Fansided

Whatever happened to these 30 forgotten college football superstars?

By Dante Pryor

Peter Warrick #9 of the Florida State Seminoles: (Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport)
Peter Warrick #9 of the Florida State Seminoles: (Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport) /
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ATLANTA – SEPTEMBER 05: Rolando McClain #25 of the Alabama Crimson Tide sacks quarterback Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Virginia Tech Hokies during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Georgia Dome on September 5, 2009, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA – SEPTEMBER 05: Rolando McClain #25 of the Alabama Crimson Tide sacks quarterback Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Virginia Tech Hokies during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Georgia Dome on September 5, 2009, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

13. Rolando McClain, linebacker, Alabama

Rolando McClain’s short five-year career was plagued with on and off-the-field issues and unresolved issues from a traumatic childhood. McClain, practically on his own since he was 15, began his childhood living with a violent, bipolar mother and estranged father.

This trauma contributed to the substance abuse and legal issues that followed McClain his entire NFL career. The Raiders drafted McClain eighth overall in 2010 to bolster their defense. By 2012, Miles Burris replaced the former Alabama stand-out, and McClain was off to Baltimore.

Before playing for the Ravens, McClain announced his retirement in 2013. The Cowboys traded for McClain in 2014 because of an injury to Shawn Lee. In 2015 and 2016, McClain was suspended twice for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. After a drug and firearm arrest, McClain was suspended by the league indefinitely.

McClain was reinstated by the NFL in 2019, only to be suspended again months later, signaling the end of a tumultuous NFL career.

Despite McClain’s troubled NFL career, he is one of the greatest defensive players in Alabama football history. McClain was twice an All-SEC defensive player and a unanimous All-American selection in 2009.

McClain became the first Alabama player since Derrick Thomas to win the Butkus Award. He would earn his degree from Alabama in 2017.

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