Greatest college football player born in each state
A standout high school athlete in Fort Wayne, Indiana that earned Parade and USA Today All-American honors as both a junior and senior, Rod Woodson chose to stay close to home to play college football and signed with Purdue in 1983.
Woodson saw playing time as a defensive back during his freshman season, and earned the first of his 11 career interceptions for the Boilermakers, three of which he returned for touchdowns. He had three interceptions as a sophomore, and helped Purdue finish 7-5 and earn a spot in the Peach Bowl, and picked off five passes as a junior. A speedster that was also a NCAA record holder in the 60 and 110 meter hurdles, Woodson also contributes on special teams as a punt returner and kick returner and amassed more than 1,700 return yards in his college career.
Purdue had only one winning season during Woodson’s four-year career, but he excelled on the field and earned All-American honors as a senior in 1986. That season, Woodson intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown, and also scored on a kick return. In an effort for the team to create more offense, Woodson also ran for 93 yards on 15 carries and caught seven passes for 129 yards.
After the season, Woodson was selected No. 10 overall in the 1987 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he went on to a Hall of Fame career that also included stops in San Francisco, Baltimore and Oakland.
Other Notable College Football Players Born in Indiana:
- Tom Harmon, QB, Michigan
- Jeff George, QB, Purdue/Illinois
- Rex Grossman, QB, Florida
- Kevin Hardy, LB, Illinois
- Alex Karras, DL, Iowa
- Anthony Thompson, RB, Indiana
- Troy Walters, WR, Stanford
- Eugene Wilson, DB, Illinois
Next: Iowa