Illinois Football: The 30 greatest Illini players of all time

It is extremely difficult to rate the players from the early 1900s. The teams from that era were successful, but there isn’t anyone alive to relive the past. All we have is stories written about these legendary teams. With that being said, I am putting John Depler on my top list.

Depler was an all-time great center for the Orange and Blue. He was a big piece of the offensive line that helped the Illini win a lot of games while he was in Champaign. The talent Depler brought to the field was noticed nationally. He earned First-Team All-American honors at the center position for 1918, 1919 and 1920 seasons. The 1918 campaign was a consensus selection.

While Depler was a part of the Illinois football team, the program was extremely successful. In 1918, the Illini went 5-2 and won the Big Ten title. The following season was the pinnacle of Depler’s time with the Illini.

The team was great finishing 6-1 with its only loss to Wisconsin. Illinois won the Big Ten title and then won the national title. In the three years Depler was an All-American with the program, the Illini went 16-5, won two Big Ten titles and a national title.

It is hard to quantify offensive linemen with stats in the game of football today, let alone from the early 1900s. But with the accolades Depler earned and the titles he won, I think he deserves to get some recognition as one of the best to ever suit up for the Illini.