Washington State Cougars: Top-6 Super Bowl Cougs
Chip Clark
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Jason David, CB, 2001-03
As the calendar turned to a new millennium, the Washington State Cougars had a revival under head coach Mike Price. Cornerbacks Jason David and Marcus Trufant were big contributors to WSU’s 2002 Rose Bowl team, and David led the Pac-10 with 7 interceptions that season.
Indianapolis drafted David in 2004 with their fourth-round pick (125th overall). Two years later, the Colts won Super Bowl XLI 29-15 over Chicago. David started at cornerback in the SB as part of a smothering pass defense that held Bears quarterback Rex Grossman to only 165 passing yards. David made a pair of tackles and had one pass defended.
Jason David pic.twitter.com/CXTVRDOvpS
— Justin Grizzel (@JGrizzy6) January 30, 2022
Marcus Trufant, CB, 1999-2002
Trufant and David shut down the opponent’s passing games as WSU’s starting cornerbacks in the early 2000s. His outstanding career in Pullman led to a first-round selection (11th overall) by the Seattle Seahawks in 2003.
Trufant started for the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL against Pittsburgh. Seattle’s tough secondary held the Steelers to only 158 passing yards, and Trufant made 3 tackles. But it wasn’t enough in a 21-10 loss.
Unfortunately, he hung up his cleats a year before the Legion of Boom took the NFL by storm, leading the Seahawks to a win in Super Bowl XLVIII.
Bonus Mel Hein, C-LB, 1928-30
Mel Hein is a bonus because the Super Bowl wasn’t a thing until 22 years after he retired. An all-time great, the center/ linebacker is enshrined in both the College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Additionally, Hein is part of the NFL’s 50th, 75th, and 100th Anniversary teams.
After leaving Washington State, he was a member of the New York Giants from 1931 through 1945. During New York’s first Golden Age, Hein went to seven NFL Championship Games, winning two titles.
Related Story: Jake Dickert’s first recruiting class at WSU
A member of the first @ProFootballHOF Class in 1963.
Mel Hein excelled on offense and defense. #NFL100 pic.twitter.com/25znnOOofh
— NFL (@NFL) December 14, 2019
Please share some of your memories of Washington State Cougars alumni in the Super Bowl.