ChatGPT is a revolutionary artificial intelligence tool that can make decisions and offer guidance on any topic it is given. Recently, the program was asked to rank the top 10 Michigan Wolverines football players of all time from a purely analytical standpoint. The result was an in-order list, numerically speaking, that featured a number of Wolverines with historic legacies at the school.
Leading the way on ChatGPT’s list was Tom Harmon, a man that earned a standing ovation from the Ohio State faithful for his performances during his time at Michigan. He won the 1940 Heisman Trophy, the first in school history, and was the consensus All-American twice. He is undoubtedly worthy of being regarded as one of the best Michigan football players ever.
Following Harmon was Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard in the second position. The wide receiver and return specialist was a college football icon, being one of the first to model the famed Heisman pose and also revolutionize the position of returner. Howard was additionally a two-time consensus All-American.
Woody Woodson, the only primarily defensive player to ever win the Heisman Trophy, came in third. This couldn’t be argued, as Woodson was a defensive game-changer and forever changed the perception of defensive players capable of winning the Heisman. His dominance of the Big Ten was unparalleled and led to a national championship in 1997.
After him was Anthony Carter of the 1979-1982 era, a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. Electric is an understatement to describe him, and his ability to completely turn the Michigan offense on its head has not gone unnoticed. Carter was a pivotal player in his time and is greatly deserving of being mentioned alongside the top Wolverines of all time.
In the fifth spot on ChatGPT’s list was Bennie Oosterbaan, who was a three-time first-team All-American for the Wolverines. His teams shut out all opponents but one, and he was part of the development of the forward pass in football, which was a critical part of innovation.
Dan Dierdorf immediately followed in sixth, as he was a consensus All-American in 1970 and succeeded in both college and the NFL. He was a stalwart and icon who played for both Bump Elliott and Bo Schembechler while at Michigan. Clearly, he was regarded on a level fit for this list.
Jim Harbaugh was up next in seventh, a man that guaranteed a victory for the Wolverines over Ohio State and helped elevate the program to new heights. On top of his amazing play, he served as the man in charge for Michigan from 2015-2020 and achieved two Big Ten Championships and College Football Playoff appearances in the process.
In the eighth spot was Tyrone Wheatley, a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection and 4,178 rush yards and 47 touchdowns in his college career. While Mike Hart, Anthony Thomas and Jamie Morris could easily be argued to be on this list, Wheatley was deemed worthy of the recognition.
Jake Long was listed ninth, as a two-time consensus All-American who was the number one overall draft pick of the 2008 NFL Draft. Long was a pivotal anchor at left tackle for Lloyd Carr and even for Bo Schembechler’s teams, meaning his inclusion was just and accurate.
Finally, the tenth and final Michigan Wolverine on the list was none other than Gerald Ford, who became the 38th President of the United States following his stint at the university. It is difficult to assess his value since he played in a different era, but it is significant to have a former US President on this list of the greatest Michigan Wolverines of all time.
ChatGPT is a company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan that specializes in artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing. Founded in 2019, their goal is to use AI to provide an accessible, humanized experience to users when it comes to decision making. By using their AI-based program, ChatGPT, people can gain access to the information they need in the form of analysis and predictions.
Tom Harmon was the Heisman Trophy winner of 1940 and a two-time All-American. He set numerous records at the University of Michigan and was an outstanding player. He was such a great player, he received a standing ovation by the Ohio State supporters in Columbus. His immense on-field talent earned him the title of the best Michigan football player of all time.
