Willie Shelby

Shelby 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]

Shelby was selected by the Bengals with the 138th pick of the fifth 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]