We are 58 days away from college football kickoff. Happy Friday Eve. Today, we have Florida State’s Peter Boulware and Michigan State’s Dan Currie. Again, two more great athletes for our countdown to kickoff. Be sure to check back tomorrow for #57 in our countdown. Enjoy.
Peter Boulware (58) Days Away From College Football Kickoff
Sack Master
Peter Boulware received a scholarship to attend Florida State University. He played for coach Bobby Bowden‘s Seminoles from 1993 to 1996.
In 1994, his first year playing, he had 37 tackles and five sacks. One of his sacks was against Florida Gators quarterback Danny Wuerffel.
In Boulware’s sophomore season, he led the ACC with 10 sacks despite starting only two of 11 games. Boulware was also named honorable mention All-ACC.
In his junior year, Boulware had a standout season. He set a school record with 19 sacks, forced seven fumbles, and recovered three. His 19 sacks were the most in the nation that year. Boulware earned first-team All-American honors and was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Football News also recognized him as the National Defensive Player of the Year. After this season, Boulware chose to enter the 1997 NFL draft. He graduated from Florida State on April 26, 1997, with a degree in management information systems.
Boulware finished his college career on a high note when the Baltimore Ravens selected him with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft.
Since his days at Florida State, Boulware has relied on prayer and hard work. In his first season with the Baltimore Ravens, he earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and was named to the All-Rookie Team. Over seven seasons, he made three Pro Bowl appearances and won a Super Bowl ring in 2001.
Another Great # 58, Dapper Dan Currie, Michigan State
Dan Currie earned varsity letters for the Spartans from 1955 to 1957. He started on the offensive line for three years, playing guard as a sophomore and junior before moving to center in his senior year.
In his first year as a letterwinner, Currie helped the Spartans win the 1956 Rose Bowl against UCLA. MSU finished the season 9-1 and ranked No. 2 in the national polls (AP, UPI), and was named National Champion by Boand. Currie was one of four sophomores to start in the Rose Bowl, playing 56 minutes—more than any other Spartan—and made an interception.
As a junior in 1956, Currie was named second-team All-Big Ten as a guard. That season, the Spartans finished with a 7-2 record and were ranked No. 9 by AP and No. 10 by UPI.
After earning All-America honors as a senior, Currie played in the North-South All-Star Game and the College All-Star Game. On August 15, 1958, in Chicago, the college all-stars beat the 1957 NFL champion Detroit Lions, 35-19.
Currie was picked third overall by Green Bay in the first round of the 1958 NFL Draft. He was named first-team NFL All-Pro at linebacker in 1961, 1962, and 1963. During his seven years with the Packers, from 1958 to 1964, he helped the team win NFL Championships in 1961 and 1962 under coach Vince Lombardi. He also played in the Pro Bowl in 1960.
Currie returned an interception 30 yards in the 1962 NFL Championship Game, helping the Packers beat the New York Giants 16-7 at Yankee Stadium. He also started at linebacker in Green Bay’s 37-0 win over the Giants in the 1961 NFL Championship Game.
Currie ended his nine-year pro career playing for the Los Angeles Rams from 1965 to 1966.
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: Florida State University
