25 biggest villains in college football history
By Brad Weiss
LeGarrette Blount
Running Back, Oregon
LeGarrette Blount came to the Oregon Ducks after being one of the better junior college prospects in the country, and he made sure his short time on campus in Eugene would not be boring. Blount emerged as one of the best running backs in college football during his time with the Ducks, but most people will only remember him for the wrong reasons. In one of the more bizarre occurrences in college football history, Blount sucker-punched an opponent, landing him on our list of the biggest villains in college football history.
The game between the Oregon Ducks and Boise State Broncos was a nationally televised matchup of two top-20 schools. The Ducks were known for their high-powered offense, led by Blount at running back, but the Broncos were able to keep Blount in check, holding him to -5 yards on the ground. After the game, linebacker Byron Hout made a comment to Blount, who proceeded to punch him in the face.
Blount then hit teammate Garrett Embry, who was trying to break up the situation. In head coach Chip Kelly’s first game, the Ducks were an embarrassment, and Kelly eventually suspended Blount for the entire season. The suspension did not last, and Blount was reinstated in November, scoring a touchdown in the team’s 2010 Rose Bowl loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The punch was not the only thing that mired Blount’s time with the school, as he was also late for meetings, and missed workouts. Despite his immense talent, Blount would go undrafted after leaving Oregon, but he has had a solid NFL career since. In 2016, Blount led the NFL in rushing touchdowns, scoring 18 times for the New England Patriots, who would go on to win Super Bowl LI over the Atlanta Falcons.
Blount has done a lot of wonderful things on a football field since the punch, but unfortunately for him, it is what he will likely always be remembered for.