Paul Woodrow Palmer (born October 14, 1964) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Barcelona Dragons in the World League of American Football. He played college football at Temple University. Early years Palmer attended Churchill High School in Potomac, Maryland. He was a versatile running back and led the state in kickoff returns as a senior. Paul accepted a football scholarship from Temple University, to play under head coach Bruce Arians. As a freshman he was a backup that struggled with ball security. He registered 141 carries for 628 yards (4.5-yard average), 6 rushing touchdowns, 33 receptions for 271 yards and 2 touchdowns. As a sophomore, Palmer replaced the injured starter Brian Slade at running back against Boston College, making 11 carries for 98 yards. The next game against the University of Cincinnati, he registered 92 rushing yards. His first start came against the University of Delaware, collecting 144 rushing yards. He posted 182 carries for 885 yards (4.9/yard average), 9 touchdowns, 29 receptions for 197 yards and one touchdown. As a junior, he became one of the top running backs in the nation, recording 275 carries for 1,516 yards, 9 touchdowns, 13 receptions for 131 yards and one touchdown. Against Penn State, he rushed for 206 yards. As a senior in 1986, Palmer led the Division I in rushing yards (1,866) and all-purpose yards (2,633), breaking Marcus Allen's single-season all-purpose yardage NCAA record. He also registered 346 carries and 15 touchdowns. Against East Carolina University, he tallied 349 rushing yards (school record), 3 touchdowns and tied the single-game record for all-purpose yards with 417. In his next three games he rushed for 239, 187, and 212 yards respectively, setting NCAA records for rushing yards in consecutive games, three straight contests and four consecutive games. Paul was the runner-up to Vinny Testaverde for the 1986 Heisman Trophy award, even though Temple did not have nationally televised games. In July 1988, it emerged that Palmer had signed with agent Norby Walters before his eligibility expired (he received monthly payments and a $5,000 loan). Temple forfeited all six of its wins from the 1986 season, erased all of Palmer's records from the books, and withdrew all of Palmer's athletic prizes and rewards. School president Peter Liacouras also ordered Palmer