Junior Tautalatasi

Last updated
Junior Tautalatasi
No. 25, 37
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1962-03-24) March 24, 1962 (age 62)
Oakland, California, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:207 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school: Encinal (Alameda, California)
College: Washington State
NFL draft: 1986  / Round: 10 / Pick: 261
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Total yards:981
Total touchdowns:2
Kick return yards:406
Kick return average:18.5
Player stats at PFR

Taivale "Junior" Tautalatasi Jr. (born March 24, 1962) is a former American football running back. He played college football at Washington State and in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.

Contents

Early years

Born in Oakland, California to a Samoan American family, Tautalatasi graduated from Encinal High School in nearby Alameda in 1981. [1] [2] [3] After high school, he began his college football career at Chabot College, a junior college in Hayward where he would play in the 1981 and 1982 seasons. [4]

He then transferred to Washington State University. [5] After redshirting the 1983 season, he played in 1984 and 1985 with the Washington State Cougars, while playing behind Rueben Mayes (conference rushing leader) and Kerry Porter. [5] With Washington State, Tautalatasi rushed for 402 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. [6]

Professional career

Philadelphia Eagles

Tautalatasi was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the tenth round (261st overall) of the 1986 NFL draft. [7] [3] He made the team after showing big play potential in the preseason. [8] [9] He appeared in all 16 games as the team's third down back and started 2 games, including the season opener, while Keith Byars was recovering from a foot injury. Although he was slowed down by a right knee injury, [10] he finished with 41 receptions (second on the team) for 325 receiving yards (fourth on the team) and 51 carries for 163 rushing yards. [11] He had 11 receptions in the tenth game against the New York Giants. He recorded a 50-yard run in the seventh game against the Dallas Cowboys. He made a 56-yard reception in the fifth game against the Atlanta Falcons. [12]

Buddy Ryan, Tautalatasi's head coach with the Eagles, was unable to pronounce his last name and referred to him most often as "Junior Smith". [13] In 1987, he posted 25 receptions for 176 yards and 26 carries for 69 yards. [3] On November 9, 1988, he was waived to make room for running back Walter Abercrombie. [14] Tautalatasi concluded the 1988 season with 48 receiving and 28 rushing yards. [3]

Dallas Cowboys

On September 26, 1989, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent. A backup running back, Tautalatasi had 157 receiving yards and 15 rushing yards in six games. [3] He was released on August 26, 1990. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Witten</span> American football player (born 1982)

Christopher Jason Witten is an American former professional football tight end for 17 seasons, primarily for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He currently is the head football coach at Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas. He played college football for the University of Tennessee, and was drafted by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft. Witten ranks second in all-time career receptions and receiving yards by an NFL tight end, trailing only Tony Gonzalez. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest tight ends of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darren Sproles</span> American football player (born 1983)

Darren Lee Sproles is an American football executive and former running back. He is now a personnel consultant for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats, earning first-team All-American honors and becoming the school's all-time leading rusher. Sproles was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft. He also played for the New Orleans Saints and the Eagles. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drew Pearson (American football)</span> American football player (born 1951)

Drew Pearson is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. He was elected for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Ronald Edward Springs was an American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Ohio State University.

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

DeSean William Jackson is an American former football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears, where he was recognized as a two-time, first-team All-American in 2006 and 2007. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft, and also played for the Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams, and Baltimore Ravens. Jackson was selected to the Pro Bowl three times, and was the first player selected to the Pro Bowl at two different positions in the same year when he was named to the 2010 Pro Bowl as a wide receiver and return specialist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felix Jones</span> American football player (born 1987)

Felix Jones Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks, earning consensus All-American honors in 2007. He was selected by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Paul Woodrow Palmer is an American former professional football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Barcelona Dragons in the World League of American Football (WLAF). He played college football for the Temple Owls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeMarco Murray</span> American football player and coach (born 1988)

DeMarco Murray is an American football coach and former player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. A three-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time first-team All-Pro, he was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2014 after leading the NFL in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

Robert Lee Lavette is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Derek Wayne Tennell is a former American football tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, and Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at UCLA. With Dallas, he beat the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lance Dunbar</span> American football player (born 1990)

Lance Dunbar, Jr. is a former American football running back. He played college football at University of North Texas and was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfred Morris (American football)</span> American football player (born 1988)

Alfred Bruce Morris is an American former professional football running back. He played college football at Florida Atlantic and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL draft. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Giants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Ajayi</span> English-born American football player (born 1993)

Jay Ajayi is an English-born former American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons with the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Boise State University and was selected by the Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft. Ajayi spent three seasons with the Dolphins, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2016, before being traded to Philadelphia during the 2017 season. As a member of the Eagles, Ajayi was a member of the team that won the franchise's first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl LII. He struggled with injuries afterwards, leading to his 2022 retirement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ezekiel Elliott</span> American football player (born 1995)

Ezekiel Elijah Elliott, nicknamed "Zeke", is an American football running back for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, earning second-team All-American honors in 2015. Elliott was selected by the Cowboys fourth overall in the 2016 NFL draft. In eight seasons in the NFL, he was a three-time Pro Bowl, two-time All-Pro selection, and led the league in rushing yards in 2016 and 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Clement</span> American football player (born 1994)

Corey Joel Clement is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at Wisconsin, and was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He won Super Bowl LII with the team his rookie season, catching a touchdown in the game and helping execute the Philly Special.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Carson</span> American football player (born 1994)

Christopher Dewayne Carson is a former American football running back. He played professionally for five seasons for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL), after playing college football at Butler Community College before transferring to Oklahoma State in 2016. A neck injury during the 2021 NFL season prematurely ended his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Gallup</span> American football player (born 1996)

Michael Gallup is an American football wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Butler Community College before transferring to Colorado State, where he was a consensus All-American in 2017. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft.

Orman Wendell Clemons is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Wake Forest University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rico Dowdle</span> American football player (born 1998)

Rico Sharod Dowdle Jr. is an American football running back for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deuce Vaughn</span> American football player (born 2001)

Christopher "Deuce" Vaughn II is an American football running back for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats.

References

  1. ↑ Aubrey, Coult (May 11, 1986). "Samoan running back could be Eagles surprise". The Morning Call. Allentown. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  2. ↑ McGreehan, Mike (November 12, 2009). "Spotlight on Encinal's Hall of Fame athletes". Alameda Times-Star . Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Junior Tautalatasi". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  4. ↑ "CSM, Chabot to battle for GGC title again" . San Francisco Examiner. September 15, 1982. p. 88. Retrieved October 22, 2020– via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 Domowitch, Paul (May 10, 1986). "Tautalatasi Would Like To Come Out Of Hiding". Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on October 17, 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Junior Tautalatasi". Sports Reference CFB. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  7. ↑ "1986 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  8. ↑ Hoffman, Rich (August 29, 1986). "Despite Brilliance, Junior Will Play 2nd Fiddle". Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  9. ↑ Reid, Ron (August 20, 1986). "By Any Name, A Surprise". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Potential Trouble Awaits Tautalatasi After 'scope". Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on December 31, 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  11. ↑ Drago, Mike (19 August 1987). "Ryan displeased with Tautalatasi". Reading Eagle . p. 38. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "Junior Tautalatasi 1986 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com .
  13. ↑ Reid, Ron (August 11, 1986). "Ryan Promotes Waters And Tautalatasi To First String". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Abercrombie Joins Eagles". Reading Eagle. November 10, 1988. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Former Eagle Zendejas Released By Cowboys". The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 27, 1990. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
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.