Johnny Rutledge

Johnny Boykins Rutledge, III (born January 4, 1977) is an American former college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Rutledge played college football for the University of Florida, and was a member of a national championship team. A second round pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, he played professionally for the Arizona Cardinals and the Denver Broncos of the NFL.

Early years

Rutledge was born in Belle Glade, Florida in 1977. He attended Glades Central High School in Belle Glade, where he played high school football for the Glades Central Raiders.

College career

Rutledge accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Steve Spurrier's Florida Gators football team from 1995 to 1998. He was a member of the 1996 Gators' team that defeated the Florida State Seminoles 52–20 in the Sugar Bowl for the Bowl Alliance national championship. He was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection as a junior in 1997, and a first-team selection as a senior in 1998.