Greatest college football player born in each state
Louisiana ranks No. 31 in land mass and No. 25 in population, but is one of the most talent-rich states in the nation when it comes to producing college football players. The list of All-Americans is long, but one name stands out above the rest as the best: former Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning.
The son of former New Orleans Saints and Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning, Peyton Manning made a surprising decision to attend the University of Tennessee. He didn’t earn the starting QB job for the Vols right away, but emerged as the starter midway through his true freshman season in 1994 and threw for 1,141 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions.
In his first full year as a starter, Manning accounted for 2,954 passing yards and 22 touchdowns (as well as five rushing TDs) and only threw four interceptions and led Tennessee to an 11-1 record and a No. 2 final ranking in the AP Top 25. As a junior, Manning surpassed 3,000 passing yards for the first time with 3,287 yards and 20 touchdowns, but was intercepted 12 times. The Vols finished 10-2 and fell short of Florida in the SEC East.
Surprisingly, Manning returned to Knoxville for his senior season, and finally led Tennessee to the SEC Championship in 1997. That year, he completed 287 of 477 pass attempts (60.2 percent – the fourth year in a row he completed more than 60 percent of his passes) for 3,819 yards and 36 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.
Manning won the Davey O’Brien Award, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the Maxwell Award, was named the SEC player of the Year and a consensus All-American, and finished second in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.
Other Notable College Football Players Born in Louisiana:
- Eric Bieniemy, RB, Colorado
- Terry Bradshaw, QB, Louisiana Tech
- Alan Faneca, OL, LSU
- Marshall Faulk, RB, San Diego State
- Matt Forte, RB, Tulane
- Dalton Hilliard, WR, LSU
- Bradie James, LB, LSU
- Charlie Joiner, WR, Grambling State
- Bert Jones, QB, LSU
- Eli Manning, QB, Ole Miss
- Brian Mitchell, QB, Louisiana-Lafayette
- Ed Reed, DB, Miami
- Josh Reed, WR, LSU
- Doug Williams, QB, Grambling State
Next: Maine