Joel P. Makovicka (born October 6, 1975) is a former American football fullback who played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals (1999–2002).
| Born: | October 6, 1975 Brainard, Nebraska, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Fullback |
| College | Nebraska |
| High school | Brainard (NE) East Butler |
| NFL draft | 1999, Round: 4 / Pick 116 |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1999–2002 | Arizona Cardinals |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Joel is one of the most decorated fullbacks in Husker history and owns the school record for a fullback with 13 career touchdowns from 1995 to 1998. During his stay at Nebraska, Makovicka was a two-time first-team academic All-American and three-time first-team academic All-Big 12 performer. He also was a member of three national championship teams. The younger brother of another Husker walk-on fullback from Brainard, Neb., Jeff Makovicka, Joel finished his career with 1,447 yards rushing on an average of 5.9 yards per carry while making 22 starts for the scarlet and cream. As a junior, he produced the fourth-highest rushing total by a fullback in school history with 685 yards. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft and started 10 games at fullback for the Cardinals as a rookie.[1]
After his football career he returned to school at Creighton University where he received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy. He opened his first PT clinic in 2009 and now manages a practice with numerous clinics in the Omaha and Lincoln metro area. [2]
See also edit
- Colin Allred – former NFL linebacker who became a lawyer and US Representative
- Tommy Casanova – former NFL player who became an ophthalmologist
- Dennis Claridge – former NFL quarterback who became an orthodontist
- Dan Doornink – former NFL running back who became a medical doctor
- Laurent Duvernay-Tardif – current NFL player who earned a medical degree while playing in the league
- John Frank – Super Bowl winning SF 49er who became a NY City based plastic surgeon
- Bill McColl – former NFL player who became an orthopedic surgeon, father of Milt McColl
- Milt McColl – former NFL linebacker who became a medical doctor
- Frank Ryan – former NFL player and mathematician, who maintained an academic career while playing in the league
- Myron Rolle – former NFL defensive back who was also a Rhodes scholar and is now serving a neurosurgery residency
- John Urschel – former NFL player and mathematician who was a PhD candidate while playing in the league
- Byron White – former NFL running back who became a US Supreme Court Justice
- Rob Zatechka – former NFL guard who became a medical doctor
References edit
- ^ "1999 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- ^ "Makovicka Physical Therapy".
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