In the annals of SEC football, Bo Jackson stands
alone.
The fans have spoken, as the former Auburn
running back won the SEC Gridiron LIVE Greatest Player Tournament
presented by Direct
Auto Insurance, edging out Reggie White in the
championship.
What began with 64 players saw Jackson,
the No. 2 seed out of the Offense's Vaught Region claim 56 percent of
the vote to top the former Tennessee defensive tackle in a battle of
1980s legends.
It completed a dominant run, as
Jackson, the 1985 Heisman Trophy winner took down Alabama's Mark Ingram
(No. 15 seed) in the first round, Arkansas' Darren McFadden (No. 7) in
the second round, Tennessee's Peyton Manning (No. 3) in the Sweet 16 and
then beat fellow ex-Tiger Cam Newton (No. 4) in the regional final to
reach the Offensive Final.
Facing that side of the
bracket's No. 1 overall seed, Georgia's Herschel Walker, Jackson left
little doubt, receiving 67 percent of the total
votes.
In White, Jackson took on a Defensive champ
who still owns the Volunteers single-game and career sacks records and
was named the SEC Player of the Year and All-America in 1983. Along the
way, he had beaten a No. 1 seed, LSU's Glenn Dorsey, along with Derrick
Thomas (No. 13), Morris Claiborne (No. 12) and Patrick Willis (No. 10)
before taking out Bailey for the defensive title.
But
there was no stopping Jackson, whose Auburn legacy, coupled with his
iconic status as a two-sport star and Nike pitchman were too much for
White.
While at Auburn, Jackson put together an
impressive four-year career as a two-time All-SEC and All-America pick.
He led the league in rushing yards, yards from scrimmage and rushing
touchdowns as a sophomore and senior and rolled for 1,859 total yards
and 17 touchdowns in his SEC Player of the Year/Heisman campaign. He is
also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Now, Jackson can add another line to that resume, as
the people's choice for the greatest football player in SEC
history.
