30 College Football Stars Who Struggled in the NFL

Award-winning All-American college football play does not always translate to a successful NFL career. Many top college picks in the NFL draft are total busts. Here are 30 college football stars who struggled in the NFL.

30. Alex Smith: QB

Alex Smith played college football for the Utah Utes, earning first-team All-American honors. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft, selected by the 49ers, setting high expectations. As a rookie, Smith tossed only one touchdown and 11 interceptions. As a starter with the 49ers, he had a 16-24 record and threw more picks (53) than touchdowns (51). He played well with the Kansas City Chiefs, but he never won a Super Bowl.

29. JaMarcus Russell: QB

With LSU, Russell won the Manning Award and the Sugar Bowl MVP. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft by the Raiders. His three-season NFL career and questionable work ethic make him one of the NFL’s biggest draft busts. Russell started only 25 games, and went 7-18, with 4,803 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and twenty-three interceptions.

28. J.J. Stokes: WR

At UCLA, Stokes was a Heisman candidate, All-American, and Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. Stokes was selected 10th overall in the 1995 draft by the 49ers. He was tapped to succeed the aging Jerry Rice. But in eight years with the 49ers, Stokes averaged only 40 catches per season. He performed poorly for Jacksonville, then New England, and retired.

27. Joey Harrington, QB

At Oregon, Harrington earned Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. He was the third overall pick in the 2002 draft by the Lions. Harrington only won 33% of his starts and posted a 79-85 touchdown-to-interception ratio. After four seasons, he played slightly better seasons for the Dolphins and Falcons, then was signed by the Saints but did not play.

26. Ryan Leaf: QB

Ryan Leaf is considered the biggest bust in NFL history. At Washington State, he threw a then-Pac-10 record 33 TDs and was a Heisman finalist. He was drafted second overall in 1998 by the Chargers. In four years, Leaf had 21 starts and a 4-17 record. He only tallied 3,666 passing yards for 14 TDs and 36 interceptions.

25. Terry Hanratty: QB

Twice All-American and Heisman Trophy candidate at Notre Dame, Hanratty was the 30th pick in the second round of the 1969 draft. Hanratty got the starting QB job. However, despite numerous opportunities, he lost it to 1970’s No. 1 overall pick, Terry Bradshaw. Hanratty’s career stats in 50 games are 2,510 passing yards, for 24 touchdowns and 35 interceptions.

24. Ken MacAfee: TE

MacAfee is one of the greatest tight ends in college football history. The Hall of Famer remains the only TE to win the Walter Camp Award. He finished third in the 1977 Heisman voting. He was the seventh overall pick in the 1978 draft by the 49ers. After two mediocre seasons, Walsh asked him to play guard. MacAfee retired.

23. Eric Curry: DE

Curry was an All-American and a key player in Alabama’s No. 1 rated defense, and UPI’s 1992 Lineman of the Year. He was the sixth overall pick by the Buccaneers. But his NFL career was a total bust. In five seasons with the Bucs, Curry recorded only 10 sacks. He then spent two underperforming seasons with the Jaguars.

22. Walt Patulski: DE

At Notre Dame, Patulski won the Lombardi Award and was named to Notre Dame’s All-Century team. Patulski was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1972 draft by the Bills. He led the team in sacks in his rookie year. But things went downhill. He played a year for the Cardinals. Back surgery ended his career while with the Bears.

21. Trev Alberts: LB

At Nebraska, Alberts won the Dick Butkus Award and Jack Lambert Trophy. He’s in the College football Hall of Fame. Alberts was the fifth overall pick in the 1994 draft by the Colts. His NFL career was a bust, plagued by injuries and limited production. He only played three partial seasons, with only four quarterback sacks and one interception.

20. Steve Spurrier: QB

Spurrier won the Heisman with the Florida Gators. He was the third overall pick in the 1967 NFL/AFL draft by the 49ers. San Francisco hoped to replace aging John Brodie in “four or five years.” Spurrier had few opportunities to play and did not play well. He went 13-24-1 in the NFL, with three interceptions for every two touchdowns he threw.

19. Desmond Howard: WR

Howard set or tied five NCAA records at Michigan, and twelve school records. He won the Heisman Trophy. He was drafted fourth overall in 1992 by the Redskins. As a receiver, Howard caught only 123 passes in 12 seasons. However, he was incredible returner, with eight scores. He played in the 2000 Pro bowl, and won Super Bowl XXXI MVP.

18. David Klingler: QB

Klingler set numerous college passing records for Houston and still ranks in the FBS top ten for career touchdown passes and yards. He was selected sixth overall in the 1992 draft by the Bengals. Klingler made 24 starts, losing 20 of them. He played backup in Oakland for two seasons, then signed with the Packers but was released before playing.

17. Blair Thomas: RB

At Penn State, Thomas broke nearly every school record for yardage. He was the second overall pick in the 1990 draft by the Jets. In four years, he only rushed for 2001 yards, scoring just five touchdowns. The next three seasons, Thomas played in few games for the Cowboys, Patriots, and Panthers, never gaining more than 90 total season yards.

16. Curtis Enis: RB

An All-American and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year at Penn State, Enis was the fifth overall draft pick in 1998 by the Bears. Enis spent three seasons with Chicago, where he never broke the 100-yard mark. He signed with the Browns in 2001, but a bad knee forced him into retirement at age 24.

15. Andre Ware: QB

Andre Ware won the Heisman Trophy in 1989 at the University of Houston, where he set 26 single-season passing records. He bypassed his senior year, and declared for the NFL draft, and was selected seventh overall in 1990 by the Lions. He only started six times, played 14 games in four years, and was eventually released.

14. Tony Mandarich: OT

At Michigan State, Tony Mandarich won a pair of Big Ten Lineman of the Year awards and was an All-American. Considered over-hyped player, the media dubbed him “The Incredible Bulk.” Mandarich was selected second overall in the 1989 NFL draft by the Packers. He never panned out in the NFL and was out in just three years.

13. Chuck Long: QB

At Iowa, Long held every passing record except one. He had the best completion percentage of any college quarterback of all time attempting more than 1,000 passes. Long was drafted 12th overall by the Lions in 1986. He lost his two starts and led in interceptions in 1987. After the 1988 season, Long never started again. He retired at 28.

12. Alonzo Highsmith: RB

Alonzo Highsmith had the second-highest rushing yards in the University of Miami’s history (1,914), and tied for the most touchdowns (25). He was selected third overall in the 1987 draft by the Oilers. In six seasons with three NFL teams, Highsmith never gained more than 80 yards in a game and scored a career total of only seven touchdowns.

11. Andre Wadsworth: DE

At Florida State, Wadsworth was a four-time All-ACC and the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. He was drafted third overall in 1998 by the Cardinals. Although Wadsworth had decent stats playing all of his rookie year, injuries plagued his next two seasons. He was released after three years and three surgeries, although he almost returned in 2007.

10. Todd Blackledge: QB

Blackledge had a 31-5 record as a starter at Penn State and won a national championship. He was selected seventh overall in the 1983 draft by the Chiefs. In 29 NFL starts, he completed only 48% of his passes and tossed 38 interceptions. Blackledge played backup QB in Pittsburgh in his final two seasons, going 2-3 in games he started.

9. Rick Mirer: QB

Out of Notre Dame, Mirer was hyped as the next Joe Montana. He had an incredible 29-7-1 record as a starter and three bowl victories. Mirer was the second overall pick in the 1993 draft by the Seahawks. But in the NFL, his four-year record with Seattle as a starter was 20-31, with 76 interceptions and only 50 touchdowns.

8. Steve Emtman: DT

Emtman finished fourth on the ballot for the Heisman Trophy. Emtman was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 draft by the Colts. But he blew out his knee in his ninth game as a rookie. He was on the injured reserve list and all of his three seasons with the Colts. He retired after six seasons.

7. Peter Warrick: WR

Peter Warrick was projected as first overall but was selected fourth in the 2000 draft by the Bengals. At Florida State, Warrick was a 2x All-American wide receiver and punt returner, and set a school record of 32 touchdown catches. Warrick failed to deliver impressive numbers in the NFL, with low yardage, and only 18 touchdown catches in six seasons.

6. Ki-Jana Carter: RB

Ki-Jana Carter was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1995 by the Bengals. The Penn State All-American set a school record with 23 touchdowns. During his first preseason game, he suffered a knee injury, causing him to miss most of his first five seasons. He struggled with three more teams, ending a 7-year career with only 1,144 rushing yards.

5. Brian Bosworth: LB

Bosworth remains the only player to win the Butkus Award twice. He was a 2x unanimous All-American at Oklahoma. Bosworth was drafted first in the supplemental draft by the Seahawks in 1987. He signed the then-largest NFL rookie contract and Seattle’s biggest-ever contract. Bosworth’s NFL career lasted only three years due to injury and delivering few memorable plays.

4. Matt Leinart: QB

The Heisman Trophy-winning QB that led USC to an undefeated season was the 10th overall pick in 2006, taken by the Cardinals. Leinart had four years to nab the Cardinals’ starting job, failed, and was cut. He was traded to the Texans, playing only two games over two years. Then he went to the Raiders and only played two games.

3. Art Schlichter: QB

Art Schlichter was the fourth selection in the first round of the 1982 NFL draft, taken by the Colts. Schlichter was a four-year starter at Ohio State. While in college, Schlichter developed a gambling addiction and frequently stole money from others. He wound up with a 0-6 NFL career record, followed by a felony fraud arrest.

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2. Lawrence Phillips: RB

Lawrence Phillips was the premier collegiate running back in 1994, rushing for 1722 yards. He was a Heisman favorite before the team suspended him for an alleged domestic assault. He was drafted sixth overall by the Rams in 1996. His NFL career lasted only three seasons between 1996-1999. Phillips later had a string of legal troubles and died in prison.

1. Archie Griffin: RB

Archie Griffin is the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in NCAA history and is in the College Football Hall of Fame. He was the 24th overall pick in 1976, selected by the Bengals. But the undersized running back flopped in the NFL. In seven seasons, he only scored seven touchdowns and rushed for 2,808 yards, averaging 28 yards per game.