Richard Ellender (born June 9, 1957) is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist who played in the National Football League (NFL).
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| Position: | Wide receiver Return specialist | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | June 9, 1957 Sulphur, Louisiana, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 165 lb (75 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Sulphur (Sulphur, Louisiana) | ||||||||
| College: | McNeese State | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1979 / round: 9 / pick: 243 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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College career
editEllender played four seasons for the McNeese State Cowboys. He was named All-Southland Conference as a senior when he had 23 receptions for 402 yards and four touchdowns.[1] Ellender was inducted into McNeese State's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.[2]
Professional career
editEllender was selected in the ninth round of the 1979 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers.[3] Ellender was originally cut during the preseason but was re-signed by the team.[4] When he joined the team, the coach told him, "I don't wan't you to fumble, and every yard you move the ball toward the goal line, that's one less yard Earl [Campbell] will have to get by himself."[5] Ellender finished the season with one reception for 15 yards and was the Oilers' leading punt and kick returner.[6] Ellender was cut at the end of training camp in 1980.[7]
Personal life
editEllender stayed in Houston after his football career ended and works as a loans officer.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Lawrence Garners Top Honors At McMeese AllSports Fete". The Crowley Post-Signal. Newspapers.com. May 2, 1979. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- ^ Bonnette, Matthew (August 8, 2018). "Playmakers compose McNeese All-75th Anniversary Team's wide receivers". CrescentCitySports.com. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- ^ "Oilers show off future 'pass rush'". The Galveston Daily News. Newspapers.com. May 5, 1979. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- ^ "Transactions". Times-News. August 22, 1979. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- ^ Price, Asher (2019). Earl Campbell: Yards after Contact. University of Texas Press. p. 212. ISBN 978-1477319086.
- ^ Wallace, William N. (December 28, 1979). "Chargers-Oilers=An Analysis". The New York Times. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- ^ "Transactions". The Daily Oklahoman. Newspapers.com. August 27, 1980. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- ^ Robertson, Dale (December 10, 2007). "Remembering the Luv Ya Blue Oilers". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 19, 2020.