Since earning the starting job for the Kansas City Chiefs at the end of his rookie season, Patrick Mahomes has established himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL. However, his journey to superstardom didn’t begin inside Arrowhead Stadium. The talented QB had an electric but erratic college football career, but which college did Mahomes go to?
Where Did Patrick Mahomes Play College Football?
Patrick Lavon Mahomes II — to give three-time Super Bowl champion and MVP his full name — attended Texas Tech University between 2014 and 2016. The Texas native chose the Lubbock-based university over offers from Oklahoma State and Rice as he went to the college arena following his time at Whitehouse High School, where he was a multi-sport student.
Mahomes’ decision to attend Texas Tech set about a chain reaction culminating in the talented quarterback being recognized as one of the greatest ever to play the position. A highly skilled baseball pitcher whose father played in the MLB, the future Kansas City QB could have followed in familiar footsteps, but the lure of playing football for the Red Raiders curtailed that path.
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Although he split time between football and baseball as a Texas Tech freshman, Mahomes began to veer towards a footballing future during his first season in Lubbock. Injuries to starter David Webb gave him a taste of the action in 2014, leading to him taking on the starting role for his sophomore season.
In a pass-heavy offense, Mahomes put up eye-popping numbers early in his college career at Texas Tech. Leading the Big 12 conference in pass completions in 2015, he amassed an impressive 10 games with over 350 passing yards and threw three touchdown passes in eight different games.
The performances led to Mahomes abandoning baseball for the 2016 season, solely focusing on his junior season for the Texas Tech football team. Although baseball would take a backseat to his football aspirations and ultimate drive to become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, the former Red Raider often credits the hours of dedication to that craft for his passing prowess.
The 2016 season, his last in Lubbock, saw Mahomes put up staggering statistics as the Texas Tech talent established himself as one of the most productive passers in the nation. A true gunslinger, he threw for over 5,000 yards, tallied 41 touchdown passes, and set a career-best completion percentage before declaring for the 2017 NFL Draft and setting a date with destiny.
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However, the star quarterback’s influence at Texas Tech didn’t end with the conclusion of his playing career. Mahomes’ college legacy continues to grow as he maintains close links with the Red Raiders via several unique initiatives. In July this year, he was the driving force behind a 10-year deal with Adidas to become the official footwear, uniform, apparel, and accessory provider of the program.
Then, in August, Mahomes and his wife Brittany donated $5 million towards the Texas Tech South End Zone and Dustin R. Womble Football Center project. Current head coach Joey McGuire recently commented that “there isn’t a greater ambassador for Texas Tech Athletics than Patrick Mahomes,” as the quarterback’s college football legacy continues to grow.
Patrick Mahomes’ College Football Stats
- Wins: 13
- Losses: 18
- Pass Attempts: 1,349
- Pass Completions: 857
- Completion Percentage: 63.5%
- Passing Yards: 11,252
- Passing Yards Per Attempt: 8.3
- Passing Touchdowns: 93
- Interceptions: 29
- Rush Attempts: 308
- Rushing Yards: 845
- Rushing Touchdowns: 22
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