Demon Football All-Americans

A rugged offensive guard, the Abbeville native was the Demons’ first football All-American in his senior year, 1938. He also becamce the school’s first NFL Draft pick, going in the second round of the 1939 draft to Philadelphia. Recently married, he was able to make more money by staying at NSU to coach for Harry Turpin than ny playing pro ball. He stayed for 50 years, eventually serving as registrar after a coaching career that earned him membership in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Ledet was pivotal in the careers of Demon greats Jackie Smith, Charlie Hennigan, and Charlie Tolar.

PARKER WIGGINS Halfback -1940

The star offensive back for the 1939 unbeaten Normal Demons, Wiggins became the school’s second All-America football player in 1940. As a single-wing tailback, he handled all the passing duties along with punting and being the primary running threat.

DUDLEY DOWNING Center -1953

A 1953 Little All-American, Downing was anAllGulf States Conference center. He was one of the top players on the 1953 GSC championship team. Downing was elected to the Graduate N Club Hall of Fame in 1974.

ROBERT TATUM Guard -1953

All-American in 1953 and a three-time All-Gulf States Conference selection, Tatum starred at guard and linebacker. He helped lead the Demons to the 1953 GSC title. He was elected to the Graduate N Club Hall of Fame in 1972.

CHARLIE TOLAR Halfback -1958

The “Tank” (5-foot-6, 210 pounds), twice Gulf States Conference MVP, set school career records for rushing (2,194 yards, now 10th) and scoring (182 points, sixth today). Tolar’s 29-TD career total was tops nearly 50 years. He averaged 6.9 yards per carry in college, then won All-AFL honors three straight years (1961-63) with the Houston Oilers.

JERRY BURTON Halfback -1962

An All-America safety in 1963 while earning All-Gulf States Conference for three seasons, Burton also was a standout running back. He won both the Best Defensive Back and Best Offensive Back team awards in 1963, when he led the team in rushing. Burton was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams.

SAMMY JOE ODOM Linebacker -1963

One of the most Demons’ most ferocious defenders, Odom was a 1963 All-America selection. He earned Outstanding Defensive Lineman and Outstanding Offensive Lineman awards for Northwestern, and went on to play two professional seasons with Houston. He was the 95th player chosen (Browns) in the 1964 NFL Draft.

CORWYN ALDREDGE Defensive End -1964

A sixth-round (83rd overall) NFL (Browns) and fifth-round AFL (Patriots) 1965 draft pick, Aldredge was a 1964 All-America selection. A three-year starter at tight end, helping the 1962 Demons win the Gulf States Conference championship, he also was a standout defensive end. Truly one of the most gifted athletes ever to play at Northwestern, Dodd set a national record with 31 career interceptions, a mark that still stands as state and school records. On the unbeaten 1966 Demons’ squad, Dodd was the biggests star, earning All-America honors and an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl. He moved across the ball to receiver in the NFL, playing most of his 7 season for the fledgling New Orleans Saints, finishing with 111 career receptions for 1,803 yards after beginning as a defensive back in 1967 for Chicago.

LARRY WALLS Defensive Tackle -1972

A defenssive end on coach George Doherty’s 8-2 Gulf South Conference champions, Walls earned NAIA All-American honors after helping NSU hold its opponents to an average of 8.1 points and 264 yards per game.

SIDNEY THORNTON Fullback -1976

The “Thundering Bull” broke the Demons’ career rushing mark with 2,662 yards (now fifth), becoming the first NSU back to average 100 yards rushing in a season (100.1, 1976). First-team All-Louisiana and an All-American, Thornton was MVP in the Blue-Gray All-Star Classic, then was drafted 48th overall (Steelers) and won two Super Bowls.

JOE DELANEY Tailback- 1979,1980

A two-sport All-American, Delaney is in the College Football and Louisiana Sports halls of fame. He set NCAA, state and NSU records with a 299-yard, 4-touchdown rushing eruption vs. Nicholls in 1978 and finished as NSU’s single-season (1,110 yards, 1980) and career (3,047 yards) rushing king. He was AFC Rookie of the Year (Chiefs). His No. 44 is retired.

WARREN GRIFFITH Center -1980

An All-America center in 1980, Griffith helped that squad set 33 Demon offensive records, including an average of 421 yards of total offense. Started at center for three years after moving from defensive end.

GARY REASONS Linebacker -1981,1982,1983

A 1996 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Reasons was the first three-time All-American in FCS history (and the only three-timer at NSU). He played 9 NFL seasons, starting in two Super Bowl wins. He set records of 172 tackles (1983), 394 in his NSU career. His No. 34 jersey was retired after his senior season.

ARTHUR “TANK” BERRY Defensive Tackle -1984

The 1984 Gulf Star Conference Male Athlete of the Year, Berry was a Kodak Coaches’ and AP All-America defensive tackle who led the Demons to a GSC title. All-Louisiana in 1982 and 1984, he made 77 tackles, including 9 sacks, as a senior when NSU led the nation in scoring defense (9 ppg).

JOHN KULAKOWSKI Defensive End -1987

“Kool” was a 1987 All-America pick and the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year after including a then school-record 15 sacks among his 96 tackles. A fiery four-year starter, he was part of the 1984 Gulf Star Conference co-champs. He made 28 career sacks and was a 1995 Graduate N Club Hall of Fame inductee. Just 5-foot-7 and not 150 pounds, he had to persuade Demon coaches to allow him to walk on as a cornerback. He went on to the NFL. An All-America cornerback with 13 pass breakups for the 1988 Southland Conference champs, Lewis had grown a bit before he played for Phoenix in 1989 and San Francisco from 1990-92.

JOHN KING Offensive Line -1990

He could have accepted a scholarship to play for Army, but Springhill native John King headed south to NSU and the Demons got one of their more versatile and productive offensive lineman. King earned All-American honors as a senior in 1990 at center playing all five interior line poisitions in his career, a four-year starter. In 1988, he played guard as the Demons set school records for points, touchdowns and rushing yards while winning their first Southland Conference championship and reaching the Division I-AA playoff quarterfinals.

GREG NECAISE Defensive End -1990

An All-American and All-Southland Conference end in 1990 after breaking the school record with 15.5 sacks, Necaise also holds the career record with 28.5 sacks. He made 191 tackles, 40.5 behind the line, and intercepted 3 passes. The 1989 Louisiana Newcomer of the Year, he was twice All-Louisiana first team.

ANDRE CARRON Linebacker -1991

The Demons’ tackles leader (season, 176, 1991; career, 521), “The Terminator” was a consensus All-America linebacker as a senior when he was one first-place vote shy of being the national player of the year. A three-year All-Southland Conference star, Carron played for the 1988 SLC champions.

ADRIAN HARDY Cornerback -1992

All-American in 1992 and All-Southland Conference in his last two seasons as a cornerback, Hardy was the first Demon to play in the Hula Bowl. He blocked 10 career kicks. A second-round 1993 NFL Draft pick (48th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers, he played in 1994 and 1995 in Cincinnati.

MARCUS SPEARS Offensive Lineman -1992,1993

“Big Spears” and Jerry Rice are the only players from FCS programs ever chosen for the Football Writers of America All-America team (1993). One of 10 1993 Outland Trophy semifinalists, a two-year (1992-93) All-American and three-time All-Southland Conference tackle, he was a second-round 1994 NFL Draft choice (39th overall) who played 12 pro seasons.

CLARENCE MATTHEWS Tailback -1995

Matthews’ speed, powerful running style and kickoff return ability helped him break the school all-purpose yardage mark (4,651, now second all-time). All-America at tailback as a senior, he ran for a record 1,384 yards (now third) with 13 touchdowns. A Hula Bowl participant, he ranks sixth in career rushing (2,628).