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USA250: The 10 greatest college athletes from New Hampshire ranked
USA250: The 10 greatest college athletes from New Hampshire ranked
You need to go way, way back to find some of the best college athletes to play in New Hampshire.
A handful of names on our list played before the 1960s, including a pair from the 1930s. And all but one former athlete played at either Dartmouth or the University of New Hampshire.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe exception is former Plymouth State star Joe Dudek, who remains one of the most decorated non-Division I football players in NCAA history.
Here's a look at the top 10 greatest college athletes to ever play in the state of New Hampshire, part of USA TODAY Sports' USA 250 initiative:
Reggie Williams, Dartmouth
Considered the top male athlete in school history, Williams was a three-time All-Ivy League linebacker who left with the program’s career record for solo tackles (243) and added four interceptions. He helped the Big Green to Ivy League titles in 1972 and 1973 and was a second-team All-American in his senior season in 1975. He exploits didn't end on the gridiron. Wrestling as a heavyweight, he won the Ivy League in 1975 and was all-Ivy League in 1976. The longtime NFL starter for the Cincinnati Bengals was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.
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A future New York Yankee third baseman who won multiple World Series alongside Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and more, Rolfe was a two-time All-America in baseball as the cleanup hitter for the Big Green. He also played basketball and football. The school’s baseball field is named in Rolfe’s honor.
Joe Dudek, Plymouth State
Dudek’s ninth-place finish in the 1985 Heisman voting, the highest finish ever for a player outside of Division I. (Sports Illustrated put him on the cover as their Heisman pick that year.) Playing at the Division III level, he was a four-time All-America pick who set NCAA record for most rushing touchdowns (76) and most 100-yard games (30) while running for 5,570 yards.
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(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
Jerry Azumah, New Hampshire
Azumah is the most prolific player in New Hampshire football history after playing for four years under coach Chip Kelly. The Walter Payton winner as the top offensive player in the Championship Subdivision in 1998, he ran for 2,195 yards and 22 touchdowns in that senior season. Azumah also holds the school's single-game (329 yards) and career rushing marks (6,193 yards) and the record for career touchdowns (60).
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No football player in Dartmouth’s history has earned more national distinction than MacLeod. He was a 1937 All-America pick and earned consensus All-America honors in 1938, when he finished fourth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. He averaged nearly six yards per carry in his college career and also played for the school's men's basketball team.
Rudy LaRusso, Dartmouth
LaRusso is one of the top basketball players in Ivy League history. He was a two-time all-league and All-America pick who led Dartmouth to Ivy titles and the NCAA tournament in 1958 and 1958. He finished with a record 1,239 and set the single-season mark with 503 rebounds in 1958.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBefore replacing Dan Marino with the Miami Dolphins, Fielder etched his name into the school and Ivy League record books by setting what were league records for touchdowns (58), passing yards (6,684) and total offense (7,24 yards) from 1990-94.
Gail Koziara, Dartmouth
A 6-foot-2 center, Koziara led the school's women's basketball team in team in scoring three years in a row and left as the all-time leader in points (1,933) and rebounds (1,635) and scoring average (21.7). She was named the Ivy League Player of the Year three years in a row.
Jason Krog, New Hampshire
Krog’s name is all over the UNH hockey record book. The Hobey Baker winner in 1999 as the nation’s best player, he is the school’s leader in career assists (144), ranks fourth in goals (94), second in single-season assists (51) and third in single-season points (85).
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRicky Santos, New Hampshire
Santos took home the Walter Payton in 2006. A four-year starter at quarterback, he was 37-14 under center and threw for 13,212 yards and 123 touchdowns, leading the Wildcats to four consecutive Championship Subdivision playoff appearances. Both career marks ranked third in NCAA history at the time.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA250: The 10 greatest college athletes from New Hampshire ranked