| The 2000 Oregon State University Beavers wide | | | | greats very randomly landed on the same |
| receiving duo of TJ Houshmandzadeh and Chad | | | | professional team at the conclusion of the April |
| Ochocinco Johnson would eventually become the | | | | 2001 NFL Draft. |
| star pass catching core of the NFL franchise the | | | | The Cincinnati Bengals chose Chad Johnson (who |
| Cincinnati Bengals. Exactly how these two young | | | | would later change his name to Chad Ochocinco in |
| men from opposite ends of the country (California | | | | 2008) with the 36th overall pick in the second |
| and Florida) would find themselves playing on the | | | | round and TJ Houshmandzadeh with the 204th |
| same football teams at the college and | | | | overall pick in the seventh round. Despite a |
| professional levels is a completely random | | | | significant amount of offensive success over the |
| coincidence. | | | | next eight seasons with quarterback Carson |
| Oregon State, located in Carvallis, OR, has a | | | | Palmer the wide receiving duo of Ochocinco |
| respectable football program that from time to | | | | (Johnson) and Houshmandzadeh was broken up |
| time places players onto NFL teams. In the case | | | | on March 2, 2009 when TJ signed a contract to |
| of Pro Bowl wide receivers Johnson and | | | | leave Cincinnati to play for the Seattle Seahawks. |
| Houshmandzadeh who played together on the | | | | The March, 2009 signing marked the first time in |
| Oregon State Beavers squad in the fall of 2000 | | | | nearly a decade that Chad (from Miami, FL) and |
| having two NFL all-star wide receivers in the | | | | TJ (from Barstow, CA)were not on the same |
| same huddle on a college team is exceptionally | | | | team. |
| rare for any school - even the most well | | | | To give readers who are not very familiar with |
| established powerhouses. The shear unlikelihood of | | | | college or professional football proper perspective |
| having so much talent on one offense is especially | | | | as to just how unusual the situation with Chad |
| rare for a mid-tier level organization like the | | | | Ochocico Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh was it |
| Oregon State Beavers. | | | | should be noted that a repeat occurrence of |
| While playing together for the Beavers in 2000 it | | | | similar circumstances has not occurred anywhere |
| was largely Chad Johnson who dominated the | | | | else in professional football since Chad and TJ |
| spotlight during a prolific season in which the two | | | | were united from opposites sides of the country |
| future NFL stars led their team to a very | | | | (Florida and California) on the Oregon State |
| impressive 11-1 finish that included a victory over | | | | campus in 2000. The two standout players are |
| Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl held in Phoenix. | | | | arguably the best combination of wide receivers |
| After successfully catching the attention of NFL | | | | to take their collective play making ability from |
| scouts while playing alongside each other in | | | | college to the pros together. |
| Carvallis for a season the duo of wide receiver | | | | |
