How Many NFL Players Came from Marshall University? A Look at the Thundering Herd‘s Football Legacy

Marshall University, located in Huntington, West Virginia, has a long and storied football history that has produced numerous NFL players over the decades. Nicknamed the Thundering Herd, Marshall football began in 1895 and was a founding member of the Ohio Valley Conference in 1948. While Marshall has experienced its share of highs and lows on the gridiron, it has still managed to develop top talent that has gone on to illustrious professional careers in the NFL.

Notable NFL Players from Marshall

Randy Moss

Arguably the most famous NFL player to hail from Marshall is star wide receiver Randy Moss. Moss had an incredibly successful college career at Marshall from 1996-1997, setting numerous records including most touchdown receptions in a single season (28 TDs). His stellar play led Marshall to an undefeated season and NCAA Division I-AA National Championship in 1996. Moss was selected in the 1st round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, embarking on a legendary pro career that included 6 Pro Bowls selections and the NFL single-season record for touchdown catches (23 TDs in 2007).

Byron Leftwich

Another standout Marshall alum is quarterback Byron Leftwich, who played for the Thundering Herd from 2000-2002. Leftwich led Marshall to two MAC championships and a Motor City Bowl win and was renowned for his rocket arm and athleticism. He finished 4th in Heisman Trophy voting in 2002 and was selected 7th overall in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Leftwich played 10 seasons in the NFL for four different teams.

Chad Pennington

Chad Pennington was the star quarterback for Marshall leading up to the turn of the century. He led the Herd to near perfection from 1997-1999, losing just one game in that span, while setting school records for career passing yards and touchdowns. Pennington was drafted 18th overall by the New York Jets in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played 11 seasons in the league, mostly with the Jets, making 2 Pro Bowls while known for his accuracy and smart decision making.

John Abraham

Marshall has also produced standout defensive players like John Abraham, a dominant pass rushing defensive end for the Thundering Herd in the late 1990s. Known for his explosiveness off the edge, Abraham became Marshall‘s highest draft pick ever when selected 13th overall by the New York Jets in 2000. He played an impressive 15 NFL seasons for four teams and totaled 133.5 career sacks, including a career-high 16.5 for the Atlanta Falcons in 2008.

Additional Notable Players

Other prominent NFL players from Marshall include linebacker John Spellacy (Pro Bowler), Bob Pruett (two-time Super Bowl champion as player), Carl Lee (four-time All-Pro defensive back), Troy Brown (three-time Super Bowl champion with Patriots), Chris Hanson (punter for 14 NFL seasons), Vinny Curry (defensive end with 33.5 career sacks), and Albert McClellan (linebacker who played nine seasons).

Marshall Quarterbacks Who Reached the NFL

In addition to Leftwich and Pennington, Marshall has developed several other quarterbacks that made NFL rosters throughout the league‘s history. Going back to the early years, quarterback Carl Fodor was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1947 and quarterback Bob Harris played for the Chicago Bears in 1953. More recently, Stan Hill reached the NFL with the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Colts in the late 1960s and Mark Mayfield played briefly for the New York Giants in 1985.

NFL Coaches from Marshall

Not only has Marshall produced top players, but a number of successful NFL coaches honed their skills at Marshall as well. Jack Lengyel was hired as Marshall‘s coach in 1971 after a tragic plane crash killed nearly the entire football team in 1970. His courageous rebuilding of the program was portrayed in the film We Are Marshall. Jim Donnan led Marshall to a 64–21 record from 1990 to 1995 before becoming a college and NFL coach. Kirk Ferentz has been the head coach at Iowa since 1999 and led the Hawkeyes to many bowl games. Bobby Pruett won a national championship at Marshall in the 1990s before joining the Baltimore Ravens staff. Other Marshall coaching alums include Bob Pruett, Frank Loria, and Mike Hamrick.

Recent Marshall Players Drafted into the NFL

The tradition of Marshall players reaching the NFL has continued in recent years. Some recent draftees include:

• Chris Jackson, DB – Drafted by Lions (2020 5th Round)
• Tyler King, WR – Drafted by 49ers (2020 6th Round)
• Omari Cobb, LB – Drafted by Chargers (2020 7th Round)
• Jordan Jeffries, OL – Drafted by Cowboys (2020 7th Round)

Additional recent Marshall alums who were signed as undrafted free agents include Tyre Brady (Jaguars), Kaare Vedvik (Ravens), and Keion Davis (Steelers).

The 1970 Plane Crash Tragedy

One of the darkest days in Marshall football history occurred on November 14, 1970 when a plane carrying coaches, players, and fans crashed while approaching the Huntington airport after a road game. Everyone onboard the flight perished, including 37 members of the Thundering Herd football team, 25 fans/boosters, and 5 crew members – all 75 souls were lost.

The devastating crash was memorialized in the film We Are Marshall. The task of rebuilding the program seemed impossible, but Jack Lengyel answered the call to serve as Marshall‘s coach for the 1971 season. Through determination and resilience, Marshall fielded a ragtag team in 1971 composed of freshmen, walk-ons, and athletes from other sports. They lost their first 12 games before memorably defeating Xavier on Thanksgiving Day near the one-year anniversary of the tragedy.

Marshall‘s NFL Legacy

Despite tragedy and hardship, Marshall has never lost its football winning spirit or legacy of producing top players for the NFL ranks. Since the school‘s founding in 1837, Marshall has seen 39 Thundering Herd alumni reach the NFL, with most coming in recent decades during the program‘s rise as a Division I power. This NFL legacy makes the Marshall name resonate loudly throughout every level of football. Fans will certainly continue to see Marshall players shining each Sunday on the gridiron for NFL teams in the years ahead.