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Top 10
Top 10: Bears players in college
With former Bears Brian Urlacher and Adrian Peterson being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this week, senior writer Larry Mayer ranks the top 10 college football players who went on to play for the Bears.
Marshall was a consensus two-time All-American at Florida, where he was a finalist for the Lombardi Award in 1982 and '83 and was named national defensive player of the year in 1983.
Payton rushed for more than 3,500 yards at Jackson State, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and set the school record for career rushing touchdowns with 65.
Singletary was a two-time All-American and two-time conference player of the year at Baylor, where he won the Davey O'Brien Award as the most outstanding player in the Southwest.
Atkins helped the University of Tennessee win a national championship in 1951, was named All-American in 1952 and is still considered one of the best defensive players in SEC history.
McMahon set 70 NCAA records while playing quarterback at Brigham Young University, where he was a two-time All-American who finished third in Heisman Trophy voting.
Ditka was a unanimous All-American at the University of Pittsburgh, where he started all three seasons from 1958-60 and had his No. 89 jersey retired.
Nagurski was an All-American defensive tackle and fullback at the University of Minnesota, where he led the Gophers to an 18-4-2 record and had his No. 72 jersey retired.
Butkus was a consensus All-American at Illinois as both a center and middle linebacker. He finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting, a rarity for someone who didn't play a skill position.
Lujack won the Heisman Trophy and led Notre Dame to three national championships in the 1940s, a career that was interrupted for two years during World War II.
Grange was a three-time All-American at Illinois who led the Fighting Illini to a national championship in 1923 and is considered one of the greatest players in college football history.
