Celebrities are a huge part of our culture in the United States. They are easily idolized and obsessed over. This article may not help, because hearing that a celebrity played a college sport just makes me like them even more. Here is a list of 13 celebrities that you probably didn't know played a college sport!
1. Tom Selleck
Actor Tom Selleck played college basketball at the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1960s. He is known for his roles in TV shows like “Magnum, P.I.” and films like “Three Men and a Baby.”
2. Terry Crews
Actor Terry Crews played college football at Western Michigan University in the late 1980s. He has appeared in films such as “White Chicks,” “The Expendables” franchise, and the TV series “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”
3. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne Johnson played college football for the University of Miami in the early 1990s. He has become one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, starring in movies such as “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” “Fast & Furious” franchise, and “San Andreas.”
4. Ed O'Neill
Actor Ed O'Neill played college football at Ohio University in the 1960s. He is best known for his roles as Al Bundy in the TV series “Married… with Children” and Jay Pritchett in “Modern Family.”
5. Jason Statham
Actor Jason Statham is from England, and they don't have the same college sports setup that we do, but Statham was a member of the British national diving team and competed in the 1990 Commonwealth Games. He is known for his action roles in films like the “Transporter” series, “The
6. Sylvester Stallone
Actor Sylvester Stallone participated in college-level football while attending the University of Miami in the 1960s. He gained fame for his roles in the “Rocky” and “Rambo” franchises. In fact, Stallone wrote the screenplay for Rocky in only three and a half days.
7. Channing Tatum
Actor Channing Tatum played college football at Glenville State University in West Virginia. He was only there for a short time before he dropped out. He is known for his roles in films like “Magic Mike,” “21 Jump Street,” and “Step Up.”
8. Jason Sudeikis
Actor Jason Sudeikis received a basketball scholarship at Fort Scott Community College. He is known for his work on “Saturday Night Live” and has starred in films like “Horrible Bosses” and the TV series “Ted Lasso.”
9. Mahershala Ali
The Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali played college basketball in 1996 at St. Mary's College in California. He has stared in films “Moonlight” and “Green Book.”
10. 2 Chainz (Tauheed Epps)
Rapper 2 Chainz played one season of basketball at Alabama State University in 1996. His songs “Givin' Up, ‘We Own It,” and “It's a Vibe” have made him one of the top celebrities in the rap industry.
11. Robin Roberts
Newscaster Robin Roberts played college basketball at Southeastern Louisiana University. She was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. Robin Roberts is an anchor on “Good Morning America.”
12. Ellie Kemper
Actor Ellie Kemper played field hockey at Princeton University. Her freshman year, the team came second in the NCAA championship. Kemper is known for acting on films such as “Bridesmaids” and “21 Jump Street” and TV shows like “The Office” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.”
13. Jon Stewart
Comedian Jon Stewart played college soccer at The College of William & Mary in 1980. He was a regular starter by his senior year. Stewart is best known for hosting “The Daily Show” until 2015.
Have an idea for a story or a question you need answered? Want to set up an interview with us? Email us at [email protected]
* Originally published on June 28, 2023, by Bella Nevin
