NIC-10's 100 Greatest Football Players: No. 19 - Merwin Hodel, West

Merwin Hodel is the highest ranked player that the NIC-10 History Book knows next to nothing about outside of his statistics.

The 19th ranked player on our list was a solid running back at West High School. He was honorable mention all-conference as a senior, but he was essentially a blocking back, responsible for opening holes for Sam Rebecca and Ray Dall Osto.

Still, some scout somewhere must have liked what he saw because Hodel ended up playing football at the University of Colorado. After playing on the freshman team in 1948, Hodel won the starting fullback job in Colorado's wishbone offense as a sophomore and starred. Hodel ended up running for 2,181 yards over three seasons, averaging 4.3 yards per carry and scoring 26 touchdowns rushing. He also had 48 receptions for 540 yards and another two touchdowns.

In the history of the Northern Illinois Conference, no player has rushed for more yards or scored more touchdowns at the highest level of college football. These were good Colorado teams as well. The Buffaloes were 3-7 Hodel's sophomore year then 5-4-1 and 7-3 his junior and senior years. He was named first-team All-Big Seven in 1950 and 1951. Hodel still ranks seventh on Colorado's all-time rushing TD list.

Hodel had NFL size (6-2, 205 pounds) and speed - he was a Big Seven hurdles champion at Colorado - and he was picked in the fourth round by the New York Giants in the 1952 NFL draft. He suffered a foot injury in training camp and didn't play in 1952. The Giants signed him again in 1953 and he played in two games. He had 11 yards on five carries and one reception for -15 yards. That one catch occasionally brings Hodel fame. He is the Giants all-time leader in negative yardage for pass receptions.

That was it for Hodel in the NFL and for Hodel in Rockford newspapers history. The NIC-10 History Book could find no more clips on Hodel after the brief playing career. He died on June 15, 1988, in the Denver area and we couldn't find an obituary summarizing his life after football.

He remains a mystery to us. If anyone reading this can fill in the gaps, please email me at alexgary87@gmail.com.

No. 19 - Merwin Hodel, West
Year	Level	School	Accomplishments	Points
1946	High School	West	Winning Record	1
1947	High School	West	Honorable Mention All-Big 8	0.5
1948	College	Colorado	Freshman on Power 5 Team	2
1949	College	Colorado	Letter Winner on Power 5 Team	4
			Starter	1
1950	College	Colorado	Letter Winner on Power 5 Team	4
			Starter	1
			Winning Team	1
			All Conference	1
1951	College	Colorado	Letter Winner on Power 5 Team	4
			Starter	1
			Winning Team	1
			All Conference	1
1952	NFL	Giants	Fourth Round Pick	7
1953	NFL	Giants	Played in NFL	3
Total				32.5

NIC-10's 100 Greatest Football Players