Lewis Elman Jolley (born November 15, 1949) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Houston Oilers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels.[1][2]
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| Position: | Running back Kick returner | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | November 15, 1949 Bostic, North Carolina, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| College: | North Carolina | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1972 / round: 3 / pick: 56 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Jolley began his college career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a wingback after not playing football his senior year in high school due to an injury.[3][4] He was converted to a running back in 1971, his senior year in college.[3] He capped his college career playing in the December 1971 Gator Bowl, which North Carolina lost to the Georgia Bulldogs by a score of 7-3.[5]
Jolley was selected by the Oilers in the third round of the 1972 NFL draft with the 56th overall pick.[6][7] He was cut before the 1972 regular season began, but then joined the Oilers' taxi squad before being activated as a special teams player.[1][8] He returned 11 kickoffs for 267 yards, or 24.3 yards per return.[6] In 1973 for Houston he played in 10 of the team's 14 games, rushed 7 times for 6 yards, had 3 receptions for 56 yards, and returned 2 kickoffs for 41 yards.[6] His last game was also his most active. In a December 2 game against the Oakland Raiders, he rushed 5 times for 1 yard and caught 2 passes for 56 yards.[9] But he also had a critical fumble that led to the Raiders' victory.[10]
The Oilers waived Jolley before the 1974 regular season.[11] After being waived by the Oilers, he signed with the Charlotte Hornets of the World Football League.[12][13][14] He played for the Hornets in 1974 and 1975.[15][16] After the Hornets folded, Jolley became a traveling salesman for Worthington Steel, where he was still working as of 1986.[17][18][19]
References
edit- ^ a b Carr, A.J. (September 16, 1973). "Lewis is Jolley in Houston after proving he can play". News and Observer. p. II-12. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Carr, A.J. (November 3, 1971). "Carolina's Lewis Jolley satisfied with role". News and Observer. p. 15. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Germino, Hugo (November 8, 1971). "Lewis Jolley". Durham Sun. p. 2-B. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Barnes, Craig (October 6, 1970). "Carolina's Lewis enjoys 'Jolley' good showing". News and Observer. p. 15. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Morris, Richard (January 1, 1972). "Poulos boosts Georgia to Gator Bowl Victory". Asheville Citizen-Times. p. 11. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Lewis Jolley". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
- ^ Rollins, Glenn (February 2, 1972). "Jolley, McMakin say early picks 'a shock'". Charlotte Observer. p. 11A. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Houston cuts Lewis Jolley". Charlotte Observer. September 16, 1972. p. 5B. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Lewis Jolley Game Logs". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
- ^ Levitt, Ed (December 3, 1973). "Let's Not Complain". Oakland Tribune. p. 33. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Lewis Jolley cut by Oilers". Chapel Hill News. September 11, 1974. p. 6. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Owen, Howard (October 8, 1974). "Lewis Jolley: Closer to Home". The Chapel Hill News. p. 8. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Hornets sign Lewis Jolley". Greenville News. October 8, 1974. p. 12. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Hornets sign ex-UNC ace Lewis Jolley". Charlotte News. October 7, 1974. p. 3C. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspaper.com.
- ^ "Parilli names rookie Hornets' backup QB". The Bee. November 12, 1974. p. 11. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Quincy, Bob (August 17, 1975). "Big plays turn momentum to Hornets". Charlotte Observer. p. 1C. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Sink, Richard (March 14, 1976). "Some Hornets remain in football". Charlotte Observer. pp. 1F, 8F. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Sink, Richard (October 24, 1976). "EX-HORNETS: WHAT THEY'RE UP TO NOW". Charlotte Hornets WFL. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
- ^ Carr, A.J. (August 13, 1986). "Getting pumped up for the big (football) season". News and Observer. p. 4B. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.