Today means that we are a day closer to college football and the number 88 packs a load of talent from the wide receiver position.
The first route runner we’re going to highlight is one of my favorite players of all time, Randy Gene Moss. Moss was originally committed to play at his dream school, Notre Dame but after a racially charged fight occurred at school that involved Moss, the Irish pulled their offer.
Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz advised Moss to goto Florida State because coach Bobby Bowden handled troubled players very well. Mosses stint at FSU was short lived when he was popped for smoking weed. The seminoles dismissed Moss and he ended up going to Marshall.
Moss demolished the FCS level his first year at Marshall. He led the Herd to the D1-AA National Title as he caught 78 passes for 1,709 yards and 28 touchdowns, for of them coming in the National Championship.
His next and final season at Marshall was when they were bumped up to D1-A and a new tandem was born. Chad Pennington throwing to Randy Moss led to bigger numbers being put up. That year Moss reeled in 96 passes going for 1,820 yards and 26 touchdowns.
1997 really was the Year of Randy. He won the Biletnikoff Award, was the MAC Player of the Year, MAC Offensive Player of the Year, All American, and a Heisman Finalist.
At the professional level, I whole heartedly believe that Moss is the second greatest receiver to ever catch a pass but now, we get to highlight the guy that I think is the greatest.
Jerry Rice played at a small school much like Moss. He attended Mississippi Valley State University from 1981-1984 and earned the nickname “World” due to his ability to catch any ball thrown in his general direction.
Rice really broke out his sophomore season with quarterback Willie Totten when he caught 66 passes for 1,133 yards and 7 touchdowns. The next season saw no decline from Rice as he had a record breaking junior year. He reeled in 102 passes for 1,450 yards and even broke the single game reception record with 24.
Jerry Rice really just kept getting better season after season in college. His senior year he caught 112 balls going for 1,845 yards and 27 touchdowns which was a record later broken by Randy Moss who caught 28.
In 1983 and 1984 Rice was named a D1-AA All American and even held the career receiving touchdown record with 50 which was later broken by New Hampshires David Ball who snagged 51.
I really don’t know how we’ll top this tomorrow but I will try, it won’t be easy but I will try.