Greatest college football player born in each state
The fifth largest state in the US in terms of land area, New Mexico is one of the least densely populated states in the union, ranking No. 36 in total population. Therefore, it is understandable that the Land of Enrichment hasn’t produced huge numbers of college football stars – but they did produce one of the very best to ever play the game: Ronnie Lott (and it should be noted that Washington-born Brian Urlacher, who attended high school in New Mexico and played his college ball with the Lobos, is also a legend in the state).
Born in Albuquerque, Lott moved to California at a young age and attended college at USC. Lott helped the Trojans win a share of the 1978 national championship and USC posted an 11-0-1 record and a No. 2 final ranking in the AP Poll in 1979, and recorded three interceptions in each season. While USC’s record took a dip in 1980, the team made it back to the Rose Bowl for the second consecutive year and Lott had his best individual season. He recorded eight interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, and earned All-American recognition.
A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Lott was selected No. 8 overall in the 1981 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers and went on to have a 15-year Hall of Fame career that included ten seasons in San Francisco, followed by stops with the Los Angeles Raiders, New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs.
Other Notable College Football Players Born in New Mexico:
- Hank Baskett, WR, New Mexico
- Ray Berry, LB, Baylor
- Norm Evans, OL, TCU
- Arian Foster, RB, Tennessee
- Aaron Graham, OL, Nebraska
- Tommy McDonald, WR, Oklahoma
- John Wooten, OL, Colorado
Next: New York