No. 84, 18, 81 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Dayton, Ohio, U.S. | November 11, 1975||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | Dayton (OH) Meadowdale | ||||||
College: | Tennessee | ||||||
NFL draft: | 1998 / round: 7 / pick: 204 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
| |||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
| |||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||
| |||||||
Stats at ArenaFan.com |
Andy McCullough (born November 11, 1975) [4] is a former professional American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL), NFL Europe and Arena Football League (AFL).
McCullough attended Meadowdale High School in Dayton, Ohio, where he excelled in both football and basketball. [5] Scouts, and fans traveled to Dayton Ohio from all over the country to watch McCullough play ball. He was in the headlines every week for his exceptional play. Although he did not play a down of football until he began high school, McCullough was recruited by more than 31 different colleges for both basketball and football. He accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Tennessee to play football.
McCullough played college football for the University of Tennessee, where he was a four-year letterman (1994–1997). [6] During his career with the Volunteers he played in 44 games, totaling 59 catches for 912 yards (15.5 average) and eight touchdowns. It was in his Junior and Senior year that McCullough excelled, racking up 86% of his yardage and seven touchdowns. [7] During the 1997 season he caught the last pass of Peyton Manning's college career.
As a true freshman, McCullough played in eight games. He received for 45 yards in four catches. In his sophomore year, McCullough had nine catches totaling 81 yards and a touchdown. He finished out his junior year fourth on the Tennessee team with a total of 352 yards receiving in 24 catches and four touchdowns. In his final year, as a senior, McCullough finished with 434 yards and three touchdowns in 22 receptions. [7] He was part of the Vols 1997 SEC Championship.In the Orange Bowl that year, he caught a 29-yard pass, the team's longest reception. He also played a major role in the Gator Bowl win over Virginia Tech
McCullough was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the seventh round (204th overall) of the 1998 NFL draft. [8] [9] [10] Subsequently, McCullough spent time with the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions. The Arizona Cardinals signed him on November 19, where he remained for three seasons. [11]
The Cardinals allocated McCullough to NFL Europe where he played for the Frankfurt Galaxy.
McCullough had a standout season in Europe, recording 48 receptions (fourth in league) for 883 yards (second in league) and ten touchdowns (third in league). [12] He also returned eight kickoffs for 158 yards and two punts for 46 yards. [13] In a week six match-up with the Scottish Claymores he caught a career-best eight receptions for 170 yards and three touchdowns.
McCullough earned World Bowl MVP honors as the Galaxy captured the NFL Europe League championship. [14] He was the star of the game catching six passes for 151 yards and scored three touchdowns in Frankfurt's 38–24 win over the Barcelona Dragons. [15]
Following the NFL Europe season, McCullough returned to Arizona. He played in two games for the Cardinals during the 1999 NFL season, catching three passes for 45 yards. [13]
McCullough was later released by the Arizona Cardinals. [16] [17] The Kansas City Chiefs signed him to the 2000 NFL season McCullough also spent time with the Tennessee Titans.
In 2001, McCullough was signed by the Oakland Raiders and allocated to the NFL Europe League where he played, again, for the Frankfurt Galaxy. Once again he played at an all-time high. He led the team in receptions with 41 (fourth in league) [18] and recorded 460 yards and three touchdowns. [13]
McCullough signed with the Dallas Desperados of the Arena Football League on January 22, 2002. [19] He finished the season with 82 catches for 836 yards and 24 touchdowns, leading the team in all three categories. [20] Following the season McCullough was selected to the AFL All-Rookie Team.
McCullough also played defense for Dallas, recording eight tackles, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. He was named game MVP twice in 2002. First against Detroit, where he scored career-high totals in touchdowns (5), catches (14), and yards (152). The second, in Tampa Bay, where he led the team with a touchdown, 95 yards and 8 receptions. McCullough also set up the game-winning touchdown by recovering a fumble in overtime.
The Dallas Desperados finished the 2003 season ranked first in total offense, and fifth in scoring with the help of McCullough, who was one of a three-part offensive attack. He experienced career highs in both receiving with 96 catches and total yards with 1,215. He tied his career-high in touchdowns with 24. He also contributed on defense for the team, racking up a career-high in tackles with 22.5 and team and career highs in fumble recoveries with three. [21]
McCullough was named Ironman of the Game twice that season. The first time against Arizona, where he forced numerous incompletions and racked up 128 yards on offense. The second time was against Detroit, where he scored, had 64 yards and posted an interception.
McCullough received yet another game MVP with his performance in Los Angeles when he experienced the first two interceptions of his career.
McCullough also was named game MVP against Chicago, when he scored two touchdowns and caught seven passes for 118 yards.
During the playoffs, he tied for the team lead scoring 3 touchdowns, having 14 catches and receiving for 149 yards. He was named Ironman of the Game in the first round of the playoffs against Indiana when he led the team with 99 yards on nine catches and scoring three times.
McCullough was signed by the Georgia Force on January 5, 2004. [22] On March 11, he was part of a midseason trade, moving from Georgia to the Indiana Firebirds. [22] Even though he only played 10 games with Indiana, he ranked third on the team in touchdowns (nine), and fifth in yards (351) and receptions (29). [23]
McCullough signed with the Colorado Crush in 2005. He had an outstanding year on both offense and defense. He had 16.5 tackles, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and broke up one pass. On offense, he finished the season with 740 yards, 11 touchdowns and 71 receptions. [24]
During the playoffs, McCullough made a tackle and had 41 yards on three catches in the first rounds. In the Conference Championship game, McCullough caught the game-winning touchdown, catching 11 passes overall for 137 yards and four touchdowns. In the Divisional round, McCullough had one tackle, two touchdowns, 122 yards and seven receptions.
In 2006 McCullough ranked up his best numbers as a player on the Colorado Crush. Defensively, he had 19.5 tackles, a forced fumble, and one interception. He also racked up 1,093 yards and 14 touchdowns on 92 catches. [25] In a game in Los Angeles, McCullough added a season-high with four tackles before he was hauled out of the game on a stretcher in the fourth quarter. He was taken to an area hospital where he was diagnosed with a neck injury, a concussion, and four broken molars. McCullough was named Defensive Player of the Game this year in the contest against Nashville. During the 2006 playoffs, McCullough had an outstanding game in the Divisional Round. He had seven receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns. McCullough also had two tackles on defense.
McCullough signed with the Cleveland Gladiators on February 26, 2008. [26] He started the first three games of the season, catching 14 passes for 156 yards and scoring a touchdown on a 37-yard pass from quarterback Raymond Philyaw on the first play from scrimmage against the New York Dragons in week one. [27] The Gladiators released him in 2008 due to a broken hand, suffered during his time in the NFL, that never healed properly. [26]
McCullough earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Tennessee.
A prep basketball and football star at Meadowdale H.S. in Dayton, he averaged 29 points to lead the state of Ohio in scoring and was named second-team All-State as a basketball player. McCullough didn't begin playing football until his freshman year of high school. He was Named Street and Smith All-American, all-state, all-area and all-city and also played in the Big 33, an all-star American football game featuring the top high-school football players. McCullough helped lead his Ohio team to victory before some 16,000 fans at Hersheypark Stadium after quarterback Scott Mutryn's 74-yard completion to Tennessee-bound Andy McCullough set up Curtis Enis' 1-yard touchdown run for the game's first score with 1:33 left in the first quarter. As a split end, McCullough caught 35 passes for 595 yards and 10 touchdowns and defensively, registered 95 hits, including 10 sacks and 11 tackles for a loss as a senior. He was named city champion in his senior year and was a member of the number one recruiting class at Tennessee.
Earnest Alexander Byner is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates. He is now the running backs coach of Out-of-Door Academy.
Christopher Jackson is an American football coach and former wide receiver who is the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator for The University of Texas. During the 2022 season, he was the wide receivers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bears.
Todd Vaughn Devoe is an American former professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) and Arena Football League (AFL). He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at Itawamba Community College and Central Missouri.
Marcus DeLando Nash is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Denver Broncos 30th overall in the 1998 NFL draft. He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers.
James Baron is a former arena football defensive lineman in the Arena Football League. He was the Arena Football League Players Association's (AFLPA) president as well.
David Saunders, is a former arena football wide receiver and linebacker. He played collegiate football for West Virginia University.
John Wesley Ours is a former Arena football running back / linebacker. He played collegiately at West Virginia University. He was nicknamed "Wes Express" in college because of his ability to run over other players. He also was the biggest fullback in the country during his senior season. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He ended his professional football career by winning ArenaBowl XXII with the Philadelphia Soul in 2008.
Will Pettis is a former wide receiver and defensive back in the Arena Football League (AFL) for the Dallas Desperados and Dallas Vigilantes. He was a four-time member of the AFL's All-Ironman team, a three-time member of the All-Arena team and the 2007 Ironman of the Year. He played college football at Midwestern State University.
Kenny McEntyre, nicknamed "the Glove", is a former arena football defensive back. He played college football at Kansas State.
Eric Grimes Weems is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver, special teamer, and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Bethune–Cookman Wildcats and was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He also played for the Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans.
Rodney Bernard Wright, Jr. is a former American football wide receiver. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL draft. He played college football at Fresno State.
Omarr Ali Hasan Smith is a former American football defensive back who was most recently the head coach of the Baltimore Brigade of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played professionally for the San Jose SaberCats of the AFL, and played college football at San Jose State.
Marquis Floyd is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Tennessee Valley Vipers, Rio Grande Valley Dorados, San Jose SaberCats and Arizona Rattlers in the Arena Football League (AFL). He was signed by the Tennessee Valley Vipers as a street free agent in 2004. He played college football at West Georgia.
Daniel Edward Alexander is a former American football fullback and linebacker. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL draft. He played college football at Nebraska.
Larry Brackins is a former American football wide receiver. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL draft. He played college football at Pearl River Community College. Brackins was also a member of the New York Jets, New York Sentinels, Philadelphia Soul, Dallas Vigilantes, Orlando Predators and Cleveland Gladiators.
Jermaine Jones is an American former professional football defensive specialist in the Arena Football League (AFL) for the Dallas Desperados. He also was a member of the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, New York Giants, and Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL); and the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Northwestern State University.
Shawn Foreman is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at West Virginia.
Anthony A. Armstrong is a former American football wide receiver. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Miami Dolphins in 2008. He played college football at West Texas A&M.
Chris Avery is a former arena football fullback / linebacker in the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at Kentucky State.
Jermaine Lewis is a former American football wide receiver. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Detroit Lions in 2003. He played college football at Western Michigan.