[5] Wright received a football scholarship to the University of Houston, where he studied engineering and was an Academic All-American.
[2] In 1970, Wright was a consensus First Team All-American, and was named the Touchdown Club of Columbus Player of the Year.
[2][4] His 21.9 yards per reception career average is fourth all-time in NCAA Division I history (as of 2024).
[2][15][4] While an outstanding football player, Wright also became known for his running style and celebratory scoring.
During a game in his junior year against Florida, he caught a pass and was wrapped up by the defender, future NFL player Steve Tannen.
Once he scored, Wright began rapidly pumping his legs while high-stepping, which some have called the first touchdown celebration dance.
Wright had been in the high school band before joining the football team, and this had given him an "'entertainment mindset'".
[4][1][7] While this was no comparison to the antics later displayed by such famed celebrators as Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, Ickey Woods or Terrell Owens,[16] being as much a drum major strut as a dance,[17] it was almost equally shocking at the time, being booed by the Florida fans as he high-stepped toward the endzone that very first time.
[20] A knee injury toward the end of the season was the beginning of a steep decline in Wright's play.
During this time Wright obtained a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Houston's C.T.