Rufus Ferguson

Rufus Ferguson (born April 28, 1951), nicknamed "the Roadrunner", is a former American football running back.

Rufus Ferguson
Personal information
Born: (1951-04-28) April 28, 1951
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Height:5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:Miami Killian (Kendall, Florida)
College:Wisconsin (1970–1972)
Position:Running back
NFL Draft:1973 / Round: 16 / Pick: 404
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only

Early years

Ferguson was born in Miami, Florida, in 1951 and played high school football at Miami Killian High School.

University of Wisconsin

Ferguson played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers from 1970 to 1972. He set a Wisconsin career record with 2,814 rushing yards.[1] (His career rushing record was broken by Billy Marek in 1975.) As a junior, he rushed for 1,222 yards and was selected by both the Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI) as a first-team running back on the 1971 All-Big Ten Conference football team.[1][2][3][4] As a senior, he rushed for 1,004 yards and was selected by the AP as a first-team player and by the UPI as a second-team player on the 1972 All-Big Ten Conference football team.[1][5][6] He received a degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin in June 1973.[7]

Professional football

He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the 16th round of the 1973 NFL Draft,[8] but he was cut during the preseason, after being deemed too short (listed as either five feet, four inches[9] five feet, five inches,[10] or five feet, six inches[8]) for the NFL.

He signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League in September 1973,[10] but he was cut by the team later that month.[11]

Ferguson was drafted by the Portland Storm of the newly-formed World Football League.[9] During the 1974 WFL season, Ferguson ranked fourth in the league in rushing with 1,200 yards and led the Storm with 53 pass receptions.[12]

In June 1975, he signed with the Portland Thunder (WFL).[13] When the WFL folded prior to the end of the 1975 season, Ferguson was the Thunder's leading rusher with 768 yards and also had 32 receptions.[12] He became known in Portland for his touchdown dance that was known as either the "Roadrunner Shuffle" or the "Thunderbolt Shuffle".[12]

Later years

Ferguson's son, Rhadi Ferguson, was born in 1975 and became a martial arts champion.[14]

References
  1. "Rufus Ferguson". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  2. "All Big Ten Selected". Daily Illini. November 24, 1971.
  3. "Sports Whirl". The Daily News of the Virgin Islands. November 24, 1971.
  4. "Unbeaten Michigan Dominate UPI Team Picked by Coaches: Ohio State Places 7 On All-Big Ten Teams". The Times Recorder, Zanesville, OH. November 25, 1971. p. 9D.
  5. "Wells named to All-Big Ten team". The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois). November 28, 1972.
  6. "UM, State, Buckeyes Dominate UPI's All Big Ten Team". Ludington Daily News (UPI story). November 28, 1972. p. 5.
  7. "Rufus on Lucey's staff". The Post-Crescent. October 6, 1973. p. 3.
  8. "Late Selection Bothers Rufus". Fond du Lac (WI) Reporter. February 1, 1973. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  9. Larry Hamel (August 23, 1974). "Storm's Ferguson Too Good, Not 'Too Short'". Sentinel-Star. p. 42 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  10. "briefly". The Brandon Sun. September 11, 1973. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  11. "untitled". Argus-Leader. September 30, 1973. p. 36.
  12. "Rufus Ferguson Eyes Career In The NFL". The La Crosse (WI) Tribune. November 20, 1975. p. 32.
  13. "Rufus Ferguson Signs". Harford Courant. June 18, 1975. p. 58.
  14. "Judo master sharpens skills for Athens". The Palm Beach Post. August 6, 2004. p. 2C.
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