44 Days Away From College Football Kickoff

We are 44 days away from college football kickoff. Today, we have Ernie Davis of Syracuse and A Boomer Sooner Brian “The Boz” Bosworth. More college football history to keep you entertained as we patiently wait for the season to kickoff. Be sure to check back tomorrow for #43 in our countdown to kickoff. Enjoy!

44 Days Away From College Football Kickoff

Historic Heisman

Ernie Davis was one of the most celebrated college football players of his era. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 210 pounds, he led Syracuse to a national championship in 1959. Opposing teams focused their defenses on stopping him. Davis had already been a standout athlete in high school and chose Syracuse to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Jim Brown. He broke all of Brown’s records, rushing for 2,386 yards, gaining 3,306 all-purpose yards, and scoring 220 points with 35 touchdowns. His average of 6.6 yards per carry set a long-standing school record.

Davis became the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy, earning it in 1961 after rushing for 823 yards on 150 carries, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. That season, he scored 15 touchdowns, totaled 94 points, and led Syracuse in pass receiving with 16 catches for 157 yards. “Winning the Heisman Trophy is something you just dream about,” Davis said. “You never think it could happen to you.” He was also named an All-American as a senior.

Davis signed with the Cleveland Browns for what was then a huge salary of $65,000 per year. Just before the 1962 All-Star game, he was diagnosed with leukemia. He passed away before playing his first professional game. “Some people say I’m unlucky,” Davis said. “I don’t believe it…When I look back, I can’t call myself unlucky.”

Another Great #44, Brian “the Boz” Bosworth, Oklahoma

Brian Bosworth is the only player to win the Butkus Award twice, in 1985 and 1986, as the nation’s top linebacker. During his All-America career at Oklahoma, he made a lasting impact on college football. Known as “The Boz,” he is now the 21st Sooner to join the College Football Hall of Fame.

Bosworth was a First Team All-American in both 1985 and 1986. He helped lead Oklahoma to the 1985 National Championship, making 13 solo tackles against Penn State in the Orange Bowl. Under coach Barry Switzer, he guided the Sooners to three straight Orange Bowl games, three Big Eight Conference titles, and a 31-4-1 record. Bosworth, a three-time all-conference pick, set a school record with 22 tackles in a game against Miami in 1986 and finished fourth in that year’s Heisman Trophy voting. He led Oklahoma in tackles each season and ended his college career with 395 tackles, playing alongside Hall of Famers Tony Casillas and Keith Jackson.

Bosworth also stood out off the field. He graduated early with a degree in communications and made the Academic All-Conference team every season. In 1986, he was named an Academic All-American.

Bosworth was picked by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1987 NFL Supplemental Draft and played three seasons with the team. After retiring, he worked in acting and real estate. He also started a charity called Boz’s Kids to help underprivileged children in Oklahoma. His Hall of Fame career was featured in ESPN Films’ 30 For 30: “Brian And The Boz.”

Editor’s Note: The countdown to college football kickoff has been a series on the Last Word on College Football social media platforms for the past 9 years. They consisted of a photo and a small blurb for each player, with the jersey corresponding to the number of days until kickoff. The rank of the players is sourced from articles by Bleacher Report, Fox Sports, and The Athletic. There are also some favorite players of the Last Word on College Football writers. Their bios are sourced from multiple online sources, including but not limited to the College Football Hall of Fame, their Heisman profiles, and school websites.

Main Photo: Syracuse University