College football has been the stepping stone for almost all the football greats you could think of. Whether it be Tom Brady, Payton Manning, or Drew Brees, the legends on the NFL field all started somewhere. However, college football has also seen its fair share of celebrities come through its doors.
From WWE’s Roman Reigns and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to actors like Terry Crews, college football has seen a who’s who of celebrities step onto the field in hopes of playing football as a career.
5 Of the Most Notable Celebrities To Play College Football
You know them for their fame and fortune, but these five celebrities once battled it out on college football fields in hopes of reaching the next level of football, the NFL.
EDGE/LB Terry Crews, Western Michigan (1988-90)
Before gracing the big screens in movies such as White Chicks and The Longest Yard, Terry Crews was crushing it on the football field. Crews, a native of Flint, amassed 138 tackles and seven sacks in his Western Michigan career, earning All-MAC honors in 1989.
He was an up-and-coming sophomore in 1988, totaling 47 tackles that season. Before jumping to acting, he played in the NFL from 1991 to 1996.
DT Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Miami (1990-94)
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson rose to fame thanks to his exploits in the pro wrestling ring and got his first break in the movie business as the Scorpion King in 2001’s “The Mummy Returns.”
Since then, Johnson has been all over Hollywood in many movies, such as the Fast & Furious series, Jumanji, and so much more. However, what’s often overlooked is Johnson’s college football career for the Miami Hurricanes.
Over his four years with the ‘Canes, the 6’5″, 290-pound Johnson appeared in 39 games with 77 tackles and 4.25 sacks. Still, Johnson left an impression on coaches and teammates that went deeper than his numbers, starting with the man who recruited him, Ed Orgeron. Following college ball, he played a short stint in the Canadian Football League.
WR/S Channing Tatum, Glenville State [WV] (1999)
Channing Tatum is another actor who graced the college football field. Most notably in The Vow, 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street, Magic Mike, and many more films, Tatum got his start on the college football field for Glenville State College. Tatum hoped to make it to the NFL before he realized that wouldn’t be in the cards for him.
He was also a great football player, a stand-out in high school, and was recruited to play for Wake Forest. However, he admitted to the Chicago Tribune back in 2012 that because his grades were terrible, his scholarship offer was rescinded, and he transferred to Glenville State College on another football scholarship. He left after one year to pursue acting.
QB Josh Duhamel, Minot State [ND] (1993-94)
Josh Duhamel, known to many as the ex-husband of Fergie, grew up in North Dakota and pursued a football career at Minot State University. He only seemed to start in 1993 and lost the job to Scott Mayer in 1994. Duhamel notably starred in the Transformers series in the late 2000s.
After two seasons with Mino State University, Duhamel finished throwing the ball for 1,242 yards and threw 10 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. Overall, they’re not the most impressive stats. However, I’m sure he’s not complaining. Duhamel became a very successful Hollywood actor and has a wealth of knowledge under his belt.
WR Ryan Coogler, Sacramento State (2004-07)
Before Ryan Coogler became a great filmmaker, he was a college football player. The 38-year-old director’s past as a college football player is certainly interesting to learn about. A long time ago, well before Coogler directed the hit movie Sinners, he was a star on the gridiron for Sacramento State.
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After transferring from St. Mary’s College due to the school cancelling its football program, Coogler totaled 112 receptions for 1,213 yards and six touchdowns during his college career.
What might be more impressive than his numbers was that he was a three-time Big Sky Conference All-Academic Award winner. Being a great athlete is one thing, but it is different when you are also a great student.
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