Tag: Steve Atwater

Arkansas football all-time roster: Defensive starters and backups

See which legends of defense made the cut in our all-time Arkansas Razorbacks football roster.

The list of all-time greats at the University of Arkansas is hardly a short one.

So when it came time to select the Razorbacks’ All-Time Roster, the task took months. Even now, about 16 weeks after considering the undertaking, we could hear arguments for moving some our listed back-ups to starters, adding a player for another here and there. We aren’t perfect.

But it isn’t about being perfect. It’s about re-living the greatness. It’s about talking again about the careers of Hogs from the recent past and, in some cases, the not-so-recent past.

Take a look.

We started Monday with the offense. Now, it’s the defense. Let us know who should have been represented that wasn’t and how we got it all wrong.

Just if you do, make sure to create your own list and share it with us, too. Hopefully you’ll have just as much fun as we did.

Without further ado, this is Razorbacks Wire‘s All-Time Arkansas Football Roster: The Defense.

Check out our other College Wire all-time lineups: Alabama / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin

Arkansas honors Atwater and Collins in first half

Hogs honor pair of NFLers, former Razorbacks in Atwater and Collins; also retiring icon Lance Harter.

A pair of former Arkansas standouts were honored on the field in the first half against Mississippi State.

2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Steve Atwater and current Seattle Seahawks running back Alex Collins received standing ovations.

Atwater enjoyed an illustrious career with the Denver Broncos after his All-American exploits with the Razorbacks.

Collins is in his fifth year in the NFL and is a part-time starter for the Seattle Seahawks. He has 72 carries for 304 yards and two scores so far this season.

With the Hogs, Collins ran for 3,706 yards and 36 touchdowns in his career. The yardage mark is second in school history, behind only Darren McFadden. His college career led him to a fifth-round selection in the NFL Draft by the Seahawks in 2016.

Arkansas also honored retiring track and cross country coach Lance Harter. The man who has led Razorbacks track and field and cross country 32 years announced this week he will retire in the summer of 2023.

 

Peyton Manning among 9 ex-Broncos nominated for Hall of Fame

Manning is a lock to enter the Hall of Fame next year.

Former Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is among nine ex-Denver players who have been nominated for the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame class as modern-era candidates.

A total of 130 modern-era players were nominated and Manning is among 14 first-year eligible players, joining Calvin Johnson and Charles Woodson, among others (view the full list on the Hall of Fame’s website).

Manning won two Super Bowls during his career, one with the Colts and one later in his career with the Broncos. He is a lock to be voted into the Hall of Fame this year.

In addition to Manning, former Denver center Tom Nalen, wide receiver Rod Smith, kicker Jason Elam, defensive lineman Neil Smith and safety John Lynch were also nominated. The list of nominated players who spent time with the Broncos also includes receiver Wes Welker, running back Glyn Milburn and defensive lineman Michael Dean Perry.

Denver legend Steve Atwater was set to enter the Hall of Fame this year but the ceremony was pushed back until 2021 because of the coronavirus. Manning will likely join Atwater in Canton next summer.

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WATCH: Peyton Manning serves as a commentator at Broncos training camp

Peyton Manning served as a guest commentator at Broncos training camp on Friday. Watch his full conversation with Steve Atwater here.

With fans not allowed to attend training camp practices this summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Denver Broncos have been providing live look-ins at practice each day with Hall of Fame safety Steve Atwater serving as a commentator.

Atwater was joined by former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning for Friday’s “Inside Training Camp Live” show that aired on the team’s social media channels. Manning’s complete conversation with Atwater can be viewed in the above video or on the Broncos’ YouTube page.

Manning had great things to say about second-year quarterback Drew Lock and he provided several interesting nuggets during the broadcast.

One piece of advice that Manning gave about avoiding pressure could come in handy for aspiring young quarterbacks.

“Quarterbacks should never look at the defensive line,” Manning explained. “You should never have your eyes at the defensive line. You should have your eyes downfield the whole time and feel the defensive line. Kind of a sixth sense if you will. That’s a good thing for a quarterback to work on.”

Manning said Lock does a good job keeping his eyes downfield, which helps him avoid pressure and keep plays alive to try to find open receivers.

Manning will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. He will likely join Atwater for next year’s Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony.

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Peyton Manning and Steve Atwater likely to enter Hall of Fame together

Broncos greats Peyton Manning and Steve Atwater will likely enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame together in 2021.

Broncos legendary safety Steve Atwater won’t be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer because of COVID-19.

Instead, the ceremony for the 2020 class will be pushed to 2021. Next year, the Hall of Fame will have two classes enshrined in Canton, Ohio.

That means Denver will likely be represented by two players during Hall of Fame Week (Aug. 5-9) — Atwater and former quarterback Peyton Manning.

Manning, who retired after winning Super Bowl 50 with the Broncos in 2016, will become eligible in 2021. He is a lock to be voted in as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Atwater and Manning will become the seventh and eighth Denver players to enter the Hall of Fame, joining quarterback John Elway, running back Floyd Little, tight end Shannon Sharpe, offensive lineman Gary Zimmerman, running back Terrell Davis and cornerback Champ Bailey.

Broncos late owner Pat Bowlen was also voted into Canton last year. To view a list of all the Hall of Famers connected to Denver, click here.

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Steve Atwater won’t be enshrined in Hall of Fame until 2021

Broncos legend Steve Atwater won’t be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame until 2021.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced Thursday that this year’s Hall of Fame Game has been canceled and the 2020 enshrinement ceremony has been pushed back until 2021 due to COVID-19.

That means former Denver Broncos safety Steve Atwater won’t be enshrined in Canton, Ohio until next year. He will likely be joined by former quarterback Peyton Manning, who becomes Hall of Fame eligible in 2021.

The 2020 class will be enshrined alongside the 2021 class on Aug. 5-9.

“The health and safety of our Hall of Famers, fans and volunteers who make Enshrinement Week so special remains our top priority,” Pro Football Hall of Fame president ad CEO David Baker said in a statement.

“The Hall will honor the Centennial Class of 2020 next August, along with what promises to be an equally spectacular Class of 2021, as part of a multi-day celebration of football with an atmosphere that will deliver for fans ‘Twice the Fun in ’21.’”

Fans who bought tickets for the 2020 Hall of Fame Game can either use them in 2021 or apply for a refund.

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Steve Atwater honored to join late Broncos owner Pat Bowlen in Hall of Fame

“He wasn’t just the owner of the team,” Atwater said of Bowlen. “He was a friend, like a mentor and like a father-figure.”

Former Broncos defensive backs Champ Bailey and Steve Atwater — two of late owner Pat Bowlen’s favorite players — reached the Pro Football Hall of Fame in back-to-back years. Bowlen was also voted into the Hall of Fame last year but he died before the induction ceremony.

After he was voted into the Hall of Fame earlier this month, Atwater was asked how special it was to share a place in Canton with Bailey and Bowlen.

“It really means a lot,” a tearful Atwater said on Feb. 6. “Mr. Bowlen was a great man. I learned a lot from him just how he interacted with people and how he never wanted the limelight. He always wanted his guys — he’d always put us up there. When he got it last year, I was hoping that he would make it to the ceremony, but obviously he didn’t.

“I was just thinking about how nice it would have been to be able to hoist him on our shoulders and carry him into the Hall of Fame on our shoulders. He would be, ‘No, put me down. Put me down! I don’t want to get this attention.’ ‘Nope, it’s your day. It’s your day, Mr. B.’ It’s definitely going to be special to have a bust in there next to Mr. Bowlen.”

Bowlen served as the team’s majority owner from 1984-2019. He had a positive influence on Atwater and many other Broncos players.

“He’s a great man that I try to live by some of his principles,” Atwater said. “Like I said, he wasn’t just the owner of the team. He was a friend, like a mentor and like a father-figure wrapped up into one. He was a great guy. It will be an honor.”

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Steve Atwater appreciates Ed Reed’s support for Hall of Fame candidacy

Broncos legend Steve Atwater appreciates the support Ed Reed gave his Hall of Fame candidacy.

Broncos legend Steve Atwater was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last week. He should have gotten into Canton years ago but it’s good to see that the voters finally got it right.

Last year, former Ravens safety Ed Reed said he’d rather give his spot in the Hall of Fame to Atwater than get in with Atwater being left out. During a press conference last week, Atwater expressed his gratitude for Reed’s remarks.

“It really meant a lot to know that a player of his caliber — he’s an amazing player — thought that much of me to say something that kind,” Atwater said. “And I told him when I saw him, I was like, ‘You don’t really have to say that.’

“But I really appreciated it because I think some of the voters may have said, ‘Wow we really have to kind of take a look at Steve if a lot of these younger guys say they looked up to him and they want him to be in the Hall of Fame. How can he not be in here and we have a lot of other guys?’”

Atwater played from 1989-1998 and earned eight Pro Bowl nods, winning two Super Bowls. Reed grew up watching him and played in the NFL from 2002-2013, earning nine Pro Bowl selections and winning one Super Bowl.

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Steve Atwater makes the case for more Broncos to reach Hall of Fame

“How could they have not one person in the Pro Football Hall of Fame [from the Orange Crush defense]?” Steve Atwater asked.

After former safety Steve Atwater was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last week, the Denver Broncos now have seven players and late owner Pat Bowlen representing them in Canton, Ohio.

For a team that has been to eight Super Bowls, the Broncos seem to be underrepresented in the Hall of Fame. That’s something that Atwater hopes will soon change.

“We have a lot of guys that we need to see go in,” Atwater said during a press conference Thursday. “Randy Gradishar, Karl Mecklenburg, Dennis Smith, John Lynch — hopefully next year — Peyton Manning — hopefully next year — Rod Smith. This franchise has unfortunately been overlooked for many years and fortunately, we’ve gotten some players in in the last several years, but we have to keep it going . . . .

“We still are, I think, very much underrepresented in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the history that we’ve had here with the organization, with the winning ways we’ve had, that Orange Crush defense. How could they have not one person in the Pro Football Hall of Fame [from the Orange Crush defense]? To this day I just cannot understand that. Hopefully in the coming years that will be taken care of and we can get some guys in there.”

The most notable members from the Orange Crush defense that are not in Canton are Gradishar and Mecklenburg. Both of them have strong cases for the Hall of Fame, particularly Gradishar.

With several Broncos getting in over the last few years, perhaps it’s only a matter of time before Gradishar makes it himself. The momentum seems to be building, just as it did for Atwater over the last several voting cycles.

Denver should be sending more players to Canton in the coming years.

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Dennis Smith will present Steve Atwater at Hall of Fame ceremony

Dennis Smith will serve at Steve Atwater’s presenter during the 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Dennis Smith was an established veteran with two Pro Bowl nods and two first-team All-Pro selections when the Broncos drafted Steve Atwater in the first round of the 1989 NFL draft. Smith quickly became a mentor for Atwater and the two safeties became one of the best DB duos in the NFL.

Smith and Atwater combined to record 54 interceptions and 20 sacks during their careers, earning 14 Pro Bowl selections along the way. Both players are now in the Broncos’ Ring of Fame.

After being voted into to the Pro Football Hall of Fame last week, Atwater revealed during a press conference Thursday that Smith will serve as his presenter in Canton, Ohio next summer.

“Dennis was the guy I had in my mind all along just because when I came into the league, he really spent a lot of time getting me up to speed and sharing things with me as a player that I never would have known,” Atwater said. “How to go about the game, the right mindset to have, and then just watching him play.

“Seeing how fast he played and how fearless he was when he went in to make tackles or make an interception when he covered one on one. He was great in man-to-man coverage, too. He played some slot corner for a while as a 6-3, 205-pound safety. That takes some skills to do that.”

Atwater is the eighth Bronco to enter the Hall of Fame and he hopes that Smith will one day join him. If not for Smith, Atwater might not be Canton-bound himself.

“I just learned so much from him,” Atwater said. “It’s a small way for me to say thank you for how much time he spent getting me up to speed and inspiring me. Just watching him play, it was inspiring.”

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