Rich Ellender

Richard Ellender (born June 9, 1957) is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist who played in the National Football League.

Rich Ellender
Personal information
Born: (1957-06-09) June 9, 1957
Sulphur, Louisiana
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:165 lb (75 kg)
Career information
High school:Sulphur
(Sulphur, Louisiana)
College:McNeese State
Position:Wide receiver/Return specialist
NFL Draft:1979 / Round: 9 / Pick: 243
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:1
Receiving yards:15
Receiving touchdowns:0
Return yards:717
Player stats at PFR

College career

Ellender 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

Ellender 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

Ellender stayed in Houston after his football career ended and works as a loans officer.[8]

References
  1. "Lawrence Garners Top Honors At McMeese AllSports Fete". The Crowley Post-Signal. Newspapers.com. May 2, 1979. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  2. Bonnette, Matthew (August 8, 2018). "Playmakers compose McNeese All-75th Anniversary Team's wide receivers". CrescentCitySports.com. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  3. "Oilers show off future 'pass rush'". The Galveston Daily News. Newspapers.com. May 5, 1979. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  4. "Transactions". Times-News. August 22, 1979. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  5. Price, Asher (2019). Earl Campbell: Yards after Contact. University of Texas Press. p. 212. ISBN 978-1477319086.
  6. Wallace, William N. (December 28, 1979). "Chargers-Oilers=An Analysis". The New York Times. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  7. "Transactions". The Daily Oklahoman. Newspapers.com. August 27, 1980. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  8. Robertson, Dale (December 10, 2007). "Remembering the Luv Ya Blue Oilers". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
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