Lafayette “Fat” Lever was a two-time All-PAC 10 Selection at Arizona State, and the defensively skilled Point Guard was drafted by Portland 11^th Overall in 1982.  Lever played for Portland for only two years before he was traded to Denver, and in Mile High he became s atarter.

Lever’s first two seasons as a Nugget saw him average 13.3 Points, 7.5 Assists and 2.4 Steals, but the four years that followed were the best of his life.  In 1986-87, Lever increased his totals to 18.9 Points, 8.0 Assists and 2.5 Steals, and along with his good rebounding skills, was a constant threat to have a triple-double game.  Lever was a Second Team All-NBA, and was ninth in MVP voting.and was one of the most well-rounded players in basketball.  Lever remained strong in 1987-88 with his second straight 18.9 PPG and ninth-place MVP finish, with his first trip to the All-Star Game.

Lever never had MVP votes again, but he arguably had his best season in 1988-89 when he had career-highs in Points (19.8) and Rebounds (9.3) without sacrificing his anything in Steals (2.7) and Assists 6.7).  He landed his second and final All-Star, and in the season after had another excellent campaign (18.3 PTS/9.3 Rebounds).  The Nuggets traded Lever to the Dallas Mavericks in 1990, but his peak period was over.

Lever began succumbing to injuries, specifically his knee.  He only played four Games in 1990-91, and 31 in 1991-92, but averaged only 11.2 Points per Game.  Laver missed the entirety of the 1992-93 campaign, and though he played 81 Games in 1993-94, he was ineffective with 6.9 Points with 24.0 Minutes per Game.  He retired after that, and had his knee not betrayed him, Lever might have had another All-Star in him.

Many football players are large men, but few are freakishly tall.  Hence the nickname of “Too Tall” for the 6’ 9” Ed Jones.

Recruited at Tennessee State for basketball, Jones later turned his attention to the gridiron and was an All-American Defensive End and made history as the first HBCU player to receive the first overall pick (1974) in an NFL Draft.

Jones has a good start to his career, winning All-Rookie honors, while finishing third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.  Jones, whose height made him literally stand above all others.  Showing improvement annually and helping Dallas win Super Bowl XII, Jones shocked the sporting world by retiring and focusing on a boxing career.

Most people were unaware that Jones had boxed in college, and it was one of his original loves.  He had a 6-0 record, and all of his fights were televised nationally.  It made Jones a bigger star, and he returned to football in 1980.  While this time off could hurt others, Jones claimed it made him a better football player.  He was right.

Too Tall had the best period of his career, earning three straight Pro Bowls (1981 to 1983). His best sacking numbers came after he had double-digit sack numbers in 1985 and 1987. Injuries and age forced Jones to retire after 1989 after he appeared in 224 Regular-Season Games and 20 Playoff Games.

Overall, Jones appeared in three Super Bowls, won one, and was a large cog in the machine that got them there.  To this day, there are many who, whenever they think of batted balls, images of Too Tall Jones dance in their heads.

In 2013, Jones was elected into the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

From the University of Nevada, Charles Mann became a starter at Defensive End in his second season, where he was a punisher on the pass rush.  Playing for the Washington Redskins for his first 11 Seasons (1983-93) had 82 of his 83 career Sacks with Washington, including three four seasons in the double-digits. 

Mann went to four Pro Bowls with the Redskins (1987, 1988, 1989 & 1991), and helped them win two Super Bowls (XXII & XXVI). He was especially strong in the 1987 postseason, accruing 4.5 Sacks in the playoffs.  Mann was praised for his work ethic and leadership and was one of the most beloved players in Redskins defensive history in and out of the locker room. 

Following his release from Washington in 1993, Mann signed with the San Francisco 49ers where he played one final season and helped in a reserve role win his third Super Bowl.

Russ Francis was the first Tight End drafted in 1975. The Oregon product went on to have two distinct careers in the NFL.

Beginning his professional career with the New England Patriots, Francis's blocking ability, matched with his soft receiving hands, led him to three straight Pro Bowls (1976-78) and a Second-Team All-Pro in 1976 and 1978. This was a great time for Francis on the field, though there were some problems off of it. 

The Pats were not the juggernaut of the first two decades of the 2000s and were looked at within the NFL as a laughable organization.  This was especially true in the 1970s, as New England refused to pay Francis’ bonus for a Pro Bowl (their rationale was that he didn’t play the game due to injury) and he was also upset with the Patriots’ attempt to cancel his roommate, Darryl Stingley’s medical insurance after he was paralyzed by a Jack Tatum hit.  Francis retired in 1981, with his heart out of the game.  He would return for his second phase in 1982, this time as a San Francisco 49er.

Francis’s second half did not generate a Pro Bowl, but he was a factor in the Niners Super Bowl XIX win over Miami where he had five Receptions.  Francis’ blocking opened up holes for Roger Craig, and spaces for Jerry Rice, and protection for Joe Montana.  It was a great fit for Francis, whose profile rose, even if his individual accolades did not. 

He was released by San Francisco during the 1987 season and returned to the Patriots, where he played one more year.