50 College Football Stars That Went Bust in the NFL
We watch them play Saturday after Saturday. They amaze us. They thrill us. We don't want to see them leave our favorite college team. However, we know they have to move on.
We eagerly watch the NFL draft hoping our favorites will go first round. We watch in amazement as their dreams come true. Wearing a new team hat and holding a jersey, we celebrate as our heroes line up for the famous first round picture.
Such high hopes, such big dreams...and then what happens?
The dream turns into a nightmare.
Here are 50 college football stars that went bust in the NFL...
No.50 Dan McGwire
1 of 50Player: Dan McGwire
School: Iowa and San Diego State
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 16th pick overall in 1991
Team: Seattle Seahawks
Results: He never got the hang of the NFL, but many thought he would. He was a true disappointment for the Seahawks. He played from 1991-1994 for Seattle and just one year (1995) for Miami. Truly a case of unmet potential.
No.49 Cade McNown
2 of 50Player: Cade McNown
School: UCLA
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 12th pick overall in 1999
Team: Chicago Bears
Results: His career took him to the Bears in 2000, the Dolphins in 2001, and the 49ers in 2002, but always the same lackluster results.
No.48 Keith McCants
3 of 50Player: Keith McCants
School: Alabama
Position: Linebacker, Defensive End
Draft Pick: 4th pick overall 1990
Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Results: Started off slow, and went down hill from there. Played for the Bucs 1990-1992, the Oilers 1993-1994, and finally with the Cardinals 1994-1995.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No.47 Cedric Jones
4 of 50Player: Cedric Jones
School: Oklahoma
Position: Defensive End
Draft Pick: 5th overall in 1996
Team: New York Giants
Results: Never lived up to his potential. However, one thing good did come out of his career. Because he was blind in one eye, the Giants moved Michael Strahan from the right side to the left, and the rest is history.
No.46 Reggie Williams
5 of 50Player: Reggie Williams
School: Washington
Position: Wide Receiver
Draft Pick: 9th pick overall in 2004
Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Results: Very disappointing in Jacksonville, but they worked with him in hopes he would develop. It never panned out, and he left the Jags in 2008.
No.45 Derrick Harvey
6 of 50Player: Derrick Harvey
School: Florida
Position: Defensive End
Draft Pick: 8th pick overall in 2008
Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Results: A huge bust for the Jags, but now we will see how he does in Denver.
No.44 Bruce Pickens
7 of 50Player: Bruce Pickens
School: Nebraska
Position: CB
Draft Pick: 3rd overall 1991 draft
Team: Atlanta Falcons
Results: Bounced around from Atlanta to Green Bay, then Kansas City to Oakland, and never lived up to his potential.
No.43 Steve Emtman
8 of 50Player: Steve Emtman
School: Washington
Position: Defensive End
Draft Pick: 1st pick overall in the 1992 draft
Team: Indianapolis Colts
Results: Played from 1992 to 1994 for the Colts, then traded to the Dolphins because of lack of productivity. Same story for Miami, and finished his career in 1997 at Washington. No one is really sure why this monster of a man never became a terror in the NFL.
No.42 Courtney Brown
9 of 50Player: Courtney Brown
School: Penn State
Position: Defensive End
Draft Pick: No.1 overall in 2000
Team: Cleveland Browns
Results: 2000-2004 for the Browns, 2005-2006 with the Broncos, but never became the NFL player that so many experts said he would.
No. 41 Andre Ware
10 of 50Player: Andre Ware
School: Houston
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 1990 7th pick overall
Team: Detroit Lions
Results: Never became the player in the NFL that so many thought he would.
No.40 Trev Alberts
11 of 50Player: Trev Alberts
School: Nebraska
Position: Linebacker
Draft Pick: No.4 overall in the 1994 draft
Team: Indianapolis Colts
Results: It was a very disappointing three season career for Trev Alberts.
No.39 Peter Warrick
12 of 50Player: Peter Warrick
School: Florida State
Position: Wide Receiver
Draft Pick: No.4 overall in 2000
Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Results: Played four unproductive years in Cincinnati then moved on to one season with the Seahawks. His NFL career was never close to his college days.
No.38 Johnathan Sullivan
13 of 50Player: Johnathan Sullivan
School: Georgia
Position: Defensive Tackle
Draft Pick: 6 overall in 2003
Team: New Orleans Saints
Results: Played from 2003-2006, and never played to the level of his first round pick.
No.37 Jack Thompson
14 of 50Player: Jack Thompson
School: Washington State
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 3rd overall 1979 draft
Team: Cincinnati
Results: Incredible college athlete that never lived up to his WSU days. Completing only 53 percent of his passes in the NFL over six seasons.
No.36 Tim Biakabutuka
15 of 50Player: Tim Biakabutuka
School: Michigan
Position: Running Back
Draft Pick: 1996 pick number 8 overall
Team: Carolina Panthers
Results: 1996-2001 full of lackluster, disappointing, sub-par football. Which, is too back because he was electric in college.
No.35 David Carr
16 of 50Player: David Carr
School: Fresno State
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 1st pick overall 2002 draft
Team: Houston Texans
Results: Poor guy, he didn't stand a chance with the offensive line he had in Texas. He has become a decent backup, but it really is too bad he was never able to live up to his potential.
No.34 Rashaan Salaam
17 of 50Player: Rashaan Salaam
School: Colorado
Position: Running Back
Draft Pick: 1995 21st pick overall
Team: Chicago Bears
Results: Let's just say his career went down the "pot".
No.33 Vince Young
18 of 50Player: Vince Young
School: Texas
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 3rd overall 2006
Team: Tennessee Titans
Results: So much hype, so little substance.
No.32 Matt Leinart
19 of 50Player: Matt Leinart
School: USC
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 2006 pick 10 overall
Team: Arizona Cardinals
Results: Some glimpses of the college quarterback we all knew, but so far, very unimpressive.
No.31 Jamal Reynolds
20 of 50Player: Jamal Reynolds
School: Florida State
Position: Defensive End
Draft Pick: 10th pick overall 2001
Team: Green Bay
Results: Reynolds wrap it up. That pretty much sums up his 18 tackle, 3 sack, 2 fumble recovery, three year career.
No.30 Troy Williams
21 of 50Player: Troy Williams
School: South Carolina
Position: Wide Receiver
Draft Pick: 7th pick 2005
Team: Jacksonville
Results: Never produced the numbers many thought he would.
No.29 David Klingler
22 of 50Player: David Klingler
School: Houston
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 6th pick overall in the 1992 draft
Team: Cincinnati
Results: Failed miserably stepping up to the NFL game.
No.28 Ron Dayne
23 of 50Player: Ron Dayne
School: Wisconsin
Position: Running Back
Draft Pick: 11 overall 2000
Team: New York Giants
Results: Dayne had a little under average career playing for the Giants, Broncos, and the Texans. However, considering how great he was in college, it is really too bad that he didn't excel in the NFL.
No.27 Rick Mirer
24 of 50Player: Rick Meyer
School: Notre Dame
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 2nd pick overall 1993
Team: Seattle Seahawks
Results: Mirer did not live up to his over-hyped potential. He tried to be a good backup, but that didn't even work out.
No.26 Vernon Gholston
25 of 50Player: Vernon Gholston
School: Ohio State
Position: Defensive End
Draft Pick: 6th pick overall 2008
Team: Chicago Bears
Results: The Bears worked hard to make it work, but Gholston just couldn't make the transition. A great college player, a bust in the NFL.
No.25 John Lam Jones
26 of 50Player: John Lam Jones
School: Texas
Position: Wide Receiver
Draft Pick: 2 pick overall 1980
Team: NY Jets
Results: His rookie year was his best, catching 43 passes for 734 yards. However, that would be the highlight, and went downhill fast from there.
No.24 Art Schlichter
27 of 50Player: Art Schlichter
School: Ohio State
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 4th overall of the 1982 Draft
Team: Colts
Results: Gambling problems, horrible results, and bankruptcy. That pretty much sums up his career.
No.23 David LaFleur
28 of 50Player: David LaFleur
School: LSU
Position: Tight End
Draft Pick: 22nd pick 1997
Team: Dallas Cowboys
Results: Very unproductive career, played just four seasons.
No.22 Curtis Enis
29 of 50Player: Curtis Enis
School: Penn State
Position: Running Back
Draft Pick: 5th overall 1998 Draft
Team: Chicago Bears
Results: Three years in the NFL, two very unproductive seasons, and one average season. Cut in 2000, never to play in the NFL again.
No.21 Mike Williams
30 of 50Player: Mike Williams
School: Texas
Position: Offensive Tackle
Draft Pick: 4th overall in 2002
Team: Buffalo Bills
Results: Struggled with pass blocking, changed to guard, fairly unproductive career.
No.20 Alonzo Highsmith
31 of 50Player: Alonzo Highsmith
School: Miami
Position: Running Back
Draft Pick: 3rd pick overall 1987
Team: Houston Oilers
Results: So many people were excited to see Highsmith turn pro. However, after a few seasons, many were ready to see him go.
No.19 Kelly Stouffer
32 of 50Player: Kelly Stouffer
School: Colorado State
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 6th pick overall in 1987
Team: Seattle Seahawks
Results: Four years and horrible stats later, his career in the NFL was over. He was a stellar college player, but never made the transition.
No.18 Todd Blackledge
33 of 50Player: Todd Blackledge
School: Penn State
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 7th pick overall 1983
Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Results: He threw 29 touchdowns and 38 interceptions in his career spanning from 1983 with the Chiefs and finishing in 1989 with the Steelers. He would never even come close to the same success he had leading his Nittany Lions to a national championship.
No.17 Terry Baker
34 of 50Player: Terry Baker
School: Oregon State
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 1st pick overall 1963
Team: Los Angeles Rams
Results: A Heisman trophy winner, Baker never lived up to his potential in the NFL. No touchdowns, 4 interceptions, and only 154 yards passing in his career.
No.16 Brady Quinn
35 of 50Player: Brady Quinn
School: Notre Dame
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 22 pick overall in 2007
Team: Cleveland Browns
Results: It looked like there might be some promise in Cleveland, but it never panned out.
No.15 Archie Giffin
36 of 50Player: Archie Griffin
School: Ohio State
Position: Running Back
Draft Pick: 24th pick overall in 1976
Team: Bengals
Results: A two time Heisman winner, Griffin never duplicated his success in the NFL.
No.14 Todd Marinovich
37 of 50Player: Todd Marinovich
School: USC
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 24th pick 1991
Team: Los Angeles Raiders
Results: Labeled as the second coming of the quarterback messiah, Marinovich's career died early, and there was not NFL resurrection.
No.13 Ki-Jana Carter
38 of 50Player: Ki-Jana Carter
School: Penn State
Position: Running Back
Draft Pick: 1st overall in 1995
Team: Bengals
Results: The 1995 Rose Bowl MVP never smelled that good in the NFL.
No.12 Tony Mandarich
39 of 50Player: Tony Mandarich
School: Michigan State
Position: Offensive Tackle
Draft Pick: 2nd pick overall in 1989
Team: Green Bay Packers
Results: Two years in Green Bay was enough.
No.11 Blair Thomas
40 of 50Player: Blair Thomas
School: Penn State
Position: Running Back
Draft Pick: 2nd overall in 1990
Team: Jets
Results: An incredible running back in college, Thomas never looked like a first round pick. He probably didn't even look like a late round pick. The Jets let him go in 1993, and he bounced from the Patriots to the Cowboys, the Falcons, and finally the Panthers before giving his NFL dream a rest.
No.10 Ricky Williams
41 of 50Player: Ricky Williams
School: Texas
Position: Running Back
Draft Pick: 5th pick overall in 1999
Team: New Orleans Saints
Results: This is a tricky one. Ricky has bounced back from a horrible start to his career. However, for the Saints this was a huge bust. Coach Mike Ditka traded nearly every pick, his grand kids, two houses, and a dog, to get Ricky. However, Williams career in New Orleans went up in smoke.
No.9 Joey Harrington
42 of 50Player: Joey Harrington
School: Oregon
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 3rd pick overall 2002
Team: Detroit Lions
Results: Joey, Joey, Joey, you could have been a contender.
No.8 Charles Rogers
43 of 50Player: Charles Rogers
School: Michigan State
Position: Wide Receiver
Draft Pick: 2nd pick overall in 2003
Team: Detroit Lions
Results: Two seasons, and only 36 receptions. Need I say more?
No.7 Heath Shuler
44 of 50Player: Heath Schuler
School: Tennessee
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 3rd pick overall in 1994
Team: Washington Redskins
Results: Didn't have a great NFL career, but has rebounded in politics. Heath Schuler is currently a member of the House of Representatives from North Carolina's 11th district.
No.6 Lawrence Phillips
45 of 50Player: Lawrence Phillips
School: Nebraska
Position: Running Back
Draft Pick: 6th pick overall in 1996
Team: St. Louis Rams
Results: Drafted in 1996 and left in 1997. He did try to play for Miami that same year, but it didn't work out. A very disappointing NFL career for such an amazing college football player.
No.5 Akili Smith
46 of 50Player: Akili Smith
School: Oregon
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 3rd pick overall in 1999
Team: Bengals
Results: A few years with the Bengals, one year with the Packers, and one more with the Buccaneers, and that was the NFL career of Akili Smith.
No.4 Tim Couch
47 of 50Player: Tim Couch
School: Kentucky
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 1st pick overall 1999
Team: Cleveland Browns
Results: They tried to make it work... it never did. After the 2003 season Cleveland decided to couch the idea of Tim ever becoming an NFL Quarterback.
No.3 Brian Bosworth
48 of 50Player: Brian Bosworth
School: Oklahoma
Position: Linebacker
Draft Pick: Round 1 1987
Team: Seattle Seahawks
Results: Most people remember him getting run over by Bo Jackson, and that pretty much sums up his career.
No.2 JaMarcus Russell
49 of 50Player: JaMarcus Russell
School: LSU
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 1st pick overall in 2007
Team: Oakland Raiders
Results: He played for the Raiders from 2007-2009 and threw 18 touchdowns with 23 interceptions. He threw for just 4,083 yards, and finished with a quarterback rating of 65.2.
No.1 Ryan Leaf
50 of 50Player: Ryan Leaf
School: Washington State University
Position: Quarterback
Draft Pick: 2nd overall in 1998
Team: San Diego Chargers
Results: At some point you have to start feeling sorry for this guy. However, history is history. He was a first team All-American at WSU, and finished third in the Heisman voting. He was the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year in 1997, and all indications were that he was going to be able to do the same thing in the NFL.
But, we all know how it ended for Mr. Leaf. After a terrible outing in San Diego he had a stopover at Tampa Bay, then Dallas, and finally Seattle.
His career was truly a case study in what it means to fly high into the sky only to come crashing back down to earth.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
