Willie Earl Shelby (born July 24, 1953) is a former American football running back and kick returner who played for the Cincinnati Bengals and the St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). In 1976 as a rookie in the NFL he led the league in several kick return categories. He played college football at Alabama.
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| Position: | Running back Kick returner | ||||||||
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| Born: | July 24, 1953 Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 195 lb (88 kg) | ||||||||
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| High school: | Purvis (MS) | ||||||||
| College: | Alabama | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1976 / round: 5 / pick: 138 | ||||||||
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College career
editShelby played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide in 1973, 1974 and 1975.[1] He served primarily as a kick returner in 1973, but became the starting halfback as a junior in 1974.[2] He ran 84 times in 19974 for 541 yards, a 6.4 average.[1] One of his best games came on October 5 against the University of Mississippi, when he scored 2 touchdowns, including on a 58-yard run.[3] The game was particularly sweet to Shelby, as he had been called a "traitor" for attending Alabama instead of his home state school of Mississippi and had received a racist letter before the game.[3]
As a senior in 1975 he dropped to 315 yards as fullback Johnny Davis became Alabama's primary ball carrier.[1] Shelby was disappointed with his senior season.[4] He had also set a goal when he entered college "to be remembered as the best ever" but realized that hadn't happened, although he felt he would be able to become a good professional running back.[4]
Professional career
editShelby was drafted by the Bengals with the 138th pick of the 5th round of the 1976 NFL draft.[5] He got little work as a running back in 1976, rushing just 5 times all season for 9 yards.[5] But he served as the Bengals' primary kick returner. He returned 30 kickoffs for 761 yards, for a 25.4 yard per return average.[5] He also scored a touchdown on a 97-yard kickoff return against the Cleveland Browns on October 3.[6] His 761 kickoff return yards led the NFL that season, and his 97-yard return was the longest in the NFL that season.[7] His one touchdown tied with Cullen Bryant of the Los Angeles Rams for the NFL lead.[7] His 30 kickoff returns tied for 2nd in the NFL, one behind league leader Lou Piccone, and his 25.4 yards per return average tied for 9th.[7] Shelby also returned 21 punts for 162 yards, a 7.7 yard per return average.[5]
Shelby was less successful as a kick returner in 1977 and the Bengals waived him before the 1978 season.[8] He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons, but the Falcons returned him to the Bengals when a physical exam showed that he had suffered a broken collar bone in the Bengals' final preseason game against the Green Bay Packers.[8][9][10] The Bengals waived him again a few days later and he was claimed by the St. Louis Cardinals.[11] He played 3 of 7 games for the Cardinals as a running back and kick returner in 1978 before being waived in October in order to make room on the roster to sign running back Lawrence Barnes.[5][12][13]
He ended his pro career with 7 rushing attempts for 14 yards, 2 receptions for 14 yards, 58 kickoff returns for 1375 yards (a 23.7 yard average) and 42 punt returns for 302 yards (a 7.2 yard average).[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Willie Shelby". Sports Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
- ^ Browning, A. (September 13, 1974). "Willie Shelby Will Start at Halfback for Alabama". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 13. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
- ^ a b Browning, A. (October 6, 1974). "Willie Shelby Has the Last Laugh in Tides Win". The Tuscaloosa News. p. B1. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
- ^ a b Browning, A. (December 29, 1975). "Last Chance: Years Have Passed Quickly for Alabama's Willie Shelby". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 8. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f "Willie Shelby". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
- ^ "Cincinnati Bengals 45 at Cleveland Browns 24". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
- ^ a b c "1976 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
- ^ a b "Falcons' Jones Wants Patience". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. August 30, 1978. p. 27. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
- ^ "Falcons Send Willie Shelby Back". The Tuscaloosa News. September 1, 1978. p. 20. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
- ^ "Bengals' Anderson Not Sulking". Kentucky New Era. September 1, 1978. p. 14. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
- ^ "Transactions". Boca Raton News. September 7, 1978. p. 4B. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
- ^ "Shelby Is Cut By St. Louis". The Tuscaloosa News. October 19, 1978. p. 20. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
- ^ "St. Louis Cardinals Release Willie Shelby". Gadsden Times. October 20, 1978. p. 11. Retrieved September 5, 2015.