I remember hearing the debate before – did any NFL players go to Marshall University? Well, it turns out that many famous pros did indeed make the pilgrimage to the Thundering Herd. I’m personally a huge football fan, so I was excited to jump into the deep dive and find out the truth behind this rumor.
I started by reading about players such as Chad Pennington, Michael Charles and Byron Leftwich who were all former ESPN All-Americans while playing for the Marshall Herd. Chad Pennington, in particular, was a first-round NFL draft pick after he graduated from Marshall with a degree in business administration and economics.
Then, I found out about other Marshall alums who had gone on to play in the NFL. Some of the most notable ones were Randy Moss, Ahmad Bradshaw, Ahmad Brooks, Vinny Curry, Doug Legursky, and Dennis Weddle. Moss was a marshall standout who had the third-highest all time reception record in the NFL when he retired.
Speaking of monstrous feats, I was in awe to hear that Doug Legursky is the only person in Marshall history to earn selection to the AP All-American First Team!
As for current players, one current star, wide receiver Xavier Gaines, signed with the New Orleans Saints after graduating from Marshall in 2021. On top of that, defensive tackle Benny LeMay is currently playing for the Carolina Panthers and tight end Armani Levias is playing for the New York Giants, further cementing the legacy of Marshall players in the NFL.
It’s amazing the sort of success that Marshall grads have had in the NFL. It really goes to show that hard work and dedication can take you anywhere – even to the highest peak of success that the NFL has to offer.
I then discovered that some NFL players have even gone on to become successful coaches and broadcasters, such as John ‘Grumble’ Madden, Rams broadcaster D’Marco Farr, and former Colts head coach Chuck Pagano.
Then there’s the downright ridiculous numbers that Byron Leftwich put up as a quarterback for Marshall – 9,445 passing yards and 74 touchdowns in three years. Not bad, considering he was drafted 7th overall in 2003.
Finally, no list would be complete without the incredible run that Randy Moss had in the NFL- he finished his career with eight seasons of 1,000+ yards and set countless records, most notably becoming the first player with 100+ receptions in a single season.
Seeing all these incredible successes inspired me to learn more about Marshall University football, and possibly consider it as the place to start my own football journey. Anyone who has made it in the NFL from Marshall is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of the school and its players.