Darrin Nelson – Stanford
A standout at Stanford University in the early 1980’s, running back Darrin Nelson became the first player in NCAA history to rush for more than 1,000 yards and catch more than 50 passes in one season; he actually accomplished this feat three times. When he left Palo Alto, Nelson finished with a variety of school records, including rushing yards (4,033), receptions (214), touchdowns (40), and scoring (242 points).
In the 1982 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings selected Nelson with the 7th overall pick. During his 10 years in Minnesota, Nelson never had more than 900 yards or five touchdowns rushing. To make matters worse, the Vikings took Nelson over running back Gerald Riggs (a future two-time All-Pro) and future Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen.