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List of college QBs who became RBs in the NFL
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 11:20 am
by Bryan
College QBs becoming NFL RBs seemed to be a fairly regular thing in the 60's and 70's, but even after college teams started exclusively using the wishbone, I can't think of any wishbone QBs who became NFL RBs. They were usually made DBs or WRs. I think Michael Robinson of Penn State was a RB with the Niners, and he is the last guy I remember who made the college QB/NFL RB transition.
Tom Matte, Dan Reeves, Sam Havrilak, Bobby Anderson, Michael Robinson...how many more can be added to the list?
Re: List of college QBs who became RBs in the NFL
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 12:07 pm
by Gary Najman
Denard Robinson, RB for Jacksonille, was the starting QB or the Mchigan Wolverines for two seasons.
Re: List of college QBs who became RBs in the NFL
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 1:07 pm
by Evan
Andy Johnson of the Patriots was a QB at Georgia, although he had more rushing attempts than passing attempts in college. He threw 4 TD passes for the Pats in 1981.
Paul Hornung was considered a QB at Notre Dame, was he not?
George Amundson was 7th in the Heisman as a QB at Iowa State in 1972, then played RB for the Oilers for a few years.
Ed Podolak was a QB for Iowa for two years, then more or less switched to RB his last year, played RB for KC although he wore a QB's number and his 1978 Topps card showed him about to throw a pass. So a bit schizophrenic, but a fun player to watch!
Sherman Smith was a QB at Miami of Ohio, running a lot more than he threw. He was Seattle's first leading rusher as a RB in 1976.
Re: List of college QBs who became RBs in the NFL
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 1:08 pm
by conace21
Brian Mitchell and Paul Hornung were both college QB's.
Re: List of college QBs who became RBs in the NFL
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 1:14 pm
by Reaser
Jerick McKinnon played QB (and RB) in college.
Sherman Smith was of course QB at Miami (OH).
Re: List of college QBs who became RBs in the NFL
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 4:06 pm
by conace21
Billy Kilmer started his career primarily as RB. He ran for 10 TDs as a rookie (some of that was as a shotgun QB) and caught 27 passes the next two seasons he played, including one where he fumbled, leading to Jim Marshall 's famous wrong way run.
Re: List of college QBs who became RBs in the NFL
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 5:54 pm
by Gary Najman
There have been many QBs who moved to WR (many of them while still in college): Antwaan Randle El, Hines Ward, Cris Collinsworth, Jim Jensen, Matt Jones, Brad Smith, Freddie Solomon, Gene Washingon and Marlin Briscoe.
Re: List of college QBs who became RBs in the NFL
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 6:54 pm
by BD Sullivan
Teo wrote:There have been many QBs who moved to WR (many of them while still in college): Antwaan Randle El, Hines Ward, Cris Collinsworth, Jim Jensen, Matt Jones, Brad Smith, Freddie Solomon, Gene Washingon and Marlin Briscoe.
Even though his WR experiences have been very brief, Josh Cribbs was a QB at Kent State.
Re: List of college QBs who became RBs in the NFL
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 7:09 pm
by Saban1
Leroy Kelly was a quarterback at Morgan State.
Re: List of college QBs who became RBs in the NFL
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 8:46 am
by conace21
Saban wrote:Leroy Kelly was a quarterback at Morgan State.
I think Kelly and Hornung are the only HOF RB's to play QB in college. Frank Gifford was recruited to USC as a QB, and he threw 60 passes his senior year, but I believe he was still primarily a RB.
Julian Edelman is another QB turned receiver. Kordell Stewart was primarily a WR his first two seasons before becoming Pittsburgh's starting QB.