Where Did Aaron Rodgers Go To College?
Aaron Rodgers is one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history. He has led the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl championship and has been named league MVP multiple times.
But before he achieved football stardom in the NFL, Aaron Rodgers was a college student-athlete playing for a top university. In this comprehensive article, we will explore Rodgers’ college background and football career in detail.
Rodgers’ High School Football Career
Rodgers attended Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, California where he played football all four years. As a senior in 2001, he led his team to a 10-1 record and threw for 2,466 yards and 29 touchdowns. His talent was evident, but he received very little interest from top college programs.
Recruitment and Commitment to Cal
Despite a stellar high school career, Rodgers was not heavily recruited and received only one Division I offer from the University of Illinois.
However, he caught the attention of California Golden Bears head coach Jeff Tedford who was impressed with Rodgers’ athletic skills during recruiting camps. Rodgers committed to the University of California, Berkeley in 2002 to play college football.
Rodgers’ College Football Career at Cal
Rodgers played for the California Golden Bears football team from 2003 to 2004.
2003 Freshman Season
As a freshman, Rodgers served as a backup to senior quarterback Kyle Boller. He saw action in 9 games and passed for 349 yards and 5 touchdowns.
The 2004 Season
After Boller graduated, Rodgers took over as the starting QB for Cal as a junior. It was a breakout season for him as he threw for 2,566 yards with 24 touchdowns and only 8 interceptions, leading Cal to a 10-1 regular season record. Some key stats and highlights:
- Set a Cal single-game record with 5 touchdown passes against #13 Virginia Tech
- Passed for a career-high 263 yards against #1 USC
- Threw 29 consecutive passes without an interception at one point during the season
Rodgers led Cal to their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1959 where they lost to Texas Tech. He was named 2nd Team All-Pac-10 for his exceptional season.
College Statistics
Here is a table summarizing Rodgers’ college stats over his two seasons at Cal:
| Season | Passing Yards | Passing TDs | Interceptions | Completion % | QB Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 349 | 5 | 1 | 53.2% | 152.3 |
| 2004 | 2,566 | 24 | 8 | 66.1% | 154.3 |
| Total | 2,915 | 29 | 9 | 62.5% | 153.2 |
The 2005 NFL Draft
After a very successful junior year, Rodgers decided to forego his senior season and enter the 2005 NFL Draft. He was projected to be a high first-round pick.
Draft Day Slide
In one of the biggest draft day surprises in NFL history, Rodgers started falling down the board. Despite his college success, teams drafting early like the 49ers, Buccaneers, and Dolphins passed on Rodgers. Many speculated it was his attitude and arrogant nature that turned teams off.
Rodgers slid all the way down to the 24th overall pick when he was selected by the Green Bay Packers. Looking back, it proved to be one of the biggest steals in draft history.
Backup to Brett Favre
The Packers had a veteran Hall of Fame quarterback in Brett Favre firmly entrenched as the starter at the time. So Rodgers spent his first 3 seasons as a backup learning behind Favre. He threw only 59 passes during this time. But the experience allowed Rodgers to improve and get ready for his eventual promotion to starter.
Conclusion
To summarize, Aaron Rodgers attended the University of California, Berkeley where he played for the Golden Bears football team from 2003 to 2004. After an outstanding junior season where he led Cal to a Rose Bowl berth, Rodgers entered the 2005 NFL Draft.
He shockingly slid down the board before being selected by the Green Bay Packers 24th overall. This paved the way for his future stardom once he took over as the starting QB. Rodgers spent his college years developing his formidable talent at Cal before becoming one of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about Aaron Rodgers’ college background:
What high school did Aaron Rodgers attend?
Rodgers attended Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, California where he played football all 4 years and was a star quarterback.
What other colleges recruited Rodgers besides Cal?
Rodgers was not heavily recruited and received only one Division I offer from the University of Illinois. Cal and its head coach Jeff Tedford took particular interest in Rodgers.
How did Rodgers become the starter at Cal?
As a freshman in 2003, Rodgers was a backup to senior QB Kyle Boller. When Boller graduated after 2003, Rodgers took over the starting job in 2004, had a standout season, and held the job until he declared for the NFL draft.
When did Rodgers get drafted into the NFL?
Rodgers entered the 2005 NFL Draft where he shockingly slid down the board to the 24th overall pick before being selected by the Green Bay Packers.
Did Rodgers start as a rookie for the Packers?
No. The Packers had Brett Favre firmly entrenched as the starter. Rodgers spent 3 seasons as Favre’s backup from 2005-2007 before taking over as the starter in 2008 after Favre retired.
