Washington State University Athletics

Ryan Leaf spent four seasons in a Cougar uniform (1994-97) and is best known for spearheading arguably the greatest season in Cougar football history when he led the Cougars to the 1998 Rose Bowl, ending a 67-year drought in the Granddaddy of all bowl games. After starting all 11 games as a sophomore culminating with All-American honorable mention honors, Leaf put together a 1997 season unmatched in the history of the Pac-10 Conference. He set conference and school single-season records for touchdown passes, total offense and passing yards. He was the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, finished third in the Heisman Trophy race, the highest finish in school history, captured the Sammy Baugh Passer of the Year Award and was a Sporting News First-Team All-American. Leaf led WSU to its first 10-win season since 1929 and a late rally against National Champion Michigan in the Rose Bowl ended as time expired deep in Wolverine territory. He declared for the NFL Draft following his redshirt junior season, holding three career and six single-season passing records. The No. 2 pick by the San Diego Chargers in the 1998 NFL Draft, he spent four years in the NFL before injuries cut his career short. He resumed classes at WSU and in 2005 completed his degree in humanities.