Bill Rhodes (American football back)
American football fullback
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William E. Rhodes (December 5, 1934 - June 30, 2008) was an American former football halfback who played for the Colorado Western Mountaineers from 1953 to 1956.
La Junta, Colorado, U.S.
| Profile | |
|---|---|
| Position | Halfback |
| Personal information | |
| Born | December 5, 1934 La Junta, Colorado, U.S. |
| Died | June 30, 2008 (age 73) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
|
At age eight, he sustained severe burns and was told he would never walk again. He went through extensive rehabilitation and became a star athlete at high school in La Junta, Colorado, competing in football, basketball, and track.[1]
Rhodes then played college football at Colorado Western. As a junior, he rushed for 1,153 yards.[2] As a senior in 1956, he led all players in college football with 1,200 rushing yards on 130 carries for an average of 9.23 yards per carry.[3] Against Adams State in 1956, he rushed for 327 yards, setting an all-time college football record. His career average of 8.49 yards per carry was the highest in college football history, and his career total of 4,294 rushing yards ranked second-best in college football history.[4][5] He was also named to the 1956 Little All-America college football team.[6]
Rhodes was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the 62nd pick in the 1957 NFL draft. He attended training camp with the 49ers.[7] He was the last man cut by the 49ers and then signed in September 1957 with the Toronto Argonauts.[8]
Rhodes died in 2008.[1]