Greatest Kansas Football Players: Hal Cleavinger vs Fred Hageman

(14) Hal Cleavinger

Hal was a Jayhawk from 1950-52, playing alongside other KU greats like Mike McCormack, George Mrkonic, Gil Reich, and Ollie Spencer.  Hal was a defensive back who still sits at third on the career INT list at Kansas.

Interestingly, Cleavinger came to Lawrence from Manhattan.  His father was a even K-State faculty member at the time.  Unfortunately, there's not much more I can find about Hal - information about players pre-1960 can be difficult to come by.

(19) Fred Hageman

Louisiana-born Hageman came to Kansas after high school in Arkansas, playing for the Jayhawks from 1956-60.  Fred played both C and MLB.  He became a two time first team All-Conference player at Center his junior and senior years, and was a leader on arguably the best team in KU football history.

He was drafted 96th overall in the NFL Draft.  He spent five seasons as a linebacker in the NFL, the first four with the Redskins.  Prior to his final season, he was traded to the Bears but got injured in a preseason game.  At this point Hageman retired from football and pursued an ultimately successful business career after earning his master's degree at KU in Education.

Who was the greater Jayhawk? Log your vote in the comments. Check out the other matchups here.