Only a lucky few can claim that were on a team that won a national championship in college football, as well as a team they won a Super Bowl crown in the NFL, but former LSU running back Joseph Addai is one of those fortunate players.

Addai, whose family is from Ghana in West Africa, went to high school in Houston, Texas, where he was an option-style quarterback, rushing for 1,429 yards, and throwing for 425 more, while being named one of the top 100 recruits in the nation.

After electing to sign with LSU, Addai gained 27 yards on eight carries in 2001, before being granted a medical redshirt for an LSU team that went 10-3 under head coach Nick Saban, including a Sugar Bowl win over Illinois.

 

(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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As a redshirt freshman in 2002, Addai accumulated 438 yards and four touchdowns on 80 carries, helping the Tigers to an overall record of 8-5, and a berth in the Cotton Bowl.

Addai's best game that season was an 11-carry, 98-yard, two touchdown performance against South Carolina, in a 38-14 LSU win.

 

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty images)
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty images)
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In 2003, the Tigers won their first national championship since 1958, going 13-1, including a 21-14 win over Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl, and Addai was a key contributor, rushing for 520 yards and two touchdowns on 114 carries, while also catching 14 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown.

Only Justin Vincent, who rushed for 1,001 yards, had more rushing yards than Addai in 2003.

In 2004, as a junior, Addai rushed for 680 yards, along with three touchdowns, on 101 carries, while also catching 26 passes for 294 yards and four scores, helping the Tigers to 9-3 record, and a berth in the Capital One Bowl.

Addai finished third in the SEC in average yards-per-carry (6.7), and tenth in the league in touchdowns (7) that season.

 

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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In his senior year of 2005, Addai helped LSU to an 11-2 record, as well as a Peach Bowl win over Miami (FL.), under first-year head coach Les Miles, gaining 911 yards and nine touchdowns on 187 carries, while compiling 20 receptions for 180 yards and one touchdown.

The 5-foot-11, 215-pound Addai finished 2005 ranked seventh in the SEC in rushing yards, and third in rushing touchdowns, while sharing some time at the running back position with Vincent.

Over his LSU career, Addai rushed for 2,576 yards and 18 touchdowns, while compiling 66 receptions for 641 yards and six touchdowns.

 

 

Also a track standout while at LSU, Addai posted personal best of 10.70 seconds in the 100 meters and 22.10 seconds in the 200 meters.

 

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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In 2006, the Indianapolis Colts selected Addai in the first round, with the 30th-overall pick of the NFL Draft, and he paid immediate dividends, rushing for 1,081 yards and seven touchdowns, while helping the Colts to a 29-17 win over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.

Following up his stellar rookie year, Addai was equally as impressive in sophomore campaign, rushing for 1,072 yards and 12 touchdowns, which ranked second in the league, while being named to the Pro Bowl.

 

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
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Addai four more years in Indianapolis, before being released in March of 2011.

He signed with the New England Patriots in May of 2012, but was released a short time later.

In six NFL seasons, Addai rushed for 4,453 yards and 39 touchdowns, and had 191 receptions for 1,448 yards and nine touchdowns.

 

 

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