The 5 Best Missouri NFL Players of All Time

Kellen Winslow Sr. brought a prominent receiving dimension to the tight end position at Missouri. His combination of size and speed created matchup problems, and he helped the Tigers produce several notable upsets. All-American recognition in 1978 marked the national standing of his college work. He later became a first-round pick and a Hall of Famer whose professional career influenced how NFL teams used tight ends.

Missouri's part of Winslow's story matters on its own. His receiving role demonstrates why a tight end can warrant a place alongside players at more statistically visible positions, while his All-American honor supplies a concrete measure of his peak. The upset victories connect his individual ability to team results, giving his ranking a college foundation beyond his eventual professional legacy.

Jeremy Maclin made an immediate statistical impact at Missouri, setting the NCAA freshman record for all-purpose yards in 2007. A wide receiver who also contributed as a returner, he earned All-American recognition in both roles and helped the Tigers reach the number one ranking that season. His speed was a defining feature of his game before he became a first-round pick in 2009.

Maclin's case is built on concentrated impact rather than a long accumulation of college seasons. The freshman record captures the scale of his early production, and his recognition across offensive and return duties shows its breadth. Missouri's rise to the top ranking adds team context: his individual accomplishments were part of a season with national significance for the program.

Justin Smith gave Missouri a productive defensive end whose college résumé included the school's single-season sack record and All-American honors in 2000. Strength and sustained effort were central features of his play, complementing the pass-rushing results that distinguished him. He left school early and became the fourth overall pick in 2001, later building an NFL career that included repeated Pro Bowl recognition.

The sack record is the strongest statistical anchor for Smith's Missouri ranking, identifying a peak measured against the program's own history. His All-American recognition places that performance in a broader national context. Although his professional longevity adds to his overall standing, the college argument does not depend on it: Missouri already had a record-setting, nationally recognized defensive end before he entered the NFL.

Roger Wehrli contributed to Missouri as a defensive back and punt returner, earning All-American recognition in 1968 for his work in those roles. He led the nation in punt return yardage while also building a strong reputation in coverage. His college accomplishments preceded selection in the first round and eventual induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Wehrli's Missouri case benefits from two distinct forms of value. His defensive standing establishes his primary role, while the national return-yardage lead gives his special-teams contribution a concrete measure. That combination makes his peak broader than a coverage reputation alone would suggest. His later professional honors are important to the larger story, but the Tigers received nationally recognized contributions in more than one phase.

Shane Ray's 2014 season brought together a Missouri record, a major conference honor and a division championship. The defensive end recorded 14.5 sacks, setting the school's single-season mark, and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He also helped the Tigers secure their second consecutive SEC East title. That college peak preceded his selection in the first round of the 2015 draft.

Ray's ranking is especially compelling as a peak-season argument. His sack production provides the measurable foundation, and the conference award shows that his performance stood out beyond Missouri's own record book. The division championship gives those individual achievements a team setting. Together, they establish a substantial college contribution without needing to substitute professional projection for what he accomplished with the Tigers.