USC football countdown to kickoff—O.J. Simpson in focus
Position: Running back
Years played at USC: 1967-1968
Career highlights: After playing two years at the junior college level, Simpson arrived at USC in 1967. It did not take him very long to make an impact. In his first season, with the Trojans, Simpson led the country in rushing, and was named a Unanimous All-American. His iconic 64-yard touchdown run propelled USC to a 21-20 victory over UCLA en route to winning the national championship.
The following season, Simpson once again led the country in rushing, and was once again named a Unanimous All-American. He was also awarded the Heisman Trophy, becoming the second Trojans to win the award, following Mike Garrett three years prior. Simpson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973.
After USC: The Buffalo Bills selected Simpson with the first overall pick in the 1969 NFL Draft. He would go on to have a Hall of Fame career that featured five first-team All-Pro honors, four times leading the league in rushing, and becoming the first player in NFL history to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a season.
Of course, Simpson is best known for what happened after his playing career came to an end. From the alleged murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman, to the Ford Bronco chase, to the highly-publicized criminal trial that ended in his extremely controversial acquittal, to his being found liable for their deaths in the civil trial, to his arrest for burglary in Las Vegas more than a decade later, books could be (and have been) written about Simpson and one of the wildest sagas that we have ever seen from a celebrity.
Simpson passed away from cancer last year at the age of 76. USC did not issue a statement following his death.
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