While doing research for the NFL Draft, I came across the name of Dexter Manley II, son of the former Redskins great. The younger Manley played college football at Santa Monica College, Oregon and West Texas A&M. He probably won’t get drafted, but it’s possible he could get a shot to make an NFL team as a free agent.

But this isn’t why I’m writing this blog. No, I am writing about West Texas A&M, which was formerly known as West Texas State. You’re probably wondering why anyone should care about West Texas State. It’s simple. West Texas State was a hub for professional wrestlers in the 1970’s. Let’s call it Bodyslam U.

If you aren’t too knowledgeable about professional wrestling, many wrestlers started out as football players. Leon White, who is known to the wrestling world as Vader, was a defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams after a standout career at Colorado. Ron Simmons, who was wrestling’s first African American heavyweight champion, was a defensive tackle at Florida State and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. And the most famous of them all, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, was a defensive tackle for the Miami Hurricanes before some guy named Warren Sapp took over the position.

While schools like Miami and USC churn out professional football players, West Texas State is the Mecca for football players who went on to professional wrestling fame.

Here’s a look of some of the guys who went from football at West Texas State to professional wrestling:

 "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes played offensive guard for the team.

Cage match - Rhodes vs. Ric Flair

 "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase was a defensive tackle.

Survivor Series 1989: The Hulkamaniacs vs. the Million Dollar team

 Terry Funk was also an offensive lineman.

Barbed wire match – Terry Funk vs. Sabu

 Terry's brother Dory was a tackle on the team.

$100,000 Challenge Match - Dory Funk Jr. vs. Jay Youngblood

 Tully Blanchard played quarterback.

Starrcade 84: NWA TV Championship and $10,000 on the line – Tully Blanchard vs. Ricky Steamboat

 Linebacker Stan Hansen was signed by the Colts before becoming a pro wrestler.

AJPW Triple Crown Championship – Stan Hansen vs. Steve Williams

 Tito Santana (real name Merced Solis) played on the same team as Tully Blanchard.

Inter-Continental Title Match (No DQ) – Macho Man Randy Savage vs. Tito Santana

 Bruiser Brody (real name Frank Goodish) also played tackle and went to camp with the Redskins and played in the CFL.

Bruiser Brody’s last match before being stabbed to death – Brody vs. Abdullah The Bucther

And as a treat, here is a match that pits Hansen & Brody against the Funk’s. It was rated Five Stars by Dave Meltzer, who is considered one of the foremost authorities on pro wrestling. To put this into perspective, only 65 matches have been rated five stars since 1983. It’s like a homecoming for West Texas State!

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