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The Backstory: With No. 70 comes the question: "Is it better to be good at multiple positions across a longer period of time or is it better to be great at one position for a shorter period of time?"
Probably never wondered that, huh? Well, me neither until it came time to pick our No. 70 legend.
Sure, some will call a player switching positions "unselfish." And yes, position versatility is pivotal in football, especially across the offensive and defensive lines. But when a player is given time at a plethora of positions, it's usually a sign that they don't have the talent to stick to one. Not to say that they're mediocre by any means. It really just comes down to them not being able to put it all together.
For that reason, we're going with the man who solidified the right side of Arizona State's offensive line for some very solid squads in the early 1980s instead of the very versatile Regis Crawford.
The Legend: OT John Meyer (1979-1981)
Meyer was by no means the flashiest or most dominant offensive lineman to come out of ASU but when he was in the lineup, he always seemed to get the job done.
Meyer's finest year came in 1981, when he helped Darryl Rogers' 9-2 Sun Devil team earn their most wins since the end of the Frank Kush era. Although the team didn't earn a bowl game that year, Meyer still kept QB Mike Pagel vertical long enough for him to set new career highs in touchdowns (29) and passing yards (2,484). For his efforts that season, he earned All-American honors from the Newspaper Enterprise Association as well All-American honorable mention status from The Sporting News and second-team All-Pac-10 honors.
In The Pros
The Steelers thought so highly of Meyer that they made him a second round pick (43rd overall) in the 1981 NFL Draft with plans to try him at defensive end. Unfortunately, Meyer's knees gave out on him shortly after that. His rookie season was marred by a nagging knee injury and the following season, he was shut down before playing a game thanks to a major knee surgery on his other knee. While it's sad to wonder what could have been, Meyer still gave some fantastic years to the Sun Devils and the fans are surely grateful for that much.
Who Wears It Now?
No. 70 is currently unclaimed on the 2013 Arizona State football roster.
Honorable Mention:
OL Regis Crawford (2000-2003): Crawford played everywhere from center to left tackle and was known as a leader in the weight room. But the fact that he couldn't find a consistent spot on some mediocre squads is a telling sign, as is the fact that they removed him from left tackle for his senior season after 14 starts the previous year.
Other Famous 70s
NFL OT Rayfield Wright: The man known as "Big Cat" was such an incredible athlete that he saw time at tight and defensive end for the Cowboys before settling in at right tackle. During his tenure on Dallas' right side, the HOF-er made six consecutive NFL first-teams or second-teams.
NFL LB Sam Huff: During his storied career, Huff made it to six championship games with the Redskins and Giants. He made it to the Hall of Fame as a player but he spent 38 years in the booth contributing on the Skins' radio coverage before retiring Saturday (today).