Alabama Football: 30 Tide Greats who exceeded their 3-Star high school rankings
By Ronald Evans
Alabama football players who exceeded 3 star ranking: 18. Tyrone Prothro
- Heflin, AL
- Wide Receiver, Kick Returner (2003-2006)
- Recruit Ranking: No. 921 Ranked Player in the Nation
- 2005 Second-Team All-SEC
Every Alabama fan knows the Tyrone Prothro story. Perhaps no other Crimson Tide football player has received from fans such a combination of adulation and despair.
Two plays should never define a player’s career but that happened to Tyrone Prothro.
From the Southern Miss game, September 10, 2005, Brodie Croyle to Tyrone Prothro, viewable above.
The amazing catch was the play of the year in college football.
Three weeks later on October 1, 2005, Tyrone Prothro’s college career came to an end. On another long pass, Prothro suffered a gruesome compound fracture of his leg. The injury was so severe Prothro actually broke two bones in his leg.
Over a period of ten years, Tyrone Prothro would have eleven surgeries for his injured leg and ankle. At the Auburn home game late in the 2006 season, Prothro dressed out and was honored as he labored to run from the north end zone to deliver the game ball. He would never put on football pads again.
From 2003-2005 Tyrone Prothro played in 26 games for the Crimson Tide. He was electric on kick returns, averaging 26.7 yards a return. He rushed 25 times for the Tide for 166 yards. He caught 56 passes for 863 yards. He scored seven touchdowns in his short Alabama career.
Tyrone Prothro is still a young man who faced the crashing end of his dreams with grace.