BAY CITY, MI -- They were high school football stars and college football kings.
But nothing cements a football legacy better than getting a call from the NFL.
Since the NFL draft began in 1936, a dozen players from the Bay City area have experienced that moment. With the 2020 NFL Draft beginning Thursday, we take the opportunity to celebrate those 12 local sensations who had their names called on draft day, from a 24th-round pick to a second-rounder.
Jarv Walz, who went on to star at CMU and was drafted by the Detroit Lions, was one of Bay City Central's first standouts under Elmer Engel in 1951.
“In the 24th round of the 1956 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions select…”
E -- JARV WALZ, Central Michigan University
Big Jarv stood 6-foot-5, 255 pounds and was stunningly athletic. After leading Elmer Engel’s second Bay City Central team to a 6-1-2 record in 1951, he helped CMU to four straight IIAC titles as an end and kicker. He never played a game in the NFL, instead becoming a teacher and coach for 19 seasons at Grand Rapids Creston. He was inducted into the Bay County Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
Bay City Central and University of Nebraska star Rick Czap was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1966. (Courtesy)
“In the 12th round of the 1966 NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns select…”
DT -- RICK CZAP, University of Nebraska
A superb athlete, he was a two-time league champion in the shot put and an undefeated state champion wrestler at Bay City Central. He became a centerpiece of the dominant Nebraska defense at tackle, serving as a three-year starter and twice earning all-Big Eight honors. The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder never played in the NFL but competed briefly in the CFL. In 2002, he was inducted into the Bay County Sports Hall of Fame.
Bay City Handy and University of Nebraska standout Jerry List was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 1973. (Courtesy University of Nebraksa)
“In the 11th round of the 1973 NFL draft, the Oakland Raiders select…”
TE -- JERRY LIST, University of Nebraska
The Bay City Handy star put his talent on full display on the powerhouse Nebraska teams that won national championships in 1970 and 1971. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder caught 70 passes for 1,010 yards and five touchdowns in his Cornhuskers career, setting a record for receptions by a tight end. He never played in the NFL but joined the Bay County Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.
- Dennis Wirgowski was a Bay City Central product who went on to play at Purdue University. (With permission Purdue University)(With permission Purdue Universi
“In the ninth round of the 1970 NFL draft, the Boston Patriots select…”
TE -- DENNIS WIRGOWSKI, Purdue University
A giant among the pantheon of all-time Bay City Central legends, Wirgowski was labeled “Superman” during his all-American prep days and lived up to it on the football field. After leading Central to the 1965 state championship, he was a three-year starter at end for Purdue. The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder played four seasons with the Patriots – who he signed with for a $3,000 bonus -- and spent time with the Eagles and Browns. He was a member of the second induction class of the Bay County Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
Packers WR Jeff Janis battles for yards against Eagles CB Nolan Carroll in 2016 NFL action.SJN
“In the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers select…”
WR -- JEFF JANIS, Saginaw Valley State University
From smalltown Tawas rose the greatest receiver in Saginaw Valley State University history and an NFL-bound talent. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound speedster shattered virtually every SVSU receiving record in a head-spinning collegiate career, notching 246 catches for 46 TDs and 4,305 yards. He became a fan favorite with the Packers for his special teams play, both as a kickoff returner who averaged 29.0 yards and as a fearless coverage man. He tallied 17 receptions for 200 yards and one TD during regular season play in his four-year NFL career. But he created a legacy with seven catches for 145 yards and two TDs – including a game-tying grab on a Hail Mary pass from Aaron Rodgers – in a playoff game with the Arizona Cardinals.
Detroit Lions linebacker Tom Beer (51) is a product of Laker High and Wayne State University. (Times file)
“In the seventh round of the 1994 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions select…”
LB -- TOM BEER, Wayne State University
A tough-nosed gamer out of Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port’s Laker High, he became an honorable mention all-American and three-time all-MIFC honoree at Wayne State. His 21 tackles in a game, 380 tackles in a career, 17 tackles for loss in a season and 24 passes defensed in a career remain among the program’s top 10. He became a cult hero of sorts with his special teams play for the Detroit Lions from 1994-97. He played in 41 NFL games, stepping in at fullback and linebacker as needed.
1957 NFL draft pick Jerry Leahy is a product of Bay City St. Joseph. (Times file)
“In the seventh round of the 1957 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions select…”
T -- JERRY LEAHY, University of Colorado
A local legend who came out of tiny Bay City St. Joseph and went on to do big things at Colorado. At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, he earned all-Big 7 and all-American honors as a lineman for the Buffaloes in 1955. He played in one NFL game for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1957. He returned to Bay City and coached his alma mater to a perfect season in 1960. Leahy was inducted into the Bay County Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.
Bay City's Trenton Robinson races downfield during special teams play for the Washington Redskins in the 2013 season. (Courtesy Washington Redskins)
“In the sixth round of the 2012 NFL draft, the San Francisco 49ers select…”
DB -- TRENTON ROBINSON, Michigan State University
The Bay City Central star went on to serve as captain of the winningest class in MSU football history. He registered 229 tackles and nine interceptions for the Spartans, twice drawing all-Big Ten honors. The 5-foot-9, 200-pounder went to the Super Bowl with the Niners his rookie season. He went on to play three years with the Washington Redskins, working his way into the starting lineup. He notched 88 tackles and two interceptions in his four-year NFL career.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Anthony Zettel reacts after sacking Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in 2018.cleveland.com
“In the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions select…”
DL – ANTHONY ZETTEL, Penn State University
A freak of an athlete from Ogemaw Heights, where he set the state shot put record and also dazzled on the basketball court and dominated on the football field, he went on to earn first-team all-Big Ten honors at Penn State. The 6-foot-4, 275-pounder started all 16 games for the Lions in 2017, registering 43 tackles and 6.5 sacks. He has since suited up for the Browns, Bengals and 49ers, reaching the Super Bowl last season with San Francisco. He signed as a free agent this winter with the Minnesota Vikings.
“In the fourth round of the 1936 NFL draft, the Chicago Bears select…”
E -- BOB ALLMAN, Michigan State University
The Bay City Central product was taken in the very first NFL draft after a stellar career at MSU. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder was drafted one spot after a guy from Alabama named Paul Bryant. Allman would play just one game with the Bears in 1936.
- Wayne Meylan (66) was a product of Bay City Handy who went on to shine with the University of Nebraska football team. (With permission University of Nebraska)(With permission University of N
“In the fourth round of the 1968 NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns select…”
DT -- WAYNE MEYLAN, University of Nebraska
The Meylan name has become synonymous with toughness in Bay City, and the 6-foot-1, 239-pounder had plenty to do with that. After leading Bay City Handy to the 1961 state championship, he starred at Nebraska as a rugged enemy of ballcarriers. He still owns the Cornhuskers’ record with 238 tackles by a defensive tackle. The two-time all-American was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991. He played three NFL seasons with the Browns and Minnesota Vikings, seeing action in 29 games.
St. Louis Cardinals quarterback Jim Hart is about to be smothered by Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Jim Kanicki in 1967. Cleveland Plain Dealer
“In the second round of the 1963 NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns select…”
DT -- JIM KANICKI, Michigan State University
A powerhouse of a player from the 1958 state championship team at Bay City Central, he delivered the longest NFL playing career of any Bay City-area athlete. Selected with the No. 23 overall pick, the 6-foot-4, 270-pounder played seven seasons with the Browns – under Paul Brown and alongside Jim Brown -- and two seasons with the New York Giants. He started 89 of the 116 NFL games in which he appeared, including four NFL championship games. In 2012, he was named one of Cleveland’s top-100 players of all-time.
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