Before he was a four-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion with the Oakland Raiders, Phil Villapiano was a young linebacker out of Bowling Green University.
Prior to eventually being drafted by the Silver and Black in the second round (No. 45 overall) of the 1971 NFL Draft, Villapiano suited up in the 1971 Senior Bowl, and Thursday afternoon, the former linebacker was named to the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame's 30th class, along with Denver Broncos linebacker Al Wilson and Dallas Cowboys tight end Jay Novacek.
With the addition of the trio, the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame now has 117 members.
"One of the all-time great Oakland Raiders, it is such an honor to recognize Phil in our 2018 Hall of Fame class," Senior Bowl Executive Director Phil Savage said. "He is a perfect example of a college prospect utilizing the Senior Bowl as the ultimate NFL job audition, when he showcased his speed, athleticism and toughness in Mobile during the 1971 game."
In his nine years in Silver and Black, Villapiano appeared in 118 games, starting each game save one, totaling 11 interceptions and one touchdown.
He was also a member of the team that won Super Bowl XI 32-14 over the Minnesota Vikings.
The trio of Villapiano, Wilson and Novacek will be inducted into the Hall of Fame next month, where Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt will be named the Reese's Senior Bowl Rookie of the Year, and St. Paul's cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis will be honored as the Reese's Senior Bowl High School Player of the Year.
