College Football: Look for former gridiron stars at the Oscars

College football is built on drama, so it’s no surprise some former athletes have taken to film after their playing days were over, including these Oscars nominees.

With the Oscars coming up this Sunday perhaps it’s fitting to talk about some of the former college football players that have been featured in Hollywood’s most memorable movies. The list is longer than you might think, it spans across every generation and this year’s award show is no exception.

For example, John David Washington the star of this year’s Best Picture Nominee BlacKkKlansman averaged over five yards per carrying at Moorehouse and even broke three school rushing records before going on to play for the St. Louis Rams in 2006.  All of which made him the perfect choice to play the part of fictional NFL player, Ricky Jarrett on HBO’s Ballers where he acts alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – who also happens to be a former Miami Hurricane defensive tackle.

Interestingly enough he’s not the first running back to rush down the red carpet.  The 1998 Best Supporting Actor nominee (Boogie Nights) Burt Reynolds,  was in fact,  once a promising young halfback at Florida State back in the mid-1950s.  His freshman season Reynolds rushed for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns but sadly, his college football career was cut short by a knee injury in the first game of his sophomore season.

Hollywood legend, John Wayne played on the offensive line for USC Trojans.  A team whose stadium is just down the street from where he would later win an Acadamy Awards for True Grit in 1970.  Another notable offensive lineman to take home a trophy at the Acadamy Awards is the 1997 Best Supporting Actor (The Fugitive), Tommy Lee Jones, a former Harvard hogmollie back in the late 1960s.

1972 Best Picture winner, The Godfather featured former Michigan State Quarterback James Caan who earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination that same year for his portrayal of Sonny Corleone.  Although, Caan’s career with the Spartans only lasted one season because like most quarterbacks, he ended up transferring.  

In short, if the Oscars proves to us anything it’s you can still be a star even after your playing days are over. Some people just seem to be made for the spotlight.