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Carolyn Kruse

Carolyn Kruse

Carolyn Kruse

From Boys Of Fall To Men Of Country: These Stars All Played Football

Avatar photo By Carolyn Kruse

To quote Kenny Chesney’s 2010 hit, “The Boys of Fall”…

“When I feel that chill, smell that fresh cut grassI’m back in my helmet, cleats and shoulder padsStanding in the huddle listening to the callFans going crazy for the boys of fall”

Football is an American love story, and it seems our love for the game only grows stronger every year. Since we are deep into the season now, I thought it would be a kick (pun intended) to take a look at some of country music’s most popular artists who played the game. From boys of fall to men of country. These stars all played football, and some were on a career path to play it professionally.

  • Kenny Chesney

    Kenny went from playing high school football to playing football stadiums! According to nashvillenoise.com, the country superstar was the wide reciever for Gibbs High School in Corryton, TN. His passion for the game inspired Kenny to cut the song, and later, direct an ESPN Films documentary about high school football, and based on the song. Just goes to prove, you don’t have to be the biggest player to be the biggest player!

    So excited to be back in New England. The birthplace of No Shoes Nation. #triparoundthesun Gillette Stadium New England Patriots Blue Chair Bay Rum

    Posted by Kenny Chesney on Friday, August 24, 2018

  • Toby Keith

    Now, here’s a guy who looks like a football player. The 6’3″ country stary played the game and then coached it for his son, Stelan’s team for many years. Toby Keith played defensive en for Moore High in Moore, OK. He even went as far as playing semi=pro ball for the Oklahoma City Drillers, in the now defunct, United States Football League.

  • Sam Hunt

    Sam was serious about football, and was a star on the field…for a while. He took it to the college level, playing quarterback for Middle Tennessee State and then the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In high school, Hunts was name the Co-Offensive player if  the Year. He was also was named to the Georgia Sportswriters Association’s All-State Class AAA first team, and was nominated for the Wendy’s High School Heisman Trophy.

    NCAA Football - UAB vs Georgia - September 16, 2006

    QB Sam Hunt rolls out during the game between the University of Georgia Bulldogs and University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) Blazers at Sanford Stadium in Athens, GA on September 16, 2006. . (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

     

    Visible Presents "Red Rocks Unpaused" 3-Day Music Festival at Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Day 3

    (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Visible)

  • Lee Brice

    Brice grew up tackling music and football in his home state of South Carolina. After graduating high school, he made the Clemson University Tigers football team as a walk-on. And Lee eventually earned a scholarship as a linebacker. Most of his time on the field with Clemson was on special teams, as a long snapper. A career ending arm injury kick started his career in music.

  • Garth Brooks

    Garth was a 3 sport athlete at Yukon High School in Yukon, Oklahoma. There, he played football, baseball and track. He excelled in football, but it was track and field that earned Garth a scholarship to the University of Oklahoma where he competed in javelin for the Sooners. The country mega-star was thrilled to finally play his first shows at Gillette Stadium this year.

    Garth Brooks First 2021 'Dive Bar' Tour Stop Garners Half A Million Entries

  • Cole Swindell

    The boy from South Georgia was a gifted athlete in high school, who excelled at a variety of sports from golf, to track, baseball, basketball, and of course, football. It was in college, at Georgia Southern University, where Cole found his career path, after meeting Luke Bryan there. He got the music bug and never looked backfield.

     

  • Trace Adkins

    When you’re 6’6″ tall, I’m sure your high school football and basketball teams will be actively encouraging you to play. Trace looks like he was born to play. After Adkins played in high school, he continued his football asperations at Louisiana Tcch, playing for the Tech Bulldogs as a walk-on offensive lineman. He continued to study music, there too. Moral of the story, it’s good to have a back-up plan. A knee injury his freshman year showed Trace his true path.

     

    Football season is here. This #TBT to Trace’s pigskin days seems like a good way to celebrate.

    Posted by Trace Adkins on Thursday, September 7, 2017

  • Chase Rice

    The “Eyes On You” star had his eyes on a football career for a minute. He played in high school at AC Reynolds High in Ashville, North Carolina. And later, Chase attented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There, he was a linebacker on the football. An injury left Rice out of the game, but into the music!

    Chase Rice - Football - University of North Carolina Athletics

    Chase Rice (44) Linebacker - 2008 - Senior Season Played in all 13 games * Played primarily in nickel packages and on s...

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