Ken-Yon Rambo

Ken-Yon Cedric Rambo (born October 4, 1978) is a former professional American football wide receiver in the Canadian Football League for the Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts. He also was a member of the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets in the National Football League. He played college football at The Ohio State University.

Ken-Yon Rambo
No. 87
Born: (1978-10-04) October 4, 1978
Long Beach, California
Career information
CFL statusAmerican
Position(s)WR
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight207 lb (94 kg)
CollegeOhio State
High schoolLong Beach Polytechnic
(Long Beach, California)
NFL draft2001 / Round: 7 / Pick: 229
Drafted byOakland Raiders
Career history
As player
2001Oakland Raiders*
2001–2002Dallas Cowboys
2003New York Jets
2005–2011Calgary Stampeders
2012Toronto Argonauts*
  • Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star2008
CFL West All-Star2008
Career stats

Early years

Rambo attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School, playing football and running track. In his senior year (1997) he caught a school record 79 passes for 1,096 yards (13.9 yard average) and 17 touchdowns. He received prep All-American and All-state honors.

In 1997, he won the CIF California State Meet in the 300 meter hurdles.[1]

College career

Rambo accepted a football scholarship from The Ohio State University. As a freshman, he had 7 receptions for 145 yards and one touchdown. As a sophomore, he collected 5 receptions for 77 yards, 2 kickoff returns for 237 yards (18.8 yard average) and 19 punts returns for 128 yards (6.7 yard average).

As a junior, he was named a starter at wide receiver posting 41 receptions (second on the team) for 833 yards (20.3 yard average) and 6 touchdowns. He returned 21 kickoffs for 653 yards and a 21.1 yard average, breaking the school single-season record. Against Ohio University , he tallied 7 receptions for 181 yards (eighth in school history), with a 25.6 yard average, including 68 and 15 yard touchdown receptions.

As a senior, he registered a career-high 53 receptions (ninth in school history) for 794 yards (15 yard average) and 2 touchdowns. He returned 17 kickoffs for 478 yards (28.1 yard average) and 23 punts for 145 yards (6.3 yard average).

He finished his collegiate career with 106 receptions (eighth in school history), 1,849 career receiving yards (seventh in school history) and 64 kickoff returns (school record) for a 22.9 yard average.

Professional career

Oakland Raiders

Rambo was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the seventh round (229th overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft. He was waived on August 28.[2]

Dallas Cowboys

On September 5, 2001, he was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys.[3] He was declared inactive in the first 2 games and played mostly as a return specialist.

In 2002, he saw more time as the third receiver after the season ending neck injury to Raghib Ismail, posting 14 receptions for 211 yards. Against the Detroit Lions, he was the primary returner in place of an injured Reggie Swinton, registering 4 kickoff returns for 63 yards and 4 punt returns for 2 yards. Against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he had a career-high 65 receiving yards, including a career-long 47 yard reception to set up the game-winning touchdown. He was released on August 31, 2003.[3]

New York Jets

On December 9, 2003, he was signed by the New York Jets, but was not utilized in games.[4] In 2004, he was limited with a hamstring injury in training camp and was cut on September 4.[5]

Calgary Stampeders

On May 29, 2005, he signed a contract with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He finished third on the team in receiving with 789 yards, along with 57 receptions and 3 touchdowns.

In 2006, he was fourth on the team in receiving with 704 yards, along with 60 receptions for 5 touchdowns. In 2007, he ranked third on the team with 983 receiving yards and tied with teammate Jeremaine Copeland and D.J. Flick for first in the league in receiving touchdowns with 10.

The 2008 season saw Rambo lead the league in total receiving yards with 1,473 on 100 receptions to go along with 8 touchdowns, helping his team reach the Western Final playoff game. The Stampeders would go on to win the 96th Grey Cup 22-14 over the Montreal Alouettes.

In 2009, he lost for the season after 3 games with a torn ACL. In 2010, he recorded 72 receptions for 1,172 yards and 8 touchdowns.

He was released by the Stampeders on June 23, 2012, after seven seasons with the team, due to an achilles tendon injury. At the time he ranked eighth overall on Calgary’s all-time list for receptions and receiving yards and 10th on touchdown receptions.

Toronto Argonauts

On August 21, 2012, Rambo was added to the Toronto Argonauts' practice roster. After a partial season with the Argonauts, he was released on February 5, 2013.

On September 4, 2015, Calgary signed Rambo to a one-day contract, allowing him to retire as a Stampeder.[6] He finished his Canadian Football League career with 103 games, 416 receptions, 6,119 yards and 40 touchdowns (39 receiving and one rushing). He also returned 50 punts for 463 yards and 4 kickoffs for 60 yards.

References
  1. "California State Meet Results - 1915 to present". Hank Lawson. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  2. "NFL Transactions". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  3. "Ken-Yon Rambo". kffl.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  4. "Transactions". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  5. "Off the Bench Last, Bollinger Shows His Best". New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  6. "Veteran WR Rambo retires as a Stampeder". TSN. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
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