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| Volume 11, No. 49 |
September 1-7, 2010 |
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| | Kappy’s corner | | By Steve Kaplowitz | | 
On Saturday, the best college football players from Texas and the rest of the country will battle in the Sun Bowl. The Fourth Annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Texas vs. the Nation All Star Challenge will feature some of the least-known college football players, but the past three games have already produced some NFL standouts. Since its inception in 2007, more than 50 former players from the Texas vs. the Nation game have been on NFL rosters. Here are five alumni (four of them played for small colleges) who have each made a big impact in the pros.
Tim Hightower – Running Back – University of Richmond (2008)
Not many NFL stars have been produced from Richmond, but Hightower broke every school record and finished with 3,712 rushing yards and 39 total touchdowns. He made an impression as a rookie with the Arizona Cardinals in 2008. He scored 10 rushing touchdowns and helped the Cardinals advance to Super Bowl XLIII. He started every game in 2009 and rushed for 598 yards and eight touchdowns.
Pierre Garcon – Wide Receiver – Mount Union College (2008)
In three seasons at Mount Union, Garcon scored 60 receiving touchdowns, ranking second in NCAA Division III history. After being drafted in the sixth round by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2008 NFL Draft, Garcon has become one of Payton Manning’s favorite targets. He has started 13 games this regular season, with 765 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Garcon’s biggest game of his career was against the New York Jets in the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 24. He caught 11 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. Garcon will try to duplicate his success on Sunday in Miami when he plays in Super Bowl XLIV.
Garrett Hartley – Kicker – Oklahoma (2008)
Hartley signed a free-agent contract with the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 29, 2008, and had the finest season by a rookie kicker in team history. He made all 13 field goal attempts and connected on all 28 extra points. After being suspended at the start of the 2009 season for testing positive for a banned stimulant, Hartley then injured his left ankle and later his right hip, delaying his return until the 13th week. Since then, he’s made 11 of 13 field goals, and kicked a 40-yard field goal in the NFC Championship game to send the Saints to the Super Bowl.
Bernard Scott – Running Back – Abilene Christian (2009)
The sixth-round draft choice made a late impression with the Cincinnati Bengals. Scott was moved into the lead kickoff return man and responded with a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Scott will have a chance to back-up Cedric Benson at running back and continue to return kicks for the Bengals in 2010.
Johnny Knox – Wide Receiver – Abilene Christian (2009)
Knox, a college teammate of Scott, quickly became a Chicago Bears rookie sensation. He finished fourth on the team with 527 yards, and his five touchdown catches was second-best among Chicago receivers. Knox was added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster last Monday after fellow rookie Percy Harvin of the Minnesota Vikings pulled out of the game due to an injury. The roster move made Knox the first Texas versus the Nation alumnus to play in the Pro Bowl. Knox finished the game with 103 yards on four kickoff returns.
Steve Kaplowitz is a local El Paso sports commentator. In addition to Kappy’s Corner, Steve hosts KROD 600 AM’s “Sportstalk” weekday afternoons from 4 - 7 p.m. and appears on local TV stations. You can reach Steve at skaplowitz@krod.com.
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