Every year, college sports churn out the next “can’t-miss” prospects, destined for Hall of Fame greatness. And every year, some of those prospects, well… miss. Big time.
Whether due to injuries, lack of talent translation, or just plain bad luck, these once-unstoppable college stars found out the hard way that the pros are a different beast. Let’s take a look at 15 highly hyped college athletes who crashed and burned in the big leagues.
1. JaMarcus Russell (LSU – NFL)
The king of all draft busts. Russell had a cannon for an arm at LSU, leading the Raiders to take him No. 1 overall in 2007. He responded by showing up overweight, reportedly drinking “purple drank,” and refusing to study film. Three years later, he was out of the league.
2. Greg Oden (Ohio State – NBA)
Oden was supposed to be the next dominant big man. Instead, his knees had the structural integrity of a soggy cardboard box. While Kevin Durant (picked No. 2 in the same draft) became a generational superstar, Oden’s NBA career never got off the ground.
3. Brian Bosworth (Oklahoma – NFL)
“The Boz” had a legendary college career, a massive personality, and the swagger to match. But when Bo Jackson trucked him into the shadow realm on national TV, Bosworth’s NFL career never recovered. A shoulder injury finished him off after just two seasons.
4. Adam Morrison (Gonzaga – NBA)
Morrison had the shaggy hair, the scoring touch, and the Larry Bird comparisons. What he didn’t have? NBA-level athleticism. His career highlight was riding the Lakers’ bench to two championships.
5. Matt Leinart (USC – NFL)
Leinart dominated at USC, winning a Heisman Trophy and making college defenses look foolish. Then he got to the NFL and, well, turns out he enjoyed being a backup way more than actually playing.
6. Darko Miličić (Serbia – NBA)
Alright, he’s not a college player, but he fits here too well. Taken No. 2 overall in 2003, ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade, Darko was supposed to be Detroit’s next big thing. Instead, he was a human victory cigar and became a kickboxer after retiring.
7. Mark Appel (Stanford – MLB)
Drafted No. 1 overall by the Astros in 2013, Appel never even made it to the majors. He stepped away from baseball in 2018, making him one of the biggest draft busts in MLB history. He did, however, make a surprise return in 2022, so at least he didn’t totally vanish.
8. Freddie Adu (U.S. Soccer – MLS/Europe)
Adu was hyped as the “American Pelé” when he signed a professional contract at age 14. Instead, he bounced around a dozen clubs across multiple continents and never came close to fulfilling that potential.
9. Tebowmania (Florida – NFL)
Tim Tebow was a college football god, winning a Heisman and two national titles at Florida. But in the NFL, his throwing mechanics were so bad he was quickly out of the league (besides one magical Broncos playoff run). He even tried baseball and broadcasting, but neither stuck.
10. Anthony Bennett (UNLV – NBA)
The No. 1 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Bennett averaged 4.4 points per game in his career. That’s it. That’s the whole story.
11. Sam Bowie (Kentucky – NBA)
Bowie wasn’t bad, but he was the guy drafted before Michael Jordan. His injuries and underwhelming career made him a forever footnote in NBA history.
12. Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M – NFL)
“Johnny Football” was a human highlight reel in college. In the NFL? He was more famous for partying than playing. He flamed out in just two seasons and has since admitted he barely prepared for games.
13. Todd Marinovich (USC – NFL)
Billed as the “test-tube quarterback,” Marinovich was raised from birth to play football. His NFL career lasted just two years before drugs derailed everything. Turns out, forced greatness doesn’t always translate to actual greatness.
Related: These 10 College Football Coaches Aren’t as Great as You Think
14. Josh Rosen (UCLA – NFL)
Rosen famously said there were “nine mistakes” made before him in the 2018 NFL Draft. Fast-forward a few years, and it turns out he was the mistake. He never stuck with a team and has been bouncing around as a backup ever since.
Related: Ranking the 15 Best College Football QBs of The Last 20 Years
15. Hasheem Thabeet (UConn – NBA)
At 7’3”, Thabeet was an absolute force in college. But in the NBA, he couldn’t score, rebound, or do much of anything except exist. The No. 2 pick in 2009 ended up a massive bust.
Related: Ranking the Biggest College Football Stars Who Flopped in the NFL
