Greatest Kansas Football Players of all-time: Otto Schnellbacher vs Curtis Moore

(2) Otto Schnellbacher

The “Double Threat from Sublette” laced it up for KU from 1942-43 and 1946-48. On the gridiron, Otto played both WR and DB for Kansas. He was named first team All-Conference in 1943, 1946, and 1947. In addition, Otto was first team All-Conference four times for the basketball team.

He was a co-captain on the 1947 Orange Bowl squad, the same year he (alongside Ray Evans) became KU’s first ever first team All-American. In the “three yards and a cloud of dust” era, Otto was credited with 58 receptions and 1069 yards in his KU career, school records that stood for 22 years.

Otto was drafted 231st overall by the Chicago Cardinals (you read that right) in the 1947 NFL Draft. His professional career wouldn’t start until 1948 with the New York Yanks. He was an interception machine in his NFL career, averaging nearly an interception per game. At the same time, Otto played professional basketball in the NBA.

After his professional sports career, Otto pursued a career in insurance. He passed away at the age of 84 in March of 2008.

He is enshrined on the Ring of Honor in KU’s Memorial Stadium.

(31) Curtis Moore

Wichita native Curtis Moore played for the Jayhawks from 1987-90. He was the Jayhawks’ leading tackler his freshman and sophomore years (I don’t know about his junior and senior years), and still sits at fifth all-time in career tackles in the school’s record book.

Moore did spent some time in the CFL, as per this vintage card, but more details must be buried deep in the annals of the internet.

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