ChatGPT Ranks Michigan Football 10 Best Players of All Time
Artificial intelligence has been a hot topic lately, with some expressing cautious concerns about its potential for harm to humanity. However, using it to identify the best Michigan football players of all time is a more innocent use. ChatGPT issued a list of the top 10 players, though it claimed the ordering was arbitrary. Here are the players that made the cut.
Tom Harmon
Tom Harmon played for Michigan from 1938-1940, earning the distinction of the first-ever Heisman Trophy winner in school history. He also set a number of school records and was a two-time consensus All-American, becoming an icon of the Michigan Wolverines football program.
Desmond Howard
Desmond Howard played for Michigan from 1989-1991, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1991. He was also a two-time consensus All-American and known for his skills as a wide receiver and return specialist. His famous Heisman pose remains an iconic moment in college football.
Charles Woodson
Charles Woodson played for Michigan from 1995-1997, helping to lead the Wolverines to a national championship in 1997. He became the only primarily defensive player to ever win the Heisman Trophy and was a two-time consensus All-American. Woodson's skills as a game-changer on the field make him one of the greatest Wolverines of all time.
Anthony Carter
Anthony Carter played for Michigan from 1979-1982, and his prolific abilities as a receiver helped turn the Wolverines' offense around. He was a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection and still holds a number of school records. Despite being relatively underappreciated, Carter was a game-changer for Michigan.
Benjamin Oosterbaan
Benjamin Oosterbaan played for Michigan from 1925-1927, becoming one of the program's first superstars. He was a three-time first-team All-American and part of the innovation of the forward pass in football. He later served as Michigan’s head coach from 1948-1958.
Dan Dierdorf
Dan Dierdorf played for Michigan from 1968-1970, becoming a consensus All-American in 1970. He went on to have a successful career in the NFL with the St. Louis Cardinals. Dierdorf's skills as a quintessential offensive tackle make him an icon of both college football and the NFL.
Jim Harbaugh
Jim Harbaugh played for Michigan from 1983-1986 and became a first-team All-American in 1986. He later served as Michigan’s head coach from 2015-2020. Despite some limitations in the AI's list, Harbaugh's skills as a player were considerable, particularly his guarantee against Ohio State. As a coach, he has brought Michigan two-straight Big Ten Championships and College Football Playoff appearances.
Tyrone Wheatley
Tyrone Wheatley played for Michigan from 1991-1994, becoming a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. He finished his career with 4,178 rushing yards and 47 touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the best running backs in Michigan history.
Jake Long
Jake Long played for Michigan from 2004-2007 and became a two-time consensus All-American. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft and went on to have a successful career with the Miami Dolphins. Long's skills as a stalwart tackle made him a key player in Michigan's success.
Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford played for Michigan from 1932-1934 as a center and linebacker. Although the era he played in makes it difficult to quantify his impact, he later became the 38th President of the United States, underscoring the significance of his inclusion on the list.
