Willie Shelby

Willie Earl Shelby (born July 24, 1953) is a former American football running back and kick returner who played for the Cincinnati Bengals and the St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL. In 1976 as a rookie in the NFL he led the league in several kick return categories. He played college football at Alabama.

Willie Shelby
No. 30
Position:Running Back, Kick Returner
Personal information
Born: (1953-07-24) July 24, 1953
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Purvis (MS)
College:Alabama
NFL Draft:1976 / Round: 5 / Pick: 138
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • Led NFL in kickoff return yards and touchdowns (1976)
Player stats at PFR

College career

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]

Professional career

Shelby was drafted by the Bengals with the 138th pick of the 5th 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]

References
  1. "Willie Shelby". Sports Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  2. Browning, A. (September 13, 1974). "Willie Shelby Will Start at Halfback for Alabama". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 13. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  3. Browning, A. (October 6, 1974). "Willie Shelby Has the Last Laugh in Tides Win". The Tuscaloosa News. p. B1. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  4. Browning, A. (December 29, 1975). "Last Chance: Years Have Passed Quickly for Alabama's Willie Shelby". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 8. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  5. "Willie Shelby". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  6. "Cincinnati Bengals 45 at Cleveland Browns 24". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  7. "1976 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  8. Associated Press (August 30, 1978). "Falcons' Jones Wants Patience". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 27. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  9. "Falcons Send Willie Shelby Back". The Tuscaloosa News. September 1, 1978. p. 20. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  10. "Bengals' Anderson Not Sulking". Kentucky New Era. September 1, 1978. p. 14. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  11. "Transactions". Boca Raton News. September 7, 1978. p. 4B. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  12. "Shelby Is Cut By St. Louis". The Tuscaloosa News. October 19, 1978. p. 20. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  13. "St. Louis Cardinals Release Willie Shelby". Gadsden Times. October 20, 1978. p. 11. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
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