Greatest college football player born in each state
Simply put, it would be impossible to name the greatest college football player ever born in California beyond a shadow of a doubt. Because it is the third largest state in the U.S. by land mass and the largest overall by population, there have been countless great players born in the Golden State.
Literally hundreds of California players have garnered All-American recognition over the years, and 14 have won the Heisman Trophy – which is more than any other state.
However, few were as great as Marcus Allen. Allen spent his first two seasons at USC playing behind another great running back and California native, Charles White, and then exploded onto the national scene as a junior with 1,563 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns on a nation-leading 354 carries. The San Diego native also led the Trojans with 30 catches for 231 receiving yards and another TD. But that performance was nothing compared to Allen’s senior campaign.
In 1981, Allen put together what was then the greatest season in college football history for a running back. Allen became the first player to ever run for more than 2,000 yards in a season and blew past that mark with 2,427 rushing yards on an eye-popping 433 carries. He also led the nation with 22 rushing touchdowns, 23 total touchdowns, and set 14 NCAA records, including an average of 212.9 rushing yards per game.
Nearly all of those records would fall seven years later, but Allen’s production still makes him a worthy contender for the greatest player ever born in California.
Other Notable College Football Players Born in California:
- Reggie Bush, RB, USC
- Glenn Davis, RB, Army
- Matt Leinart, QB, USC
- Troy Polamalu, DB, USC
- Jerry Robinson, LB, UCLA
- O.J. Simpson, RB, USC
- Eric Turner, DB, UCLA
- Charles White, RB, USC
- Ricky Williams, RB, Texas
- Roy Williams, DB, Oklahoma
Next: Colorado