Help us decide who should be on Northwestern's Mount Rushmore

This month, the Big Ten Network is heading up a partnership with SB Nation's Big Ten blogs where we let you decide who are the best players in the history of each team's football program. Starting Dec. 11, BTN will release two teams' Mount Rushmores per night with Northwestern's coming up on Dec. 17.

Here are Northwestern's nominees, via BTN:

Mike Adamle (1968-70)

- Charter Inductee of Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame, 1984
- All-American Fullback, 1970
- Chicago Tribune Silver Football, 1970
- Led Big Ten in rush yds (1,255) and yards from scrimmage (1,389) in 1970
- 316 rush yds vs Wisconsin in 1969 remains school record

Damien Anderson (1998-2001)

- Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee, 2010
- Finished 5th in Heisman Trophy voting, 2000
- Doak Walker Award (Nation's Top RB) Finalist, 2000
- First-Team All-American, 2000
- Finished his career as NU's all-time leader in all-purpose yds (5,261), rushing yds (4,485) and rushing TD's (38)

Darnell Autry (1993-96)

- Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee, 2007
- Finished 4th in Heisman Trophy voting, 1995
- Two-time All-American and First-Team All-Big Ten Selection, 1995-96
- MVP of Wildcats' first two Big Ten Championship teams (1995-96) since 1931
- Finished his career as NU's all-time leading rusher (3,793 yds) and scorer (222 pts)

Ralph Baker (1924-26; Played at Illinois in 1923)

- College Football Hall of Fame Inductee, 1981
- Charter Inductee of Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame, 1984
- Consensus All-American Halfback, 1926
- Captain of Big Ten Championship Team, 1926
- His play as a sophomore in 1924 inspired a sports writer to begin calling NU the "Wildcats"

Brett Basanez (2002-05)

- Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year, 2005
- Finalist for Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Nation's top 4th or 5th-year QB), 2005
- Consensus First-Team All-Big Ten selection, 2005
- Joined Chuck Long and Drew Brees in becoming the 3rd Big Ten QB to throw for 10,000 yds
- Finished his career with 32 school records including total offense (11,576), passing yds (10.580) and passing TD's

Ron Burton (1957-59)

- College Football Hall of Fame Inductee, 1990
- Charter Inductee of Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame, 1984
- All-American Halfback (1959) and Two-Time All-Big Ten selection (1958-59)
- Finished career as NU's all-time leading scorer (130 pts) while leading the Wildcats in all-purpose yds three times (1957-59)
- Became the Boston Patriots' first AFL Draft Pick, 1960

Pat Fitzgerald (1993-96)

- College Football Hall of Fame Inductee, 2008
- Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee, 2003
- Only two-time winner of the Chuck Bednarik and Bronco Nagurski awards, 1995-96
- Two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year & First-Team All-American selection, 1995-96
- Led Wildcats to 1995 Big Ten Championship and NU's first Rose Bowl appearance in 47 years

Otto Graham (1941-43)

- College and Pro (1965) Football Halls of Fame Inductee
- Finished 3rd in Heisman Trophy voting, 1943
- Chicago Tribune Silver Football winner & Consensus All-American, 1943
- Finished his career as Big Ten's all-time leading passer (2,132 yds)
- Was also a basketball All-American in 1944 and lettered twice in baseball

Chris Hinton (1979-82)

- Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee, 2008
- First-team All-American Tackle and All-Big Ten selection, 1982
- Team Captain and MVP, 1982
- Played Linebacker and Tight End before moving to Tackle his senior year
- Earned six Pro Bowl selections during 13-year NFL career (1983-95)

Art Murakowski (1946-49)

- Chicago Tribune Silver Football, 1948
- First-team All-American Fullback, 1948
- Two-time team MVP, 1947-48
- Scored key touchdown in NU's 20-14 win over Cal in 1949 Rose Bowl
- His 103-yd kickoff return TD vs Army was voted "Play of the Year" by the Associated Press, 1948

Our Take:

First up, we've got to go with Otto Graham, the only nominee on this list to be named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Along with Graham, quarterback Brett Basanez gets our nod. Basanez was a stud throughout his career, putting up some of the best passing numbers in the country. Our final two nominees were integral parts of Northwestern's 1996 Rose Bowl team. On offense, Darnell Autry led the way at tailback, winning the MVP award for both the 1995 and 1996 Big Ten championship teams. He is also Northwestern's all-time leading rusher. Our last choice, Pat Fitzgerald, was the anchor of those defenses and was also named to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Agree or disagree, we want to hear your take. Rank them below: