Greatest college football player born in each state
The great state of North Dakota has seen its fair share of college football success, most recently with the dominant four-year FCS national championship run by the North Dakota State Bison. NDSU won 12 Division II titles, and the University of North Dakota won a Division II national title in 2001 and was the runner-up in 2003, and both teams have relied on in-state players to achieve that success.
Still, you might not expect a North Dakota native to be featured on the Football Writers Association’s 75th Anniversary Team, but Minot-born Derek Abney’s incredible career as a return man for the Kentucky Wildcats earned him a spot among the greatest to ever play the game.
Abney, who attended high school in Wisconsin, was a wide receiver at UK and recorded 197 career receptions for 2,339 yards (which was the second most in school history at the end of his career) and 18 touchdowns across four seasons. However, his greatest success came on special teams, where he returned eight kicks for touchdowns, including an incredible six TD returns (two kickoffs and four punts) in 2002, which made him a consensus All-American.
Overall, Abney averaged 11.8 yards per return fielding 88 punts, and returned six for touchdowns. He added 2,315 kick return yards on 95 kickoffs and took two to the house, which combined with his production as a receiver and 160 rushing yards gave Abney the second most all-purpose yards in SEC history.
Other Notable College Football Players Born in North Dakota:
- Ronald Bradford, DB, Colorado
- Phil Hanson, DL, North Dakota State
- Andy Heck, OL, Notre Dame
- Jim Kleinsasser, FB, North Dakota
- Gary Larsen, DL, Concordia College
- David Logan, WR, Colorado
Next: Ohio