Hershel Dennis
Encyclopedia
Hershel Dennis Jr. is a running back for the Sioux Falls Storm
in the Indoor Football League
(IFL). Dennis played college football
running back
as a student athlete at the University of Southern California
. During his six-year career, the Trojans went 70-8 making Dennis the first player to play on six Pacific-10 Championship squads and the Winningest player in College Football History. His nickname since childhood is "Patch."
and was a part of the "Long Beach Poly Five", five highly recruited players including Manuel Wright
and current NFL players Marcedes Lewis
, Darnell Bing
and Winston Justice
. As of May 2007, Dennis still held the career rushing and touchdown
marks at Long Beach Poly, as well as the single season rushing record. Dennis made his final decision between USC and the University of Oregon
; his father wanted him to go to Oregon, but he chose USC out of respect for his mother, Rose Teofilo, who wanted him closer to home.
and Sultan McCullough
as well as fullback/tailbacks Malaefou MacKenzie
and Sunny Byrd; however, he did see play time in all 13 games, highlighted by a 38-yard touchdown run against rival UCLA. In 2003, he was the starting tailback in all 13 games over current NFL players Reggie Bush
and LenDale White
.
However, Dennis lost the starting spot for the 2004 season, having been suspended from the first two games due to a resulting criminal investigation (that later cleared him of any wrongdoing) and violating team rules. This allowed the tandem of White and Bush to emerge and relegate Dennis to the role of reserve for most of the season. Dennis did appear in a total of 9 games in the 2004 season, but was beset by a serious, season-ending torn knee ligament in practices before the 2005 Orange Bowl
. During this period, Dennis considered transferring to another program, but his mother pressured him to stay and graduate as he is the only one of Teofilo’s children to have attended a university.
The same torn knee ligament kept Dennis from participating in the entire 2005 season
, having already used his redshirt year he lost a year of eligibility. Going into the 2006 season
, Dennis was the leading career rusher among current student athletes. Unfortunately, in spring practice Dennis was again beset by season-ending knee injury, causing him to entirely miss a second year in a row. While this would have eliminated his final year of eligibility, Dennis and USC applied to the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility, given the extreme circumstances. Dennis returned to full-contact practice in the 2007 spring practice In May 2007, Dennis graduated with his Bachelor's degree in sociology. The NCAA granted his application for a sixth year of eligibility in June 2007.
During his final game, the 2008 Rose Bowl
game against Illinois
, Dennis rushed for a touchdown, his first of the season and first since 2004, that led teammates to rush the goal from the sidelines in celebration (and an excessive celebration penalty).
At the end of his six-year USC career, Dennis became the first player to play on six Pac-10 Championship squads. In addition to conference accolades, Dennis also made central contributions to teams that finished in the BCS top 5 during 6 consecutive seasons (2002–07). With 70 wins (and only 8 losses) in that span, Hershel Dennis is the "winningest player" in College Football history.
In addition to three high school championship rings, Dennis ended his college career with thirteen championship rings: six Pac-10 champion rings, two Orange Bowl champion rings, two Rose Bowl Champion rings, and two national championship rings.
Sioux Falls Storm
The Sioux Falls Storm are a professional indoor football team. They are a member of the Indoor Football League. They play their home games at Sioux Falls Arena...
in the Indoor Football League
Indoor Football League
The Indoor Football League began in 1999 as an offshoot of the troubled Professional Indoor Football League. Keary Ecklund, the owner of the Green Bay Bombers and Madison Mad Dogs, left the PIFL after its first, financially-troubled, season to start his own league. Unlike the PIFL, the IFL was an...
(IFL). Dennis played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
as a student athlete at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. During his six-year career, the Trojans went 70-8 making Dennis the first player to play on six Pacific-10 Championship squads and the Winningest player in College Football History. His nickname since childhood is "Patch."
High school career
Dennis prepped at Long Beach Polytechnic High SchoolLong Beach Polytechnic High School
Long Beach Polytechnic High School, founded in 1895 as Long Beach High School, is a High school located at 1600 Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach, California, United States....
and was a part of the "Long Beach Poly Five", five highly recruited players including Manuel Wright
Manuel Wright
Manuel "Manny" Wright is an Arena football Offensive lineman / Defensive lineman for the Stockton Lightning of af2. He was originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2005 supplemental draft. He played college football at USC.Wright has also briefly been signed to the...
and current NFL players Marcedes Lewis
Marcedes Lewis
Marcedes Alexis Lewis is an American football tight end for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He was drafted from UCLA as the 28th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft...
, Darnell Bing
Darnell Bing
Darnell Bing is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
and Winston Justice
Winston Justice
Winston Frederick Justice is an American football offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
. As of May 2007, Dennis still held the career rushing and touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
marks at Long Beach Poly, as well as the single season rushing record. Dennis made his final decision between USC and the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
; his father wanted him to go to Oregon, but he chose USC out of respect for his mother, Rose Teofilo, who wanted him closer to home.
College career
As a freshman in the 2002 season, Dennis was a reserve behind a stable of experienced seniors including running backs Justin FargasJustin Fargas
Justin Fargas is an American football running back who is a Free Agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
and Sultan McCullough
Sultan McCullough
Sultan McCullough is an American football running back in the National Football League who has also previously been a member of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League...
as well as fullback/tailbacks Malaefou MacKenzie
Malaefou MacKenzie
Matthew Mark Maleafou Anesi MacKenzie is an American football fullback who played in the National Football League in 2003.-career:...
and Sunny Byrd; however, he did see play time in all 13 games, highlighted by a 38-yard touchdown run against rival UCLA. In 2003, he was the starting tailback in all 13 games over current NFL players Reggie Bush
Reggie Bush
Reginald Alfred "Reggie" Bush II is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
and LenDale White
LenDale White
LenDale Anthony White is an American football running back. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California....
.
However, Dennis lost the starting spot for the 2004 season, having been suspended from the first two games due to a resulting criminal investigation (that later cleared him of any wrongdoing) and violating team rules. This allowed the tandem of White and Bush to emerge and relegate Dennis to the role of reserve for most of the season. Dennis did appear in a total of 9 games in the 2004 season, but was beset by a serious, season-ending torn knee ligament in practices before the 2005 Orange Bowl
2005 Orange Bowl
The 2005 Orange Bowl represented the BCS National Championship Game of the 2004 season and was played on January 4, 2005 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida....
. During this period, Dennis considered transferring to another program, but his mother pressured him to stay and graduate as he is the only one of Teofilo’s children to have attended a university.
The same torn knee ligament kept Dennis from participating in the entire 2005 season
2005 USC Trojans football team
The 2005 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the college football season of 2005–2006, winning the Pacific-10 Conference , and playing for the NCAA Division I-A national championship...
, having already used his redshirt year he lost a year of eligibility. Going into the 2006 season
2006 USC Trojans football team
The 2006 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in college football season of 2006-2007, winning the Pacific-10 Conference and playing in the Rose Bowl...
, Dennis was the leading career rusher among current student athletes. Unfortunately, in spring practice Dennis was again beset by season-ending knee injury, causing him to entirely miss a second year in a row. While this would have eliminated his final year of eligibility, Dennis and USC applied to the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility, given the extreme circumstances. Dennis returned to full-contact practice in the 2007 spring practice In May 2007, Dennis graduated with his Bachelor's degree in sociology. The NCAA granted his application for a sixth year of eligibility in June 2007.
During his final game, the 2008 Rose Bowl
2008 Rose Bowl
The 2008 Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi, the 94th Rose Bowl Game, played on January 1, 2008 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, was a college football bowl game. The contest was televised on ABC, the 20th straight year the network aired the Rose Bowl, starting at 4:30pm EST...
game against Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The University offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports....
, Dennis rushed for a touchdown, his first of the season and first since 2004, that led teammates to rush the goal from the sidelines in celebration (and an excessive celebration penalty).
At the end of his six-year USC career, Dennis became the first player to play on six Pac-10 Championship squads. In addition to conference accolades, Dennis also made central contributions to teams that finished in the BCS top 5 during 6 consecutive seasons (2002–07). With 70 wins (and only 8 losses) in that span, Hershel Dennis is the "winningest player" in College Football history.
Professional career
Dennis is active for the 2011 season as a running back in the Indoor Football League (IFL), for the Sioux Falls Storm in South Dakota. Dennis is wearing 25.Personal
His father, Hershel Dennis, Sr., played running back for North Carolina A&T; his mother, who he calls "Mama Rose", would regularly attend her son's practices and is featured in a tattoo on his arm. Dennis has his initials tattooed on the back of his arms above the elbow (left: "H", right: "D"). Dennis became the first person in his family to receive a college degree. He has a son, Zion Keaka Hershel Dennis.In addition to three high school championship rings, Dennis ended his college career with thirteen championship rings: six Pac-10 champion rings, two Orange Bowl champion rings, two Rose Bowl Champion rings, and two national championship rings.