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unusual facts about defensive back



1962 Dallas Cowboys season

Notable rookie free agents the Cowboys signed prior to the season included Pettis Norman, from Johnson C. Smith University, Mike Gaechter, a track and field athlete as well as a football player, from the University of Oregon, and Cornell Green, a basketball player from Utah State University.

2010 Utah Utes football team

The Jim Thorpe Association awards the Jim Thorpe Award each year to the player it votes as college football's best defensive back.

Don Phelps

Don Cooper "Dopey" Phelps (January 7, 1924 – June 11, 1982) was an American football halfback and defensive back who played for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League (NFL) in the early 1950s.

Donovan Warren

Warren's godfather, former Pro Bowl defensive back Mark Carrier, is an assistant coach with the Jets.

Doug Dickey

Dickey began his college career as a defensive back, but he remarkably advanced from seventh on the Gators' quarterback depth chart to starter after Haywood Sullivan's early departure for the Boston Red Sox left the Gators without a starting quarterback in 1952.

John Stearns

John became a two-sport star at Colorado and was drafted as a defensive back by the Buffalo Bills in the 17th round of the 1973 NFL Draft.

Johnny Manziel

Although it was rumored that Texas wanted Manziel at defensive back, Texas coach Mack Brown said the rumor was not true.

Keyuo Craver

Keyuo Boderek Craver (born August 22, 1980 in Dallas, Texas) is an American football defensive back currently playing with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League, who signed Craver as a free agent on March 5, 2009.

Les Walrond

With Walrond anchoring the baseball team, Booker T. experienced an athletic renaissance that included New York Giants defensive back R.W. McQuarters and Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas.

Lincoln Blue Tigers

Lemar Parrish, Former eight-time pro bowl NFL defensive back in the 1970s and early 1980s, and former head coach of the Blue Tiger football team from 2004 to 2009.

Manny Hendrix

In 1986 season, although he never played a down of college football, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a rookie undrafted free agent, following on the foot steps of Cornell Green, Peter Gent, Percy Howard and Ken Johnson, as basketball players that were converted by the Cowboys to play professional football.

Marvin Sanders

Sanders played as a defensive back for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from 1985 through 1989, earning a letter in each of his last three years.

Melvin Robertson

Robertson began his coaching career as an assistant under Bradley Mills at Odessa High School, before joining Bill Yeoman's staff at the University of Houston as defensive backs coach in 1965.

Ralph Ortega

Two of his Coral Gables Cavaliers football teammates, defensive back Neal Colzie and fullback-linebacker Glenn Cameron, were first-round 1975 NFL Draft picks of the Oakland Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals, respectively.

Randy Hughes

Hughes played football at Tulsa Memorial High School, where he was chosen by the Tulsa World newspaper as the Prep Player of the Year, becoming the first defensive back to ever win the award.

Russ Craft

William Russell Craft (October 15, 1919 – January 12, 2009) was an American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Sam Horner

Samuel Watson Horner, III (born March 4, 1938 in Fort Sill, Oklahoma) is a former American football halfback, defensive back, and punter in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants.

Spec Sanders

Orban Eugene "Spec" Sanders (born January 26, 1919 in Temple, Oklahoma) was a former American football running back, quarterback, and punter in the All-America Football Conference and a defensive back in the National Football League for the New York Yanks.

Tyrone Braxton

Tyrone Scott Braxton (born December 17, 1964 in Madison, Wisconsin) is a former American football defensive back who played for the Denver Broncos for most of his career from 1987 to 1999.

Wayne Haddix

Samuel LaWayne Haddix (born July 23, 1965 in Bolivar, Tennessee) is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League who played for the New York Giants (1987–1988), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1990–1991), and Cincinnati Bengals (1991).


see also

1994 Sugar Bowl

It seemed the half would end that way, but just before halftime, Gator defensive back Lawrence Wright picked off an errant pass from West Virginia QB Darren Studstill right on the midfield logo.

2009 Bowling Green Falcons football team

After completing a pass on fourth and six to Troy's 25-yard line, Tyler Sheehan was intercepted by Troy defensive back Bryan Willis ending the Falcons' deepest drive of the first quarter.

79th Grey Cup

The Argos started the game with a bang as defensive back Ed Berry intercepted Calgary quarterback Danny Barrett’s first pass attempt and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown.

André Goodman

Goodman was an all-state wide receiver and defensive back at Eastside High School in Taylors, South Carolina.

Artrell Hawkins

Hawkins attended the University of Cincinnati, where he majored in business and lettered in football for four years (1994-1997) as a defensive back and kick returner under head coach Rick Minter.

Billy Sims

His number "20" would go on to be worn five years after his retirement by Barry Sanders, and is currently retired as an unofficial "Triumvirate" of the greatest Lions in the modern era to ever wear the number, which also includes Hall of Fame defensive back Lem Barney.

Borah High School

Steve Preece, NFL defensive back - 1969-77 - Oregon State broadcaster, class of 1965

Byron Westbrook

In addition, he was a three-time All-Atlantic Central Football Conference first-team selection at defensive back and was a two-time first-team selection on special teams.

Cal Poly Mustangs football

Marijon Ancich - Fullback, Defensive Back and Linebacker, second winningest high school football coach in California history behind Bob Ladouceur (De La Salle High School, Concord, CA).

Darren Sharper

In high school Sharper had primarily played quarterback, and he wanted to be a quarterback at William & Mary as well, until his college coach, Jimmye Laycock, told Sharper that he had the potential to succeed in the NFL as a defensive back.

Darren Willis

Darren starred as a player on the 1982 CIF championship football team and also played defense with Dean Cain, who starred as a defensive back on the 1981-82 team that beat Long Beach Poly 21-8 before accepting a scholarship to play football at Princeton University.

Deep South's Oldest Rivalry

With 36 seconds remaining and faced with 4th and 18 from the Tiger 26-yardline, Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall, a former defensive back for the Bulldogs during the 2011 season, threw a Hail Mary pass, which was tipped by Georgia safety Josh Harvey-Clemons right into the hands of Auburn sophomore wide receiver Ricardo Louis.

DeWayne Lewis

He helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the 2011 IFAF World Championship in Austria and was selected as an All-World defensive back and received the award as the Best Defensive Back at the World Championship.

Eddie Lovett

A native of Miami, Florida, Lovett attended Palm Beach Lakes Community High School in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he also was a highly touted football prospect, playing wide receiver and defensive back.

ESPN25

During the Headlines show about 9/11, ESPN aired the entrance of Dallas Cowboys defensive back George Teague entering Texas Stadium with the American flag when the NFL resumed play after the attacks; otherwise, it had to air still photographs whenever the league was mentioned.

Frank Marsh

Frank Wayne Marsh (born 1940), former professional American football defensive back

Freeman McNeil

In his final game*, he caught a deflected pass from quarterback Jay Schroeder that was tipped by USC defensive back Jeff Fisher and went 57 yards for the winning touchdown with two minutes left in the Bruins' 20-17 win.

Fresno City College

Cameron Worrell Free-Agent Defensive Back has played for the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins & New York Jets, is currently the Defensive backs coach for the Fresno City College Football team.

Haymond

Alvin Haymond (born 1942), former American football defensive back

Kent McCloughan

With Willie Brown, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he is considered to be the originator or one of the earliest proficient exponents of Bump and run coverage, by which a defensive back impedes progress of the wide receiver by body contact, a style that was followed by later Oakland cornerbacks, such as Lester Hayes.

Leeman Bennett

A native of Paducah, Kentucky, Bennett graduated from the University of Kentucky, playing at both quarterback and defensive back under head coach Blanton Collier for three seasons beginning in 1958.

Meador

Ed Meador (born 1937), a former American football defensive back

Mitch Richmond

Mitch Richmond is the cousin of NFL defensive back Lardarius Webb.

Nathan Scheelhaase

His father, Nate Creer, started at defensive back for the University of Iowa, and started for the 1985 team that lost to UCLA in the Rose Bowl to finish 10-2, and be ranked No. 10 at the end of the season AP Poll.

Pearl River Community College

Three former Wildcat players are currently in the NFL, including San Diego Charger wide receiver Demetrius Byrd (who also won the 2008 BCS National Championship with the LSU Tigers after playing for PRCC), Washington Redskin defensive linemen Cornelius Griffin, and Oakland Raider defensive back Hiram Eugene.

Ron Girault

Girault attended Saint Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, New Jersey, where he led the team as a running back and a defensive back, winning the state Group III parochial title in 2003, his senior year.

Ronyell Whitaker

He graduated from Norfolk's Lake Taylor High School, where he "lettered four years as a running back, defensive back and return man"; he scored scored 44 touchdowns and ran for 3,458 yards.

Ryan Phillips

In 2007, Phillips led the CFL with 12 interceptions, tying a team record held by former Lions defensive back, Larry Crawford, in the process.

Southwest Guilford High School

Notable outstanding athletes from SW are Olympic and professional soccer player Eddie Pope, MLS standout Clyde Simms (currently with the D.C. United), NFL Defensive Back Brian Williams (currently with the Atlanta Falcons), and NFL player Stefon Adams.

Super Bowl II

On special teams, defensive back Rodger Bird led the AFL with 612 punt return yards and added another 148 yards returning kickoffs.

Ted Ginn, Jr.

Ginn played for his father, Ted Ginn, Sr., in high school at Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio, where he played defensive back, quarterback and wide receiver.

The Fumble

Browns running back Earnest Byner took the handoff and appeared to be on his way to score the game-tying touchdown, but was stripped by Broncos defensive back Jeremiah Castille at the two-yard line.

Tom Gores

While a student at Genesee High School, Gores played defensive back in football, middle infielder in baseball, and guard in basketball.

Tony Elliott

Tony F. Elliott (born 1964), defensive back for the Green Bay Packers

Tony Mandarich

Recruited to Michigan State University by defensive back coach Nick Saban, Mandarich played in the 1988 Rose Bowl, was named as a First-team All-American, an Outland Award finalist and a two-time Big Ten Lineman of the Year.

Vic Prinzi

He was also a friend and former college football (starting quarterback and defensive back) team mate of Burt Reynolds at Florida State University, after whom a character in The Cannonball Run was named.