Jerry Overton
American football player (born 1941)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jerry Lee Overton (born January 24, 1941) is an American former professional football player who was a safety for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes.
El Dorado Springs, Missouri, U.S.
| No. 20 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Safety | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born | January 24, 1941 El Dorado Springs, Missouri, U.S. | ||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school | Mar Vista (Imperial Beach, California) | ||||
| College | Utah (1959–1962) | ||||
| NFL draft | 1963: 15th round, 202nd overall pick | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||
| |||||
Early life
Overton attended Mar Vista High School in Imperial Beach, California, where he was an all-Avocado League selection in three sports: football, basketball, and track and field.[1][2] He was the 1958 Avocado League player of the year in football and was the senior class president.[3][4] He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Utah.[1]
College career
Overton played on the freshman team during his first year at Utah.[5] As a sophomore, he registered 10 receptions (second on the team) for 193 yards (third on the team), a 19.3-yard average (second on the team), 2 receiving touchdowns (tied for the team lead) and 30 carries for 119 yards.[6]
As a junior, he tallied 7 receptions (third on the team) for 80 yards (third on the team), one receiving touchdown, 27 carries for 158 yards (5.9-yard average) and 2 rushing touchdowns. He ranked 18th in the nation in kickoff returns, with a 30-yard average.[7]
As a senior, he was limited with injuries, posting 18 receptions for 190 yards, one receiving touchdown and 36 carries for 182 yards (5.1-yard average).[8] He was selected to play in the 1963 Senior Bowl.[9][10]
Professional career
Overton was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 15th round (202nd overall) of the 1963 NFL draft. As a rookie, he was tried at flanker, before being moved to safety. In 1964, he was placed on the injured reserve list with a broken leg he suffered in a skiing accident .[11] He couldn't recover his previous form and was released on August 13, 1965.[12]
Personal life
In 1961, Overton married Diane Carol Chase, a Casper, Wyoming, native and fellow sophomore at the University of Utah.[4]