Best college football quarterback born in every state
By Roje Smith
Tennessee: Chad Pennington – Marshall Thundering Herd
The competition for best college quarterback born in Tennessee is a two-horse race between Bill Wade and Chad Pennington. Wade achieved great success in his days at Vanderbilt University. He was named the SEC Player of the Year in one season and was also a second-team All-American. His college career was impressive, but Pennington’s was even more noteworthy.
Pennington was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and attended the Webb School of Knoxville, where he was a three-sport star. He was recruited by Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga but eventually earned a scholarship offer from Marshall after attending a training camp.
Chad is best known for leading Marshall to a 13-0 record in their inaugural Division I-A season. It was the school’s third consecutive conference championship and one of the crowning achievements in program history. Pennington was also a Heisman Trophy candidate and finished fifth in the final voting. He would go on to the NFL, where he had a productive career with the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins.
Tennessee has produced amazing college players such as Reggie White, Jason Witten and Ed “Too Tall” Jones. However, when it comes to their best college signal-caller, Chad Pennington takes the crown ahead of Bill Wade.