Wallace “Wally” Triplett III, a trailblazing athlete, made significant contributions to American football history. Early Life and College Years:

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  • Born and raised in the Philadelphia suburb of La Mott, Pennsylvania, part of Cheltenham Township, Triplett was the son of a postal worker.
  • His reputation as a talented high school football player, combined with his upscale address, led the University of Miami to offer him a scholarship sight unseen, assuming he was white. However, when they discovered Triplett was black, they rescinded the scholarship.
  • Undeterred, Triplett earned a Senatorial Scholarship for his academics and chose to attend Penn State University in the fall of 1945.
  • Alongside Dennis Hoggard, Triplett became one of the first African Americans to take the field for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

  Breaking Barriers:

  • During the 1946 season, Penn State faced a game against the University of Miami, a segregated school that did not allow Negro athletes to play with white athletes.

  • In a groundbreaking team vote, Penn State decided to cancel the game rather than compromise by leaving their black players behind. This decision set a new precedent.

  • In 1948, Triplett became the first African American to play in the Cotton Bowl Classic, catching the tying touchdown in Penn State’s 13–13 tie with Southern Methodist University.

  • He also co-founded the Gamma Nu chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha while at Penn State.

  NFL Career:

  • Triplett’s NFL journey began when he was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 19th round of the 1949 NFL draft.
  • Although African Americans had previously played in the league as undrafted “free agents,” Triplett was the first draftee to step onto the field in a league game.
  • In a game against the Los Angeles Rams on October 29, 1950, Triplett set the Lions’ single-game record for kickoff return yardage with 294 yards, including a 97-yard touchdown return.
  • His record stood for 44 years.
  • After the 1950 season, Triplett served a year of military duty in the Korean War and later played one season for the Chicago Cardinals.

  Legacy and Passing:

  • Wallace “Wally” Triplett III passed away on November 8, 2018, leaving behind a legacy of courage, resilience, and trailblazing achievements in both college and professional football.

  • For his groundbreaking role as the first African-American draftee to play in the NFL, Triplett’s portrait proudly hangs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.