Best college football quarterback born in every state
By Roje Smith
New York: Vinny Testaverde – Miami Hurricanes
Two names immediately come to mind when thinking of college quarterbacks born in the Empire State. One of them is Boomer Esiason, who was a two-time honorable mention All-American in 1982 and 1983 at the University of Maryland. Esiason had a good college career, but Vinny Testaverde takes the title of New York’s best college quarterback.
Testaverde was born in Brooklyn, New York and attended Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park. He attended Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia for a year, before accepting a football scholarship to the University of Miami.
Vinny played for the Hurricanes from 1983 to 1986 and experienced his best season as a senior. During that year, he was a consensus first-team All-American and won the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award. The only blemish on his 1986 campaign was the 14-10 loss to Penn State in the National Championship game. It was a disaster of a game, as Testaverde threw five interceptions.
His pro career was decent — he made two Pro Bowls — but a little disappointing for a first overall pick. That doesn’t erase the fact he is undeniably the greatest college quarterback born in New York.