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Washington Football DE Steve Emtman Named Athlon Top 50 College Football Players

By Bret Stuter

13 Sep 1992: Defensive lineman Steve Emtman of the Indianapolis Colts looks on during a game against the Houston Oilers at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Oilers won the game, 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Gary Mook /Allsport
13 Sep 1992: Defensive lineman Steve Emtman of the Indianapolis Colts looks on during a game against the Houston Oilers at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Oilers won the game, 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Gary Mook /Allsport /
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13 Sep 1992: Defensive lineman Steve Emtman of the Indianapolis Colts looks on during a game against the Houston Oilers at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Oilers won the game, 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Gary Mook /Allsport
13 Sep 1992: Defensive lineman Steve Emtman of the Indianapolis Colts looks on during a game against the Houston Oilers at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Oilers won the game, 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Gary Mook /Allsport /

Athlon Sports & Life named Washington Football defensive end Steve Emtman among Top 50 College Football Players

The 1991 Washington Football team was very special. Undefeated, the team shared in the spoils of a national championship with the University of Miami. That team was led in ferocity and playmaking by defensive end Steve Emtman. Some 26 years later, that intensity remains in the memory of many. And so, Athlon Sports & Life acknowledged that football excellence by honoring Washington Football defensive end Steve Emtman among Top 50 College Football Players.

Entman is the 31st player in the list.

The honor of making a top 50 list is significant. On one hand to make the list, a player must exhibit a significant leadership role on his team. On the other hand, that same athlete must accomplish significant statistical achievements in national rankings.  And finally, he must exhibit a presence both during the game and on the camera.

So it’s not an easy thing to do.

Fury in a jersey

Steve Emtman was fury in a jersey. Seriously. He was virtually unblockable. Those are not my words, but rather the words of ESPN’s Ted Miller. He led the Washington Huskies to a national championship in 1991. In that year, the Washington Huskies would end the season undefeated. It was one of the rare moments in NCAA history that teams tied.  The Miami Hurricanes were the other co-number one team.

Emtman was a leader by example. He earned the Outland Trophy, the coveted  Lombardi Award and then Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year Award. And he did it with furious rage-like play in the trenches.

Injuries stopped his NFL career

No NFL lineman could stop him. But injuries would stop him. Prematurely.  Two blown knees and a ruptured disk in his neck vertebrae would halt his NFL playing days before they ever got started.

Next: Washington baseball alum Jake Lamb named to first All Star Game

His only regrets now was rushing back to play.  If he played today, his career would have been lengthened by many years. The treatment of soft tissue injuries has improved dramatically now. But Steve Emtman played too early to benefit from sports medicine.

Currently a resident of Cheney, Washington, the former NFL top draft pick is married and the father of three boys.  In the end, he peaked on the field for the Washington Football team.

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