Top 5 Athletes Who Rose to Fame While Still in College

Most elite athletes become famous for their skills long before they hit the professional limelight. For some, their fame starts on their college campus and extends to the rest of the nation as they continue their studies and rise to fame in their respective sports. Here are five athletes whose college days put them on the map.

1. Tim Tebow – Football, University of Florida

Tim Tebow was a football star for the University of Florida, known for his intense play style and leadership. As a sophomore, he was the Heisman Trophy winner in 2007 and led the Gators to two national championships. His promise speech in the 2008 National Championship Game, in which he guaranteed victory over the Oklahoma Sooners, showed his leadership and drive.

2. Jackie Joyner-Kersee – Track and Field, UCLA

One can see in the record books that Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who won three gold and one bronze Olympic medals, was setting collegiate records at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) before her Olympic days. If you want to study in this city as a prominent Jackie Joyner-Kersee did, here are the best Colleges in Los Angeles. She captained the women’s basketball team while competing in track and field, winning the NCAA heptathlon twice. The athletic diversity and dominance of this early step to Olympic gold presaged the multi-event success that would win her six Olympic medals and gain her a spot in the US Track and Field Hall of Fame.

3. Michael Jordan – Basketball, University of North Carolina

Jordan’s stardom began at UNC, where he sank the game-winning shot against Georgetown in the 1982 NCAA Championship game. During his time with the Tar Heels, Jordan won the NCAA’s Player of the Year award, setting the stage for his six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and his five Most Valuable Player awards.

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4. Lisa Leslie – Basketball, University of Southern California

Lisa Leslie began her reconfiguration of women’s basketball in college at the University of Southern California (USC), where she was a three-time All-American. She was the first professional player to dunk in a WNBA game. Still, by the time Lisa arrived in the league, she had already shown just how far women’s hoops could go in college, where she set, among others, scoring records for USC – a precursor to the four Olympic gold medals and two WNBA championships she would earn in the pros.

5. Peyton Manning – Football, University of Tennessee

Long before he became a famous NFL quarterback, Peyton Manning was building his reputation as a great college football player at the University of Tennessee. In particular, several attributes of his play made him stand out both as a potential NFL player and as a crowd favorite:

• Records-breaking performances: Manning smashed school records for passing and displayed technical excellence from a young age.
• Superb W/L ratio: He won 39 out of 45 games as the starting quarterback.
• Fan favorite: His achievements and leadership on the field made him a Tennessee fan and a college football legend. 
• Leadership skills: He had exhibited leadership abilities in college, which was an enormous advantage in his NFL rookie year, during which he won two Super Bowls.

Manning’s stellar college career foreshadowed a professional success that reflected his leadership and mastery of the game from the earliest years. 

From Campus Heroes to National Icons

These athletes are a testament to the professional fame that many people get through college sports. By establishing themselves at the college level, they were able to launch professional careers that would propel them to success and influence their sports for years to come. Each of these athletes’ college experience was an opportunity to grow and improve, to set a standard that would become a benchmark for their careers. On the basketball court, the football field, and the track, their collegiate days were a stepping stone to long careers in sports.