:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50687343/McCormack.0.jpg)
Both fellas cruised into the second rounds with Zook recording a relatively easy victory over first team All-American and Ring of Honor member Bruce Kallmeyer while McCormack knocked out “Cinderella” Fred Hageman.
(3) Mike McCormack
Good luck knocking this guy out of the bracket. In a sentence, McCormack leveraged an amazing college career into an 8-year professional playing career, a long coaching career, and eventually a GM job in the NFL.
Mike played offensive line for the Jayhawks from 1948-50. While at Kansas, McCormack became first team All-Conference in his senior season. He would be taken #34 overall in the 1951 NFL Draft.
He is widely regarded as one of the best offensive linemen ever to play in the NFL. After his playing career, he spent 17 years as a head coach in the NFL with various franschises: the Eagles, Colts, and Seahawks, as well as several stints as an assistant.
McCormack was instrumental in founding the Carolina Panthers, and served as their GM from their founding in 1993 until 1997.
Mike is in the Ring of Honor at KU's Memorial Stadium, has a statue at Carolina's stadium, and was called by legendary Browns owner Paul Brown "... the finest offensive tackle who ever played pro football." He was the second Jayhawk to be enshrined in Pro Football's Hall of Fame, an honor he achieved in 1984.
(6) John Zook
Zook was no slouch, but he’s got a tough draw here.
Zook played DE at Kansas from 1965-68. He was a senior leader on the 1968 Orange Bowl team and was twice named first team All-Big 8 (1967-68). In addition, Zook was named first team All-American in 1968. He would leave KU as the fourth-leading tackler in Kansas history.
Zook went 99th overall in the 1969 NFL Draft sparking a professional career that spanned 10 years and 144 games.
His name is enshrined at Memorial Stadium in the Ring of Honor.
——
Who was the greater Jayhawk? Register your vote in the comments below. Other matchups can be found here.