Aundray Bruce

Aundray Bruce (born April 30, 1966) is a former American football player. He played outside linebacker and tight end as a pro. As a college football player he played defensive end at Auburn University before playing for the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). The Falcons selected Bruce first overall in the 1988 NFL Draft.

Aundray Bruce
No. 93, 83, 56, 99
Position:Outside linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1966-04-30) April 30, 1966
Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:270 lb (122 kg)
Career information
High school:Montgomery (AL) Carver
College:Auburn
NFL Draft:1988 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Sacks:32
Interceptions:4
Fumble recoveries:3
Player stats at NFL.com

Early years

Bruce was born in Montgomery, Alabama. He attended George Washington Carver High School in Montgomery. A high school phenom, Bruce started at tight end and outside linebacker. He also returned kicks and played four additional positions on offense (quarterback, running back, wide receiver, offensive tackle) and four other positions on defense (defensive tackle, defensive end, nose guard, cornerback). While he excelled in football, basketball was Bruce's first love. He led George Washington Carver High School to the 4-A basketball state championship in both his junior and senior years. As a senior, he was named the state tournament's MVP and won an All-Star game dunk contest.

College career

Bruce was named All-Southeastern Conference in 1986 and 1987, All-American in 1987, and Citrus Bowl MVP in 1987. He first garnered national attention in a game in 1987 against Georgia Tech by intercepting three passes and returning one for a touchdown and making 10 unassisted tackles. Entering the NFL Draft, he was saddled with expectations of becoming the next Lawrence Taylor, though once drafted was described as "unquestionably the least heralded No. 1 draft choice this decade."[1] He graduated from Auburn in 1988 as an education major.

Professional career

Bruce was drafted with the first overall pick in the 1988 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.[2][3] Bruce enjoyed his most prominent role on the Falcons 1991 playoff team when he saw spot duty on offense as a tight end as well as defense. He signed with the Los Angeles Raiders as a free agent in 1992 and finished his career with the organization. Bruce played in 151 games over his 11-season career, posting 32 sacks and 4 interceptions. While Bruce concluded his career with a 7-season tenure in Oakland, he is typically regarded as a draft bust. Despite being the #1 overall pick, he never made an All-Pro or Pro Bowl team, never had double-figure sack totals in a season, and only started 42 games. He only played for two playoff teams in his long career.[4] To this day, no other team has selected a linebacker with the #1 pick in the draft.

NFL career statistics
Year Team GP Interceptions Fumbles Tackles
IntYdsTDFFFRYdsTDSckCmb
1988ATL 16210021006.070
1989ATL 1610020006.066
1990ATL 1600040004.040
1991ATL 1400000000.00
1992LAR 1600000003.523
1993LAR 1600000002.011
1994LAR 1600001000.04
1995OAK 1411110005.525
1996OAK 1600001304.017
1997OAK 1000000001.08
1998OAK 100000000.00
Total[5]1514111933032.0264

Coaching career

Bruce is currently a defensive line coach for the Faulkner University Eagles in Montgomery, Alabama.

References
  1. Falcons' Bruce Riding High And Promising Not to Fall
  2. "1988 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  3. "Sports People; Bruce to Be No. 1". The New York Times. March 31, 1988. Retrieved September 16, 2007.
  4. Top draft busts of the modern era
  5. pfr=B/BrucAu20
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