Dudek is regarded as one of Plymouth State’s most well-known athletes, having received national attention for his efforts with the Panthers, one of Division III’s top programs at the time. He was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated‘s, December 2, 1985 issue,[1] as the magazine’s top pick for the Heisman Trophy, the same season he broke Walter Payton‘s mark for career touchdowns.[2] The award ultimately went to Bo Jackson, while Dudek finished ninth, still a remarkable finish for an NCAA Division III player.
Dudek finished his collegiate career with ten school records, and holds NCAA records in career rushing touchdowns (76), career 100-yard rushing games (30) and games with two or more touchdowns (24). Plymouth State would go 37-6 during his time there, reaching the Eastern College Athletic Conference playoffs twice and earning their first-ever NCAA playoff appearance.[3]
