Greatest college football player born in each state
Camden, New Jersey native Mike Rozier didn’t receive a lot of attention coming out of high school, and began his collegiate career at Coffeyville Junior College before catching the attention of the Nebraska coaching staff. Rozier arrived in Lincoln as a sophomore in 1981 and split carries with Roger Craig that season, gaining 943 rushing yards and five touchdowns – including a 93-yarder that offered a glimpse Rozier’s true talent.
As a junior in 1982, Rozier exploded for 1,689 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns and gained an average of 7.0 yards per carry in an All-American season while helping the Cornhuskers finish 12-1 with a No. 3 final ranking in the AP Poll. In 1983, Rozier won the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award with 2,148 rushing yards, which was the second best ever at the time. Rozier broke the NCAA record with 29 rushing touchdowns and gained an incredible 7.8 yards per attempt as a senior.
The 1983 season was also one of the best ever for Nebraska, though the Cornhuskers came one point shy of a national championship with a 31-30 loss to Miami in the Orange Bowl, famously attempting a two-point conversion in the final minute of the game. We can only imagine how the game (and the following Miami football dynasty) would have turned out had Rozier not missed the second half of the game with an ankle injury.
Other Notable College Football Players Born in New Jersey:
- Joe Flacco, QB, Pitt/Delaware
- Irving Fryar, WR, Nebraska
- Franco Harris, RB, Penn State
- Ironhead Heyward, RB, Pitt
- Mark Ingram, Jr., RB, Alabama
- Raghib Ismail, WR, Notre Dame
- Jim Jeffcoat, DL, Arizona State
- Bryant McKinnie, OL, Miami
- Joe Theismann, QB, Notre Dame
- Richard Wood, LB, USC
- Danny Stubbs, DL, Miami
Next: New Mexico