The Daily Hoosier
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • ‘This is who you are’: Chris Freeman’s soccer background pays dividends for IU football
    • The Daily Hoosier Report: The Latest in IU News and Recruiting Notes (9/22)
    • Watch: IU basketball freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako — media day Q&A
    • IU basketball recruiting: Reports indicate 2024 targets Boateng and Givens off the board
    • IU football lands commitment from in-state 2024 running back Khobie Martin
    • IU basketball to host three class of 2025 Midwest prospects this weekend
    • Watch: IU women’s basketball’s Moren, Parrish and Scalia — preseason Q&A
    • The Daily Hoosier Report: The Latest in IU News and Recruiting Notes (9/21)
    • Sign Up
    • About/Support
    • Jobs
    • Tickets
      • IUBB Tickets (Stubhub)
      • IUFB Tickets (Stubhub)
    • Shop
      • Official IU Store
      • IU Adidas Store
      • Amazon: Support TDH
      • IU Memorabilia
      • IU Press (Books)
      • The Daily Hoosier T-Shirt
    • Radio/Podcasts
    • Pro IU
      • IUBB NBA
      • IUFB NFL
      • IUBASE MLB
    • Forum
      • Disqus Forum
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    The Daily HoosierThe Daily Hoosier
    Friday, September 22
    • IU Basketball
      • Latest IU Basketball News
      • IU Basketball 2023-24 Schedule
      • IU Basketball 23-24 Roster/Staff
      • Offseason Roster Activity Tracker
      • Scholarship Chart
      • Future Schedules
      • 2022-23 Big Ten Standings
      • 2022-23 IU Basketball Stats
      • Rankings & Bracketology
      • IU Basketball Media Guide
    • IU Football
      • Latest IU Football News
      • IU Football: The 2023 Schedule
      • Roster
      • 2023 IUFB Stats
      • 2023 B1G Standings
      • Future Opponents through 2031
      • IUFB 2023 Media Guide
    • IU Recruiting
      • IU Basketball Recruiting News
      • IU Football Recruiting News
      • IUBB 2024-2026 Prospects
      • Recruit Interviews
      • Recruit Highlights
      • CBB Team Rankings
      • IU Football Recruiting Commits
    • IU Women’s Basketball
      • IU Women’s Basketball News
      • 22-23 Schedule
      • Big Ten Standings
    • IU Men’s Soccer
      • 2022 schedule
      • 2022 NCAA Tournament Bracket
      • Indiana Men’s Soccer: Program History
    • More Hoosiers
      • Fan and Business NIL options
      • IU Baseball
        • Baseball Schedule (links to iuhoosiers.com)
        • 2021 Stats (links to iuhoosiers.com)
        • Big Ten Standings
      • IU Swim & Dive
      • IU Olympic Results
    • Hoosier History
      • March Madness Classics
      • Basketball History
      • Football History
      • IUFB Best Seasons
      • IUFB All-Time Top 10 Players
    The Daily Hoosier

    Kickoff Countdown: The Ten Greatest Football Hoosiers of All-Time (#5)

    Mike SchumannBy Mike SchumannAugust 27, 2018 Football History 2 Comments
    Photo Credit - IU Archives
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    The debate was wide open for No.’s 6-10 on our list.  Strong arguments could have been made for several former Hoosier stars that didn’t make the cut.  We’d argue that now, in the final five, the only question is with the order.  These final five are in our opinion the undeniable time-tested legends of IU football.

    A recurring theme with our all-time Hoosier football top ten has been that of the outlier.  Richard Corbett “Corby” Davis stands alone as the only IU football player to be selected as the first overall pick in the NFL Draft.  For a while it looked like his playing days would come to an end before he could ever go pro.

    Hailing from Lowell, Indiana, Davis’ senior season was delayed a year, as he had an issue with boils on his skin that caused him to miss the 1936 campaign.  He came back with a vengeance in 1937.

    preview image
    Davis with his 1937 hardware. Photo Credit – IU Archives

    According to “Glory of Old IU” by Bob Hammel and Kit Klingelhoffer, legendary IU coach Bo McMillin called him “the greatest fullback in America”, adding that “he makes the hard plays look easy, and when the going gets tough, he gets better.”

    McMillin’s sentiments would be confirmed, as a wave of honors followed Davis’ exemplary year-delayed senior season.  He would be named the IU and Big Ten Most Valuable Player in 1937, and would be an All-American first team selection.

    Davis was selected 1st in the 1938 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Rams.  He spent four seasons with Cleveland and accumulated 524 all-purpose total yards and scored 4 touchdowns.

    Image result for "corby davis"
    Davis with his Cleveland teammates at the old Municipal Stadium. Getty Images.

    Davis left pro football as he was drafted in the service in 1942.  He served as a rifleman with the Second Infantry Division in France during World War II and stormed the beach at Normandy.  He was wounded in action in 1944, and later continued his service in England.  His war injuries ended his NFL career.

    He later served as an official in the Big Ten and officiated the 1957 Rose Bowl game.

    The IU football program’s annual award for the outstanding back is named in Davis’ honor.  He was inducted into the IU hall of fame in 1991.  He also ran track at IU.

    Corby Davis passed away in 1968.


    Prior IU greats on the list:

    #10 — John Isenbarger

    #9 — Dan Feeney

    #8 — James Hardy

    #7 – Nate Sudfeld

    #6 – Tevin Coleman


    You can follow us on Twitter:  @daily_hoosier

    Find us on Facebook:  thedailyhoosier

    Supporting FREE coverage of IU Athletics operated by an Indiana based small business has never been easier.  Just do your shopping via this link to the Amazon home page or via the Amazon ad below.  Anything you purchase via these links (not just what is pictured in the ad) supports locally-owned and free coverage of all things IU.

    Share this:

    • Tweet

    Related

    Corby Davis
    Mike Schumann

    Keep Reading

    ‘This is who you are’: Chris Freeman’s soccer background pays dividends for IU football

    Watch: IU football co-DC Matt Guerrieri Q&A – Akron week

    Radio Show: Tom Allen previews Akron with Don Fischer

    Latest Hoosier News
    • ‘This is who you are’: Chris Freeman’s soccer background pays dividends for IU football
    • The Daily Hoosier Report: The Latest in IU News and Recruiting Notes (9/22)
    • Watch: IU basketball freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako — media day Q&A
    • IU basketball recruiting: Reports indicate 2024 targets Boateng and Givens off the board
    • IU football lands commitment from in-state 2024 running back Khobie Martin
    • IU basketball to host three class of 2025 Midwest prospects this weekend
    • Watch: IU women’s basketball’s Moren, Parrish and Scalia — preseason Q&A
    Sign Up



    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    © 2023 The Daily Hoosier, LLC.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.