In December 1939, the sports editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette rated him as the most valuable player in the country, pointing to his versatilityHe is almost equally at home in the backfield or in the line.
Anyone who can shuttle from fullback, to end, to a tackle, and then to guard, and leave nothing whatever to be desired in handling any of these varied assignments, obviously must rank high in the national picture .
"[2] He was selected by the Central Press Association as a third-team guard on the 1939 College Football All-America Team.
[3] He was also selected to play on the Eastern College All-Star team in the Fresh Air Fund game in September 1940.
[1] He was paid $125 per game by the Steelers during the 1940 season and supplemented his income with construction jobs in the off-season.