According to a report from Reviews.org, nearly 70% of Americans watch live sports. The National Football League (NFL) draws more viewers than any other sports league, followed by the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball (MLB), and college football. While baseball is known as America’s national pastime, football is undoubtedly the most popular sport in the nation, occupying two of the top four spots among American viewers. It is no surprise, then, that some of the United States’ most famous athletes are football players. Here is a look at the most famous Division I college football player from each U.S. state. (And if you really want to step back in time, here’s a look at 21 of the greatest professional sports teams that disappeared.)
Selecting the Most Famous Players from Each State
To compile this list, 24/7 Wall St. cross-referenced a number of authoritative sports media outlets. We employed editorial discretion to finalize the list since “most famous” is not a completely objective metric.
It is important to note that “most famous” does not necessarily mean “most accomplished.” For example, few would argue that Ohio’s greatest Division I college football player is Archie Griffin. He is a legend at Ohio State and is still the only player in history to win the Heisman Trophy twice. His college football career is unmatched by any other player from the Buckeye State. However, is he more famous than the Ohioan who took the top spot? Clearly, no.
It is also important to note that the players in our list are linked to the U.S. state of their birth. This eliminated players such as Tim Tebow from consideration. While he is one of the greatest college football players in history, Tebow was the son of Baptist missionaries and was born in the Philippines.
Selecting the most famous player from some states was no contest (we’re looking at you, South Dakota). Other states, however, were hairsplittingly close. Florida, for example, was an especially difficult choice. Players such as Deion Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Amari Cooper, Ray Lewis, Derrick Henry, and Chad Johnson all hail from the Sunshine State. However, we landed on another player who is arguably the most famous from the state.
The List
If you want to throw a flag on some of our selections, go ahead. But don’t be surprised if we throw a challenge flag in protest.
After extensive analysis, here is our list of the most famous D1 college players from each state.
Alabama – Bo Jackson
Bo Jackson is an Auburn football legend. He went on to become the only player to be named an all-star in both the NFL and MLB.
- Birthplace: Bessemer
- School: Auburn
- Position: Running Back
- Professional Teams: Los Angeles Raiders, Kansas City Royals (MLB), Chicago White Sox (MLB), California Angels (MLB)
Alaska – Mark Schlereth
Mark Schlereth enjoyed a long NFL career and was inducted into the University of Idaho Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008.
- Birthplace: Anchorage
- School: University of Idaho
- Position: Left Guard
- Professional Teams: Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos
Arizona – Randall McDaniel
Randall McDaniel became just the second person born in Arizona to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Birthplace: Phoenix
- School: Arizona State
- Position: Left Guard
- Professional Teams: Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Arkansas – Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden is the Razorbacks’ all-time leader with 4,590 career rushing yards and 5,881 career all-purpose yards.
- Birthplace: Little Rock
- School: Arkansas
- Position: Running Back
- Professional Teams: Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys
California – Tom Brady
Tom Brady (L), seen here with Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, is a legendary Wolverine. He is also arguably the greatest NFL quarterback of all time.
- Birthplace: San Mateo
- School: Michigan
- Position: Quarterback
- Professional Teams: New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Colorado – Christian McCaffrey
CMC averaged 6.2 yards per carry at Stanford.
- Birthplace: Castle Rock
- School: Stanford
- Position: Running Back
- Professional Teams: Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers
Connecticut – Dwight Freeney
Dwight Freeney was inducted into the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor in 2019.
- Birthplace: Hartford
- School: Syracuse
- Position: Defensive End
- Professional Teams: Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions
Delaware – Tim Wilson
Tim Wilson is enshrined in the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame.
- Birthplace: New Castle
- School: Maryland
- Position: Running Back
- Professional Teams: Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints
Florida – Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson’s legendary elusiveness was evident when he was a Louisville Cardinal.
- Birthplace: Pompano Beach
- School: Louisville
- Position: Quarterback
- Professional Team: Baltimore Ravens
Georgia – Jim Brown
Jim Brown is famous, not only as a football player but also as an actor and a civil rights activist.
- Birthplace: St. Simons
- School: Syracuse
- Position: Running Back
- Professional Team: Cleveland Browns
Hawaii – Tua Tagovailoa
As a true freshman, Tua Tagovailoa came off the bench after halftime to lead Alabama to the 2018 College Football National Championship.
- Birthplace: ʻEwa Beach
- School: Alabama
- Position: Quarterback
- Professional Team: Miami Dolphins
Idaho – Larry Wilson
Idahoan Larry Willson balled out at the University of Utah.
- Birthplace: Ribgy
- School: Utah
- Position: Halfback, Cornerback
- Professional Team: St. Louis Cardinals (Not to be confused with the MLB team. This NFL franchise is now known as the Arizona Cardinals)
Illinois – Dick Butkus
Dick Butkus, who passed away on October 5, 2023, is honored with a statue outside the Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Performance Center at the University of Illinois.
- Birthplace: Chicago
- School: Illinois
- Position: Linebacker
- Professional Team: Chicago Bears
Indiana – Bob Griese
Bob Griese (L) and the 1972 Dolphins were honored by President Barack Obama at a White House event in 2013 to celebrate the only NFL team to ever post a perfect record in the regular season and the postseason.
- Birthplace: Evansville
- School: Purdue
- Position: Quarterback
- Professional Team: Miami Dolphins
Iowa – Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow was named the Offensive MVP in LSU’s 2020 win over Clemson in the College Football National Championship.
- Birthplace: Ames
- Schools: Ohio State, LSU
- Position: Quarterback
- Professional Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Kansas – Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders attended the unveiling of his statue at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 13, 2021.
- Birthplace: Wichita
- School: Oklahoma State
- Position: Running Back
- Professional Team: Detroit Lions
Kentucky – Phil Simms
After his college career at Morehead State, Phil Simms was the quarterback of the New York Giants for 14 seasons.
- Birthplace: Springfield
- School: Morehead State
- Position: Quarterback
- Professional Team: New York Giants
Louisiana – Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning is practically royalty in Knoxville, Tennessee. (He’s also pretty popular in Indianapolis and Denver, too.)
- Birthplace: New Orleans
- School: Tennessee
- Position: Quarterback
- Professional Teams: Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos
Maine – John Huard
John Huard was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
- Birthplace: Waterville
- School: Maine
- Position: Linebacker
- Professional Teams: Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Montreal Alouettes (Canadian Football League (CFL)), Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
Maryland – Stefon Diggs
Before becoming a star in the NFL, Stefon Diggs was a college standout in his home state of Maryland.
- Birthplace: Gaithersburg
- School: Maryland
- Position: Wide Receiver
- Professional Teams: Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills
Massachusetts – Nick Buoniconti
Nick Buoniconti was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
- Birthplace: Springfield
- School: Notre Dame
- Position: Linebacker
- Professional Teams: Boston Patriots, Miami Dolphins
Michigan – Jerome Bettis
The Pro Football Hall of Fame became a “bus stop” when Jerome “The Bus” Bettis was inducted in 2015.
- Birthplace: Detroit
- School: Notre Dame
- Position: Running Back
- Professional Teams: Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers
Minnesota – Larry Fitzgerald
Larry Fitzgerald was a star at Pitt before he became the career receiving leader of the Arizona Cardinals.
- Birthplace: Minneapolis
- School: Pittsburgh
- Position: Wide Receiver
- Professional Team: Arizona Cardinals
Mississippi – Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice set NFL records for receptions, yards, and touchdown catches. He is, indeed, the G.O.A.T.
- Birthplace: Starkville
- School: Mississippi Valley State
- Position: Wide Receiver
- Professional Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks
Missouri – Ezekiel Elliott
“Zeke” was a force to be reckoned with at Ohio State, posting the third-most rushing yards in school history.
- Birthplace: St. Louis
- School: Ohio State
- Position: Running Back
- Professional Teams: Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots
Montana – Pat Donovan
Montana’s Pat Donovan played his collegiate career at Stanford.
- Birthplace: Helena
- School: Stanford
- Position: Offensive Tackle
- Professional Team: Dallas Cowboys
Nebraska – Ahman Green
Ahman Green ran his way into the hearts of Cornhusker fans.
- Birthplace: Omaha
- School: Nebraska
- Position: Running Back
- Professional Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, Omaha Nighthawks (United Football League)
Nevada – Steven Jackson
You want to tackle Steven Jackson? Good luck.
- Birthplace: Las Vegas
- School: Oregon State
- Position: Running Back
- Professional Teams: St. Louis Rams, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots
New Hampshire – Greg Landry
Greg Landry began coaching after his playing days were over.
- Birthplace: Nashua
- School: University of Massachusetts
- Position: Quarterback
- Professional Teams: Detroit Lions, Baltimore Colts. Chicago Blitz (United States Football League (USFL)), Arizona Wranglers (USFL), Chicago Bears
New Jersey – Joe Flacco
Joe Flacco went on to a super successful NFL career, most of which was spent as the quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens.
- Birthplace: Audubon
- Schools: Pittsburgh, Delaware
- Position: Quarterback
- Professional Teams: Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns
New Mexico – Ronnie Lott
The San Francisco 49ers retired #42 to honor college and professional hall of famer, Ronnie Lott (R).
- Birthplace: Albuquerque
- School: USC
- Position: Defensive Back
- Professional Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders, New York Jets
New York – Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski is a four-time Super Bowl champion.
- Birthplace: Amherst
- School: Arizona
- Position: Tight End
- Professional Teams: New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
North Carolina – Bruce Matthews
Bruce Matthews was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.
- Birthplace: Raleigh
- School: USC
- Position: Offensive Line
- Professional Team: Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans
North Dakota – Jim Kleinsasser
Jim Kleinsasser was a feared tight end at North Dakota and as a member of the Minnesota Vikings.
- Birthplace: Carrington
- School: North Dakota
- Position: Tight End
- Professional Team: Minnesota Vikings
Ohio – Travis Kelce
Before Travis Kelce was a superstar with the Kansas City Chiefs (and before he started dating Taylor Swift), he was an outstanding tight end at the University of Cincinnati.
- Birthplace: Westlake
- School: University of Cincinnati
- Position: Tight End
- Professional Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Oklahoma – Steve Largent
Steve Largent is a Seattle Seahawks legend who got his start at the University of Tulsa.
- Birthplace: Tulsa
- School: University of Tulsa
- Position: Wide Receiver
- Professional Team: Seattle Seahawks
Oregon – Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert was the quarterback of the Oregon Ducks before joining the Los Angeles Chargers in the NFL.
- Birthplace: Eugene
- School: Oregon
- Position: Quarterback
- Professional Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Pennsylvania – Joe Montana
Joe Montana is a 49ers legend with four Super Bowl rings, but fans of the Fighting Irish will always remember that he led Notre Dame to a national championship in 1977.
- Birthplace: New Eagle
- School: Notre Dame
- Position: Quarterback
- Professional Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs
Rhode Island – Al Del Greco
Before he became an NFL kicker, Al Del Greco was sending them through the uprights at Auburn.
- Birthplace: Providence
- School: Auburn
- Position: Placekicker
- Professional Teams: Green Bay Packers, St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals, Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans
South Carolina – A.J. Green
A.J. Green’s standout career at Georgia made him the fourth pick overall in the 2011 NFL draft.
- Birthplace: Summerville
- School: Georgia
- Position: Wide Receiver
- Professional Teams: Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals
South Dakota – Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri is widely considered to be one of the greatest kickers of all time.
- Birthplace: Yankton
- School: South Dakota State
- Position: Placekicker
- Professional Teams: Amsterdam Admirals (NFL Europe), New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee – Reggie White
Reggie White was inducted into the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
- Birthplace: Chattanooga
- School: Tennessee
- Position: Defensive End
- Professional Teams: Memphis Showboats (USFL), Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers
Texas – Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes was slingin’ it at Texas Tech before he was the star of the Kansas City Chiefs (and a whole bunch of insurance commercials).
- Birthplace: Tyler
- School: Texas Tech
- Position: Quarterback
- Professional Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Utah – Steve Young
Steve Young was a Hall of Famer in college at BYU and in the NFL.
- Birthplace: Salt Lake City
- School: BYU
- Position: Quarterback
- Professional Teams: Los Angeles Express (USFL), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers
Vermont – Steve Wisniewski
Steve Wisniewski went from the Nittany Lions to become a guard for the NFL’s Raiders.
- Birthplace: Rutland
- School: Penn State
- Position: Guard
- Professional Team: Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders
Virginia – Lawrence Taylor
You can say that Lawrence Taylor was not the greatest linebacker of all time. You’d be wrong, but you can say it.
- Birthplace: Williamsburg
- School: North Carolina
- Position: Linebacker
- Professional Team: New York Giants
Washington – John Elway
John Elway is widely considered to be among the top five quarterbacks of all time.
- Birthplace: Port Angeles
- School: Stanford
- Position: Quarterback
- Professional Team: Denver Broncos
West Virginia – Randy Moss
Randy Moss is a Thunder Herd legend.
- Birthplace: Rand
- School: Marshall
- Position: Wide Receiver
- Professional Teams: Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers
Wisconsin – J.J. Watt
J.J. Watt was inducted into the Houston Texans Ring of Honor in 2023.
- Birthplace: Pewaukee
- Schools: Central Michigan, Wisconsin
- Position: Defensive End
- Professional Teams: Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals
Wyoming – Chris Cooley
Tight end Chris Cooley played at Utah State before joining Washington in the NFL.
- Birthplace: Powell
- School: Utah State
- Position: Tight End
- Professional Team: Washington Redskins
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