Sullivan Anthony "Tripp" Welborne III (born November 20, 1968) is a former American football player. Welborne played college football, principally as a safety and punt returner, from 1987 to 1990. He had five interceptions as a sophomore in 1988 and was selected as a unanimous first-team All-American in both 1989 and 1990. As a senior, he set a Michigan single-season record with 455 punt return yards (a record that stood until broken by Steve Breaston in 2003) and averaged 14.7 yards per return. Welborne sustained a serious injury in the 10th game of the 1990 season that required reconstructive surgery on his right knee. He was unable to play during the 1991 NFL season, but attempted a comeback the following year. He appeared in only two games for Minnesota Vikings during the 1992 NFL season before suffering an ACL injury to his left knee that required season ending surgery. Early years Welborne was born in Reidsville, North Carolina, in 1968. He was given the nickname "Tripp" because he was the third generation in his family to be named Sullivan Welborne. His father, Dr. Sullivan Welborne Jr., was an administrator and chemistry professor at North Carolina A&T University. His mother, Gloria, was a kindergarten teacher. Welborne attended Walter Hines Page Senior High School in Greensboro, North Carolina. He was a three-sport star at Page High School, playing football, basketball and baseball. He was rated the #1 wide receiver prospect in the country while in high school and was an All-State basketball and football player on both offense and defense. The Page Pirates football team compiled a 40-1-1 record and won two state championships with Welborne in the lineup. In the 1985 4A state championship game, he blocked a field goal attempt on the final play that a teammate returned for a touchdown to give the Pirates a 26–20 victory over Terry Sanford High School. Welborne also became an Eagle Scout while in high school. University of Michigan Welborne enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1987 and played college football for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 1987 to 1990. He arrived at Michigan as a highly rated wide receiver prospect, and played in every game. He caught two passes for 45 yards during the 1987 season. 1988 season As the Wolverines prepared for the 1988 season, they were well stocked with receivers (including Chris Calloway, Greg McMurtry, Derrick Walker and