Dennis Onkotz

Last updated

Dennis Onkotz
No. 35
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1948-02-06) February 6, 1948 (age 76)
Northampton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
College: Penn State
NFL draft: 1970  / round: 3 / pick: 72
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference
College Football Hall of Fame

Dennis Henry Onkotz (born February 6, 1948) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, twice earning consensus All-American honors. He suffered a career ending injury during his first and only season with the Jets.

Contents

Early life

Onkotz was born on February 6, 1948, in Northampton, Pennsylvania. [1] He attended Northampton Area High School. He graduated in 1966. [2] From 1963-66 he scored over 1,000 points on the school's basketball team. [3] In 2006, he was inducted into the Northampton Area School District Athletic Hall of Fame. [4]

College career

Onkotz attended Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). He was named a consensus All-American at linebacker in 1968 and 1969. He was a second team All-American as a sophomore in 1967. An all-around athlete, Onkotz helped earn Penn State the nickname "Linebacker U," as the first great linebacker in the school tradition; but thanks to his speed he also held the unlikely position of punt returner, with an impressive average of over 13 yards per return. [5] [6] [1] [7] Future NFL hall of fame linebacker, and Penn State teammate, Jack Ham [8] said "'[Linebacker U] started with Dennis Onkotz.'" [9]

Onkotz led the team in tackles in 1968 and 1969. [1] As of 2024, he ranks first in school history for interceptions by a linebacker with 11, [2] with only five defensive backs ahead of him in total interceptions. [10] Onkotz amassed 287 tackles, which at one time ranked third on the Lions' career list (but as of 2024 is just outside of the top five [10] ). His 11 interceptions are tied for eighth in school history. His three interception returns for touchdowns are a career record (since tied). Onkotz made the 1969 Academic All-America team and was also selected to play in the 1970 Hula Bowl. [11] In three seasons, he helped the Lions to a 30–2–1 record and three bowl games, including two Orange Bowl wins. [2] During the two Orange Bowl seasons (1968-69), Penn State was 11–0 each year. [5] The Associated Press ranked Penn State second in the nation both years. [12] [13]

In 1995, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. [5] [1]

NFL career

Onkotz was selected in the third round of the 1970 NFL draft by the New York Jets. [14] However, during a goal line stand on defense against the Los Angeles Rams in his rookie season, the Rams' fullback hit Onkotz and his leg snapped. He was in a cast for five months, with pins in his leg. [15] The severely broken leg effectively ended his professional career after just nine games played. [11] [16] Onkotz was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and after a year attempted a comeback, but did not make the team. He tried another unsuccessful comeback with the Denver Broncos. [15] [17]

Personal life

After his short professional career, Onkotz attended graduate school at Penn State. [15] As an undergraduate, he had gotten a degree in biophysics. [5] Onkotz is a financial planner and affiliated with the Pennsylvania Financial Group. He lives with his wife, Diane, in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania near Penn State. He has four daughters, Dana, Gretchen, Rachel, and Carly. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuck Bednarik</span> Slovak-American football player (1925–2015)

Charles Philip Bednarik, nicknamed "Concrete Charlie", was an American professional football linebacker and center who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn Quakers, and was selected with the first overall pick of the 1949 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, where he played his entire 14-year NFL career from 1949 through 1962. Bednarik is ranked one of the hardest hitting tacklers in NFL history, and was one of the league's last two-way players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie Lott</span> American football player (born 1959)

Ronald Mandel Lott is an American former professional football player in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons from 1981 to 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerry Collins</span> American football player (born 1972)

Kerry Michael Collins is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons. Collins was a member of six NFL teams, most notably the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, and Tennessee Titans. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, winning the Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, and Sammy Baugh Trophy in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derrick Brooks</span> American football player and executive (born 1973)

Derrick Dewan Brooks is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for his entire 14-year career in the National Football League (NFL) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brooks played college football for the Florida State Seminoles, earning consensus All-American honors twice. He was selected by the Buccaneers in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft. An 11-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time first-team All-Pro, Brooks was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2002 en route to winning the franchise's first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XXXVII. Following his retirement, Brooks served as co-owner and president of the Tampa Bay Storm in the Arena Football League (AFL) from 2011 to 2017. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Hendricks</span> Guatemalan-born American football player (born 1947)

Theodore Paul Hendricks, nicknamed "the Mad Stork," is a Guatemalan-American former professional football linebacker who played for 15 seasons with the Baltimore Colts, the Green Bay Packers, and the Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders in the National Football League (NFL).

Shane Patrick Conlan is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, winning two national championships in 1982 and 1986, although he was red-shirted prior to the start of the 1982 season and did not play that season. In 1981, prior to his Penn State career and after his senior season at Frewsburg High School in which he played under head coach Thomas Sharp, Conlan was voted Western New York high school Player of the Year. During his career at Penn State, Conlan had 274 tackles, including a school-record 186 solos. He finished his football career as a three-time all-pro with the NFL's Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams.

Jack Raphael Ham Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1971 to 1982. He is considered one of the greatest outside linebackers in the history of the NFL. Ham was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions. In mid-2019 the newsletter of the PSU Alumni Association rated Ham first among the 100 greatest athletes, considering all sports and all previous football players, in University history.

Willie Edward Lanier, is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) from 1967 through 1977. He won postseason honors for eight consecutive years, making the AFL All-Star team in 1968 and 1969 before being selected to the Pro Bowl from 1970 through 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Brown (American football)</span> American football player, coach and administrator (1940–2019)

William Ferdie Brown was an American professional football player, coach and administrator. He played as a cornerback for the Denver Broncos and the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League (AFL) and later in the National Football League (NFL). Following his playing career, Brown remained with the Raiders as an assistant coach. He served as the head football coach at California State University, Long Beach in 1991, the final season before the school's football program was terminated. Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1984. At the time of his death he was on the Raiders' administrative staff.

Thaddeus John Kwalick is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) and World Football League (WFL). He played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1969 to 1974 and the Oakland Raiders from 1975 to 1977. In 1975, he also played with the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League. He was an All Pro once, three times selected to the Pro Ball, was All American at Penn State, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.

Michael Gene Lucci was an American professional football linebacker who played for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Cleveland Browns for three seasons from 1962 to 1964 and nine seasons with the Detroit Lions from 1965 to 1973. Lucci played college football at Pittsburgh before transferring to Tennessee.

Brandon Darrell Short is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, earning consensus All-American honors in 1999. He played professionally for the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers of the NFL, and was a member the Giants' team that played in Super Bowl XXXV. He is currently Director of Mergers and Acquisitions at Round Hill Capital in London and a member of the Pennsylvania State University's board of trustees.

Bruce Patrick Bannon is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for two seasons during the early 1970s. He played college football for Penn State University and earned consensus All-American honors. The New York Jets selected him in the fifth round of the 1973 NFL draft, and he played for the NFL's Miami Dolphins in 1973 and 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penn State Nittany Lions football</span> American football team

The Penn State Nittany Lions team represents the Pennsylvania State University in college football. The Nittany Lions compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference, which they joined in 1993 after playing as an Independent from 1892 to 1992.

Richard David Robinson is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and professionally for the Green Bay Packers and the Washington Redskins. Robinson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darrin Smith</span> American football player (born 1970)

Darrin Andrew Smith is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenn Ressler</span> American football player (born 1943)

Glenn Emanuel "Zeke" Ressler is an American former football offensive lineman who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1965 through 1974 for the Baltimore Colts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Lee</span> American football player (born 1986)

Sean Patrick Lee is an American former professional football linebacker. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. He made two Pro Bowls and the 2016 All-Pro Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Flowers</span> American football player (1937–2014)

Flavy Charles (Charlie) Flowers was an American football player. He played for the Ole Miss Rebels of the University of Mississippi, and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Smith (linebacker)</span> American football player (born 2001)

Brandon Nathaniel Smith is an American professional football linebacker for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State, and was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Dennis Onkotz (1995) - Hall of Fame". National Football Foundation. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "At Linebacker U, Onkotz was also a punt returner - Morning Call". archive.ph. December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Northampton boys basketball's Ellwood hits 1,000-point milestone". lehighvalleylive. December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Northampton Area School District Athletic Hall of Fame". www.nasdschools.org. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Dennis Onkotz, College Football Hall of Fame". cfbhall.com.
  6. ↑ "The Greatest Penn State Linebackers of All Time". Black Shoe Diaries. June 10, 2007.
  7. ↑ "Penn State Football: 30 greatest players of all-time". Victory Bell Rings. September 27, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Jack Ham | Pro Football Hall of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  9. ↑ Pircardi, Anthony (September 11, 2015). "The origins of Penn State football's Linebacker U". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  10. 1 2 "PSU football's all-time record holders". WGAL. December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  11. 1 2 "Dennis Onkotz Bio - Football - Penn State University Official Athletic Site". www.gopsusports.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
  12. ↑ "1968 Final Football Polls | College Poll Archive". collegepollarchive.com. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  13. ↑ "1969 Final Football Polls | College Poll Archive". collegepollarchive.com. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  14. ↑ "1970 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  15. 1 2 3 Iovino, Jim (September 30, 1995). "Where are they now?". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Dennis Onkotz Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  17. ↑ "Lehigh Valley Flashback Sept. 30: In 1971, Northampton grad Dennis Onkotz is traded from the New York Jets to the Pittsburgh Steelers". The Morning Call. September 30, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.