Corey Croom facts for kids

Corey Vincent Croom is a former American football player. He was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the New England Patriots for three seasons. Before that, he played college football at Ball State University. He was born on May 22, 1971.

Growing Up and High School Sports

Corey Croom grew up in Sandusky, Ohio. He was a talented athlete in high school. At Sandusky High School, he played football for two seasons. He also ran track and field for three seasons.

In his final year, he helped his football team win a state championship. He received "all-state" honors from UPI. This means he was one of the best players in the entire state. He was also named the best player in his local conference.

College Football Success

Corey played college football for the Ball State Cardinals. He was a very important player for his team. In 1992, he won the John Magnabosco Award. This award is given to the Cardinals' most valuable player.

Corey was chosen twice for the Mid-American Conference first-team. This means he was one of the best players in his college conference. During his college career, he ran for 2,725 yards. He also scored 17 touchdowns by running the ball. In 1992, he led all of NCAA Division I football with 301 rushing attempts.

Playing in the NFL

After college, Corey Croom was signed by the New England Patriots. This happened on April 30, 1993. He played in 43 games for the Patriots. These games were played between 1993 and 1995.

On December 26, 1993, he scored his first touchdown. It was a 5-yard run against the Colts. In 1994, he did not carry the ball at all. However, he was a surprise starter in a playoff game. This game was on January 1, 1995, against the Browns. Corey carried the ball 9 times for 35 yards. He also caught one pass for 5 yards in that game. He left the Patriots on August 25, 1996.

Corey later signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. This was on April 4, 1997. However, he was released by the team later that year.