When people normally think of professional athletes, they think that most of them were five-star athletes who went to Division One colleges. Well, that isn’t always the case, as some start out at smaller schools and even sometimes community colleges.

Here is a list of professional athletes who attended American River College at some point during their college careers. 

1. Devontae Booker 

Devontae Booker is currently playing in the NFL, as a running back for the New York Giants. He has also played for the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos during his career. Booker was drafted by the Broncos in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Booker attended American River College and played football from 2011-2013, according to the Beaver Athletics website. So far, Booker has rushed for 1,526 yards and nine rushing touchdowns, with 956 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in his career. 

    2. Dallas Braden 

Dallas Braden is currently an analyst for Oakland Athletics games on NBC Sports California. Before he became an analyst, Braden pitched for the Oakland Athletics from 2007-2011. On May 9, 2010, Braden pitched the 19th perfect game in MLB history. Braden played two seasons for the ARC baseball team, according to an ESPN article. Braden’s pitching record at ARC was 12-4. 

    3. Dusty Baker 

Dusty Baker is currently the manager for the Houston Astros. Baker has been both a manager and a player in the MLB. Baker played for the Atlanta Braves, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics during his career as an outfielder. Baker has also managed the Giants, the Chicago Cubs, the Cincinnati Reds, the Washington Nationals and now the Astros during his managing career. Baker played baseball at ARC, and now has a building on the ARC campus named after him. The Dusty Baker Center helps student-athletes with academics and reaching their sports goals, according to the ARC website. Baker provided the funding for the center, and it was named after him in 2011. 

   4. Manny Parra 

Manny Parra pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers and the Cincinnati Reds during his MLB career from 2007-2015. Parra currently pitches in the Mexican League. Parra graduated from ARC in 2002 and was selected as the National Junior College Player of the Year by Baseball America during that baseball season, according to his Wikipedia page. 

   5. Gerald Willhite

Gerald Willhite was a running back for the Denver Broncos from 1982-1988. He rushed for 1,688 yards and 17 touchdowns during his career. Willhite played in the Super Bowl with the Broncos in 1986. Willhite was selected in the first round of the 1982 NFL Draft. Willhite attended ARC after high school, where he originally decided to focus on track and field, according to his Wikipedia page. Willhite gained 90 pounds and grew 7 inches, which led him to join the ARC football team for two seasons. In two seasons, Willhite rushed for over 1,000 yards and caught at least 50 passes each season. 

   6. Charles Carroll “Tony” Eason IV

Charles Carroll “Tony” Eason IV played quarterback for the New England Patriots and the New York Jets from 1983-1990. Eason was the 15th pick in the 1983 NFL Draft. Eason played in the Super Bowl in 1985 with the New England Patriots. Due to an issue with his grades, Eason attended ARC and played for the football team from 1978-1979, according to his Wikipedia page. 

    7. Jarrett Bush

Jarrett Bush played cornerback for the Green Bay Packers from 2006-2014. Bush played in the Super Bowl with the Packers in 2011, where he recorded an interception and five tackles, and the Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. While at ARC, Bush earned All-State, All-Region and All-League honors while playing with the football team in 2003-04, according to a previous article by the Current. 

   8. Bob Oliver 

Bob Oliver was a first baseman and outfielder during his time in the MLB. Oliver played from 1965-1975, with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Kansas City Royals, the California Angels, the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees. Oliver had 94 home runs and 419 RBI, with a .256 batting average during his career. Oliver was on the ballot for the American League MVP in 1970. After graduating high school in 1961, Oliver played baseball at ARC, according to his Wikipedia page. While playing baseball at ARC, Oliver was heavily scouted. 

   9. Jim Loscutoff 

Jim Loscutoff was a forward for the Boston Celtics from 1955-1964. While with the Celtics, Loscutoff was on seven championship teams during his career. At TD Garden, where the Celtics play, Loscutoff has his nickname “Loscy” retired and has a banner hanging in the rafters. Even though he technically didn’t attend ARC, he is still considered a notable alumnus of the college. Loscutoff attended Grant Technical College, which was on the same site where ARC opened in 1955, according to his Wikipedia page. 

   10. Don Lofgran 

Don Lofgran also went to Grant Technical College, but is still considered a notable alumnus of ARC. Lofgran was a forward for the Syracuse Nationals, the Indianapolis Olympians, the Philadelphia Warriors and the Milwaukee Hawks of the NBA. Lofgran played from 1950-1954. He was drafted in the first round of the 1950 NBA Draft. Lofgran attended Grant Technical College from 1946-1948, according to his Wikipedia page.