Kansas Football by the Numbers: 1-5 - 10 Days Until Kansas Football

We conclude our numbers series with the best players to ever wear numbers one through five.

As part of the 100 days leading up to the first kickoff for Kansas football, we are finally at the end in our series focusing on players from the past.

If you’ve missed any of the past articles, here are the links to each previous post.

Numbers 6-10

Numbers 11-19

Numbers 20-28

Numbers 29-39

Numbers 40-49

Numbers 50-69

Numbers 70-79

Numbers 80-89

Numbers 90-99

For the newcomers, the idea is simple. Some statistics and anecdotes are provided for each player and then they are unscientifically ranked by a party of one (me) and the debate shall begin.

With so many greats wearing numbers one through five, who comes out on top?

Willie Vaughn, #1, 1985-1989.

Willie Vaughn’s 133 receptions are the sixth most in KU history while his 2,246 yards receiving is good for fourth on the all-time charts. His eleven receptions in a 1986 game against Colorado is the joint third highest one game total in KU history as well.

Isaac Byrd, #1, 1993-1996.

One of the modern day two sport stars at Kansas, Isaac Byrd was a 24th round draft selection by the San Diego Padres, but Byrd ultimately chose football. He’s tied for 8th all-time in touchdown receptions for the Jayhawks and went on to have a good NFL career with the Titans and the Panthers.

Pooka Williams, #1, 2018-2020.

Pooka Williams, the 2018 Big XII Offensive Freshman of the Year still seems like a “what could’ve been” star for Kansas. He did rack up 2,382 rushing yards at KU, good for ninth all-time. He also had a monster day against Oklahoma where he exploded for 252 yards.

Quintin Smith, #2, 1986-1989.

Quintin Smith is the only player in the history of KU football to catch four touchdown passes in a single game. He did this against Louisville in 1989 when he also racked up 221 yards receiving. His 898 yards that year is the eighth best haul in Kansas history.

Dorance Armstrong, #2, 2015-2017.

Tied for seventh on the all-time sacks list at KU with 15.5, including ten in his stellar sophomore campaign, the big defensive end parlayed his great play at KU with a career in the pros. Dorance Armstrong was a fourth round pick by the Dallas Cowboys. He has played five seasons so far in Big D and has 16 career sacks to date.

Bruce Kallmeyer, #3, 1980-1983.

A Ring of Honor member and 1983 All-American, Bruce Kallmeyer is the second best kicker in KU history behind Dan Eichloff.

Gerald McBurrows, #3, 1992-1994.

One of the more accomplished NFL players on this list, Gerald McBurrows played nine seasons in the NFL for the St. Louis Rams and the Atlanta Falcons. He had three interceptions as a safety in his time at KU.

Charles Gordon, #3, 2003-2005.

Sixth on the all-time KU charts with nine interceptions, Charles Gordon got to the NFL where he played three seasons for the Minnesota Vikings based on his defensive abilities, but he was a threat on both sides of the ball in college. He caught 106 passes over his career and scored 9 touchdowns. He is also the ninth best punt returner in the history of the Big XII based on yardage gained.

Aqib Talib, #3, 2005-2007.

High stepping an intersection return into the endzone in the Orange Bowl doesn’t suck. The game’s MVP, Aqib Talib did just that, capping off a spectacular 2007 season which saw him grab five interceptions. He finished his KU career with 13, second best ever, and easily the highest in the modern era. Talib was a first round NFL draft pick and played 12 seasons in the league, winning one Super Bowl with Denver. He’s another member of the KU Ring of Honor on today’s list.

Bill Whittemore, #4, 2002-2003.

To me, Bill Whittemore is the player that I most associate with Kansas getting good again. Mark Mangino gave Whittemore the keys to the house and Bill took full advantage. In his two seasons at the wheel, Whittemore racked up 4,051 yards (eighth best ever) and threw 29 touchdowns (fifth best all-time). Leading that 2003 team to the Tangerine Bowl was a huge turning point for Kansas as well.

Kelly Donahoe, #5, 1986-1989.

With the third most passing yards in Kansas history at 5,392 and the eighth most TD passes at 24, Kelly Donahoe was a solid contributor for Kansas when wins were hard to come by.

Todd Reesing, #5, 2006-2009.

No one is even close to Todd Reesing in the KU quarterback record books. His 90 passing touchdowns are 53 more than the next best. Reesing has the three top passing yardage seasons in KU history and of course his yardage total is far and away the highest in Kansas history at 11,194. He also owns three of the top four most prolific years in Jayhawks history as far as passing TDs go with 33 in 2007, 32 in 2008, and 22 in 2009. For perspective, only Carter Stanley and David Jaynes have more TD passes in their careers than Reesing had in each of those top two seasons. Todd Reesing is, quite frankly, the best player that the Jayhawks have ever had.

The Rankings:

1. Todd Reesing
2. Aqib Talib
3. Bill Whittemore
4. Charles Gordon
5. Dorrance Armstrong and Willie Vaughn
6. Isaac Byrd
7. Kelly Donahoe and Quintin Smith
8. Gerald McBurrows
9. Pooka Williams
10. Bruce Kallmeyer

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