Colorado Football: Former CU great Rashaan Salaam dies at age 42
The Colorado Buffaloes football family lost one of its greatest members on Tuesday when former running back and Heisman Trophy winner, Rashaam Salaam, was found dead, according to a report from ESPN.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Salaam was found dead in a park by police in Boulder. No signs of foul play were present at the scene of his death.
Rashaan Salaam was found dead Monday night at a park in Boulder. Police said there was no sign of foul play. He was 42. RIP.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 6, 2016
"“The Buff Family has lost an outstanding young man and a great Buff today. We are heartbroken for Rashaan and his family, and our thoughts and prayers are with them at this very difficult time”, said Colorado athletic director Rick George."
Salaam was a first-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 1995, but he will be best remembered for his time in college at Colorado, where he became the Heisman Trophy winner in 1994. That season, he ran for 2,055 yards and 24 touchdowns before beating out Ki-Jana Carter, Steve McNair and Kerry Collins to win the award given annually to the nation’s best player.
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In three years at CU, Salaam ran for 3,057 yards and 33 touchdowns to go along with a terrific 6.3 yards per carry.
Things never quite worked out for Salaam at the professional level as he spent time with the Bears, Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers. He scored 13 touchdowns in his career while running for just over 1,600 yards in 33 games.
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However, he became the youngest player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards, which he did in his rookie season at just 21 years old.
He also spent a season with the Memphis Maniax in the lone season of the XFL in 2001. That season, Salaam ranked fourth in the league in rushing yards, second in rushing yards per game and he was tied for third in the league with five rushing touchdowns.
If you were to make a list of the greatest players in Colorado Buffaloes football history, the name Rashaan Salaam would be at, or near the top.
Glory Colorado would like to give its condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Salaam. Rashaan S