5 Best WWE Stars Who Played College Football
By Mike Janela
4. Roman Reigns, Georgia Tech
While Dwayne Johnson gets much more publicity for his playing career, it’s actually The Rock’s cousin who had a much more successful stint in the ACC.
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Roman Reigns – known then as Joseph Anoa’i – started for three years as a Georgia Tech defensive lineman, unlike his more famous relative, who made only one career start for Miami.
Reigns rose to achieve first-team All-ACC his senior year, playing at defensive tackle for one of the nation’s stingiest defenses in 2006. The Yellow Jackets finished 9th in the country in pass efficiency and 20th in rushing defense that season with Reigns anchoring the line.
Reigns finished his career with 29.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. He was also named team captain his senior year, playing alongside future NFL receiving great Calvin Johnson. But Reigns couldn’t stick as a pro football player, lasting one season in the CFL.
Instead, he’s been hotshotted to the top of the current WWE scene, whether you like him or not. Since debuting with The Shield in 2012, Reigns has enjoyed three world title reigns, a Royal Rumble victory, a tag team title, seven Slammy awards, and is the current United States Champion on WWE’s flagship RAW brand.