program has become, under head coach Scott Goodale, one of the best at Rutgers. Perrotti finished his career 85-46 this spring, with him and Anthony Ashnault giving Rutgers two All-Americans in the same year since 1952.

Don't Edit

Photos courtesy of John Moreau

29. Paul Pesthy

Did you know a Rutgers athlete won an Olympic medal while in school? His name was Paul Pesthy, and he won silver in the 1964 Games in the team modern pentathlon – one of the four Olympics in which he competed. He was also a two-time All-American during his career.

Don't Edit

Photo courtesy of Rutgers Athletics

28. Bill Austin

The diminutive back amassed 2,073 yards and scored 204 points during his Rutgers career in the mid 1950s. He was a great two-way player who had 32 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, and a pretty good lacrosse player, too, who received honorable mention All-America honors twice.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Associated Press file photo

27. Saskia Webber

Webber, an All-American and National Goalkeeper of the Year in 1992, was the first women's soccer player inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Fame. Before she went on to play for the U.S. Women's National Team, she had 30 shutouts and made 413 saves during her career in Piscataway.

Don't Edit

Photo courtesy of Rutgers Athletics

26. June Olkowski

The All-American basketball star led Rutgers during an era of dominance in the AIAW, the precursor to the NCAA in women's hoops. Her teams went 108-22, including the 1982 AIAW title, which stands as one of the greatest team accomplishments for the Rutgers athletic department.

Don't Edit

Associated Press file photo

25. Jeff Torborg

Before he was a big-league player and manager, Torborg set the school record for season batting average (.540) and slugging percentage (1.032) in 1963. In his three seasons, the baseball team had a 40-13-1 record.

Don't Edit

24. Quincy Douby

The only Rutgers basketball player to earn first-team All-Big East honors, he lead the league in scoring in 2006 at 25.4 points per game to break the single-season scoring record. He ranks sixth in school history with 1,690 career points despite leaving for the pros after his junior year.

Don't Edit

23. Brian Leonard

Not only was he the fullback who sacrificed his carries (and body) to block for Ray Rice, but Leonard is second in school history with 207 receptions. He is the player who bridged the gap between the football irrelevance to a program where bowl games were a regular occurrence.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

David Zalubowski | Associated Press

22. Eric Young

Young was a two-sport star at Rutgers. He caught 109 passes for 1,380 and was a crucialk special teams performer on the football team, but he was truly a star in baseball. He batted over .300 in all three of his seasons and, in 1988, led Rutgers to an Atlantic 10 title and an NCAA tourney berth.

Don't Edit

NJ Advance Media file photo

21. Gary Brackett

The Glassboro native went from an undersized walk-on linebacker to a two-time MVP and captain of the Rutgers football team in 2001-02, finishing his career in Piscataway with 274 tackles. His NFL career wasn’t so shabby, either.

Don't Edit

NJ Advance Media file photo

20. Jason and Devin McCourty

If the famous twins can share a Twitter account, they can share a spot on this list, too. The McCourtys were not only two of the finest defensive players in Rutgers history but remain stellar representatives of the university community as a whole.

Don't Edit

NJ Advance Media file photo

19. Keith Cromwell

Arguably the greatest lacrosse player in school history, Cromwell is the program's leading scorer with 152 goals and 266 points. He capped his brilliant career in 2001 as a first-team All-American and was named the outstanding male athlete for the entire athletic department.

Don't Edit

NJ Advance Media file photo

18. Bobby Brownlie

Arguably the greatest pitcher in Rutgers history, Brownlie owned the school record for career strikeouts (235), career shutouts and single-season wins (10). He was also part of a resurgence for the sport under legendary coach Fred Hill, with the Scarlet Knight posting a 116-57-1 record in his three years and twice advancing to the NCAA Tournament.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

NJ Advance Media file photo

17. Eddie Jordan

"Fast Eddie" was the point guard for the great Rutgers teams of the mid-1970s set career records for assists (585) and steals (220). His return to Piscataway as a head coach may have ended in disappointment, but he’ll always be remembered as one of the top hoops players in school history.

Don't Edit

John Munson | NJ Advance Media

16. Anthony Ashnault

How can an athlete who is only halfway into his career make this list? He's been that good, that's how. Ashnault is a two-time All-American and wrestling's first Big Ten champion who, before he's done, figures to firmly establish himself as the greatest wrestler in school history. If he hasn't already.

Don't Edit

Associated Press file photo

15. Homer Hazel

The 1951 inductee into the National Football Hall of Fame was a great end in the Roaring '20s known for "Bunyan-esque feats on the field." There is a reason the team's MVP award is named in his honor. He also punted and kicked for the team, and also lettered in baseball, basketball and track.

Don't Edit

Associated Press file photo

14. George Kojac

How's this for dominance: Kojac (on the right with Tarzan star Johnnie Weismuller) never lost a single race while swimming at Rutgers from 1929-31. Then again, that's not exactly surprising given that, in the 1928 Olympic games, he won two gold medals, in the 100-meter backstroke and as part of the 800-meter freestyle relay.

Don't Edit

NJ Advance Media file photo

13. Cappie Pondexter

The prolific guard was the first four-time All-Big East First Team selection in the league's history. She is second in school history with 2,211 points and first in 3-point shooting percentage (.426), and while picking the best player from C. Vivian Stringer's teams isn't easy, she gets the nod.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Photo courtesy of Rutgers Athletics

12. Chuck Logg/Tom Price

Rowing was the first organized sport at Rutgers, dating back to 1864, and in 1952 two oarsman from the program not only qualified for the Olympics in stunning fashion but went on to win the Olympic gold medal in Helsinki -- beating the field by nearly three seconds in the final race.

Don't Edit

Chris Faytok | NJ Advance Media

11. Kenny Britt

Britt is the most prolific receiver in Rutgers history, with 3,043 yards (a 17.1 average per catch) and 14 games with 100 or more yards. He is one of the most naturally gifted athletes in Rutgers history and a major reason for the football team's resurgence under Greg Schiano.

Don't Edit

Photo courtesy of Rutgers Athletics

10. Bob Lloyd

His No. 14 was the first to be retired in Rutgers basketball history, and for good reason. Lloyd averaged 26.6 points a game for his career, amassing 2,045 career points and, along with a guard named Jim Valvano, led the 1966-67 Scarlet Knights to a third-place finish in the NIT.

Don't Edit

9. Todd Frazier

He might be more famous for his exploits before and after his years in Piscataway, but the former Toms River Little League star and current White Sox third baseman is all over the Rutgers record books. His 42 home runs is still the school record.

Don't Edit

John Munson | NJ Advance Media

8. Heather Jones

In her Hall of Fame bio Jones (center, with Eric Young and Bobby Joe Esposito) is described as "one of the most versatile and gifted female athletes to ever attend Rutgers," and it's easy to see why. She completed her career as the all-time leading scorer in field hockey and lacrosse, amassing a remarkable seven All-America honors between the two sports.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Photo courtesy of Rutgers Athletics

7. Alex Kroll

Kroll led Rutgers to a 17-1 record in his two seasons and its first undefeated season in 1961, when he was named an All-American at center and linebacker. He was also truly a student-athlete: Kroll was a Henry Rutgers Scholar with a perfect GPA in his major, English Literature.

Don't Edit

6. Carli Lloyd

Before she was known worldwide for her heroics in the World Cup and the Olympics, Lloyd was a star in Piscataway from 2001-04. She is still the program’s all-time leader in goals (50), points (117) and shots (295).

Don't Edit

Associated Press file photo

5. Phil Sellers

The best player on the best Rutgers basketball team, Sellers is still the program's all-time leading scorer (2,399 points) and rebounder (1111). With him leading the way, the Scarlet Knights started the 1975-76 season 31-0 and reached the Final Four for the first and only time in their history.

Don't Edit

Associated Press file photo

4. Ray Rice

Rice is not only the football team's all-time leading rusher with 4,926 yards and 49 touchdowns, but he's one of the people most responsible for taking the program from a national laughingstock into the top 10 and bowl games.

Don't Edit

Eric Draper | Associated Press

3. Alexi Lalas

Lalas was a three-time All-American and the 1991 National Player of the Year, and during his four years at Rutgers, he led the Scarlet Knights to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including an appearance in the national title game in 1990. The team had a 71-15-8 record during his career.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Mel Evans | Associated Press

2. Sue Wicks

The most decorated player in Rutgers basketball history, Wicks was a three-time All-American and the 1988 National Player of the Year. She still owns the career record for points, rebounds, scoring average, rebounding average, field goals made and attempts, free throws made and attempted, and blocked shots.

Don't Edit

Associated Press file photo

1. Paul Robeson

Robeson earned 12 varsity letters during his brilliant career at Rutgers, and when Walter Camp named him an All-American in 1918, he called him the greatest end "to ever trod the gridiron." His many achievements in life would trump his athletic career, but any discussion about great Rutgers athletes begins with him.

Don't Edit

About the project

NJ.com sports columnist Steve Politi explains the process that went into making this list. Is someone missing? Ranked too low or too high? Send him an email at spoliti@njadvancemedia.com.