Savage attended Howland High School, where he was a starter at defensive end.
As a junior, he was named a starter at outside linebacker and helped the team achieve a Big Ten co-championship.
He finished his college career with 12 sacks (fourth in school history), 3 interceptions and 4 fumble recoveries.
[1] Savage was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the eighth round (216th overall) of the 1980 NFL draft.
[4] In August 1981, he was signed as a free agent by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.