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Twenty-six former Millikin University players (click here for photos and stats) have enjoyed professional football careers in the NFL, CFL, European and Areana football leagues. Eight of them played in the Chicago Bears organization, including six on the 1920 Staley team that was the forerunner of the present Bears franchise. Enjoying the most distinguished professional careers of the former Big Blue were Pro Football Hall of Famer George Musso and Canadian Football League Hall of Famer Virgil Wagner.
Musso, a 1982 Hall of Fame inductee, played 12 seasons with the Bears (1933-44) and earned All-Pro honors at tackle and guard—the first player to be recognized at two positions. He served as Chicago's captain when the Bears were known as the "Monsters of the Midway."
Wagner, who played halfback and cornerback, was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame in 1980 following a nine-year career (1946-54) with the Montreal Alouettes. He led the CFL in scoring his first four seasons, scored a league-record 79 career touchdowns and was a five-time all-league selection.
The most recent NFL signee is Michael Marker, a wide receiver who graduated in 2003. Marker, signed with the Green Bay Packers in December 2004. Eric Smith, a 1997 graduate and two-time CCIW selection at tight end, signed a two-year free agent contract with the San Diego Chargers in May 1998.
Recent players Chris Katzmark, Ryan Bailey, Donnell Brown, Mike Kohl and Joe Hyland are playing or have played in European leagues. Katzmark (WR, 2007 graduate) and Bailey (DL, 2008 graduate), signed contracts with Finland's Kouvola Indians in 2008. Prior to his departure overseas, Katzmark also played with the arena team Bloomington Extreme. Brown, a quarterback and 2003 graduate, has played in Germany with the Dresden Monarchs in the German Football League since 2003. Kohl and Hyland, played during the spring and summer of 1998. Kohl played quarterback for the Karlskoga Wolves in Sweden while Hyland played linebacker for Hamburg's (Germany) Blue Devils. David Peabody, a 1994 graduate, also spent one year playing in Europe with the Noris Rams of Nurnberg, Germany. Peabody helped lead his team to a playoff berth and earned first-team All-Germany honors.
The first Millikin professional was Sid Gepford, who played with the Decatur Staleys (which became the Chicago Bears in 1922) in 1919. A year later, Roy Adkins, Leo Johnson, F. "Jake" Lanum, Kile MacWherter and Randolph Young joined the Bears, while halfback George Corbett played for Chicago from 1932-38. Joe Carp played from 1926-29 and in 1933 with Frankfort, Pottsville, Boston and Philadelphia. Jim Perryman, a 1983 graduate, played with the NFL's Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts, and with the USFL's Pittsburgh Maulers.
In 1989, wide receiver Jeff Query become the first Millikin player selected in the NFL draft. The Packers chose him in the fifth round. Deverick Lampley, a 1985 graduate, spent some time with the Dallas Cowboys. Aric Anderson, a 1987 graduate, played with the Green Bay Packers during the players' strike and also played in the Arena Football League and in 1988 Alphonso Lott signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent.
2002 graduate and CCIW Defensive Player of the Year Michael Lindsey joined the Arena Football League's Peoria Rough Riders (formerly Peoria Pirates) in February 2005. Bob Meyer, a 2000 graduate, also played in Peoria when the team was still the Pirates. Curt Reed, a 1989 graduate, played with the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football League.