Michigan Wolverines Football: 30 greatest players of all-time

There are certain players in program history that are synonymous with greatness. Bennie Oosterbaan is definitely one of them for Michigan. An incredible talent, Oosterbaan is one of the greatest athletes in the history of the state of Michigan. His athletic exploits were not only limited to the football field.

Sure, Oosterbaan was a three-time All-American in football, but he was also a two-time All-American in basketball, as well as an All-Conference performer in baseball. For his efforts, Sports Illustrated rated him as the No. 4 greatest athlete in the history of Michigan. He certainly left his mark on the university.

Playing in a time when forward passing was just taking off, Oosterbaan was an end that other colleges just could not cover. He teamed with Benny Friedman to give the Wolverines a devastating passing attack, catching eight  touchdowns during the 1925 college football season.

After Friedman moved on to the NFL, Oosterbaan became the leader of the team, being named captain and winning Most Valuable Player.

Due to his religious background, Oosterbaan did not go on to play professional football, as he was not allowed to play on Sunday. He decided instead to stay with the university as a coach and ended up living in Ann Arbor for the rest of his life. Oosterbaan is one of those generational athletes that do not come around often. At Michigan, he is an absolute legend.