Football and country music go hand-in-hand (or foot in boot?). This time of year, the connection is clear any time you hear Carrie Underwood belting out "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night" or feel nostalgic for Big & Rich singing "Comin' to Your City" on ESPN's College Game Day. Stop by any tailgate and it's sure to sound like Country Countdown, and songs like "Dixieland Delight," "Rocky Top," and "Take Me Home, Country Roads" induce goosebumps on Saturdays across the country.
But even longtime fans of the sport and the genre might not know about these 10 stars who made the crossover from college football to country music. In a recent interview, Riley Green told Country Living, "I think from my experience, most athletes wish they were country music stars, and most country music singers wish they could be a professional athlete." These singers didn't make the NFL but spent time playing for college teams.
Riley Green
Riley just released the deluxe edition of Don't Mind If I Do. With hits like "Worst Way" and "Don't Mind If I Do," he's currently one of the biggest names in country music. But before he found success behind the mic, the Alabama native took the field from 2007-2009 for the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.
Riley Green—Jacksonville State University
In 2021, Riley shared a throwback to his football playing days on X.
Sam Hunt
Sam Hunt grew up in Georgia but played football at Middle Tennessee State University and University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
Sam Hunt—UAB
Sam played quarterback at UAB from 2005-2007. He tried out for NFL teams but ultimately decided to hang up his cleats and pursue a career in music.
Tucker Wetmore
Tucker attended Montana Tech in Butte, Montana, to play football but his career was cut short when he was injured in spring practice. He took that as his sign to pursue music full-time.
Tucker Wetmore—Montana Tech
Tucker told People, "My plan was just to go to college and play as much ball as I could and then hopefully make it in the draft at some point."
Koe Wetzel
The Texas native, best known for "High Road" featuring Jessie Murph, grew up with a mom who toured as a country singer. He played linebacker at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, before following in his mom's footsteps.
Koe Wetzel—Tarleton State University
Last year, Koe took a trip down memory lane and shared the video on Tik Tok.
Lee Brice
Lee has five successful albums to his name, but before he found country music fame, he played football for Clemson. The "Hard to Love" singer was the team's longsnapper before being sidelined by injury.
Lee Brice—Clemson
Clemson football is a family affair for Lee Brice. He shared this photo on X back in 2014.
Chase Rice
Fans may know that the country star first found fame on Survivor, but before he became a reality TV personality, he played linebacker for University of North Carolina. In 2010, he pursued a career in music and never looked back (although he still bleeds Carolina blue).
Chase Rice—UNC
Chase played at Chapel Hill from 2005 until 2008. He played in all 13 games of his senior season.
Gavin Adcock
Gavin has recently made a name for himself on the county music scene with the 2024 debut of his first album and outspoken personality. He played football for Georgia Southern before being removed from the team for violating team policies.
Gavin Adcock—Georgia Southern
Gavin played nose tackle for the team from 2017-2021.
Trace Adkins
Trace Adkins has been a major name in country music for decades. But before hits like "Hillbilly Bone" and "You're Gonna Miss This" hit the radio, he played football for Louisiana Tech University.
Trace Adkins—Louisiana Tech
Trace shared this photo from his football-playing days on Facebook. He was a walk-on offensive lineman with the team but suffered an injury before he ever played in a game.
Jon Langston
The "All Eyes on Us" singer played football for Garder-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, before kicking off his music career as an opener for Chase Rice.
Rhett Akins—Georgia
Rhett briefly played for the University of Georgia as a walk-on before leaving college. He and his son Thomas Rhett remain devoted Bulldogs fans.
Honorable Mention: Toby Keith
Toby Keith did not attend college, but he played semi-pro football for the Oklahoma City Drillers.
Katie Bowlby is Digital Director at Country Living, where she covers pop culture news including country music, Yellowstone, and all things HGTV, plus gift guides and product reviews. She has been with Country Living for more than 11 years. Before that, she worked for Southern Living. The Indiana University grad also stitches up the cross-stitch pattern for every issue of the magazine.
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