Leon Gonzalez

Last updated
Leon Gonzalez
No. 83, 89
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1963-09-21) September 21, 1963 (age 59)
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:162 lb (73 kg)
Career information
High school: Jean Ribault (FL)
College: Bethune-Cookman
NFL Draft: 1985  / Round: 8 / Pick: 216
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× All-MEAC (1983, 1984)
Career NFL statistics
Games played:13
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Leon Eugene Gonzalez III (born September 21, 1963) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at Bethune-Cookman University.

Contents

Early years

Gonzalez attended Jean Ribault High School, where he practiced football, basketball and track. He was a teammate of future NFL wide receiver Kelvin Martin.

He accepted a football scholarship from Bethune-Cookman University. [1] As a freshman, his teammates gave him the nickname "Speedy" Gonzalez. As a junior, he became a starter, registering 43 receptions for 718 yards and 6 touchdowns.

As a senior, he led the MEAC in receiving with 56 receptions for 941 yards and 9 touchdowns. [2] He also contributed to the team winning the Mideastern Athletic Conference Division championship. [3]

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Gonzalez was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the eighth round (216th overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft. [4] He was also selected by the Orlando Renegades in the eleventh round (147th overall) of the 1985 USFL Draft. As a rookie, he was a backup wide receiver behind Mike Renfro and also returned punts. He finished with 3 receptions for 28 yards and 15 punt returns for 58 yards (3.9-yard avg.). He was waived on December 5 to be placed on the injured reserve list with a Bunion condition, and to make room for Gordon Banks. [5] He was released on August 23, 1986. [6]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In May 1987, he signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. [7] He was released before the start of the season.

Atlanta Falcons

After the NFLPA strike was declared on the third week of the 1987 season, those contests were canceled (reducing the 16 game season to 15) and the NFL decided that the games would be played with replacement players. Gonzalez was signed in September to be a part of the Atlanta Falcons replacement team. [8] He was a backup at wide receiver. He appeared in 2 games, posting 3 receptions for 40 yards. He was cut on October 19, at the end of the strike. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen Rossum</span> American football player (born 1975)

Allen Bonshaca Lamont Rossum is a former American football cornerback and return specialist. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame.

Troy Joseph Bergeron is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Georgia Force and Cleveland Gladiators in the Arena Football League. He never played college football.

Kevin Ray Williams, Jr. is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football at the University of Miami.

Robert Cole Williams is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs. He played college football at Baylor University.

Gordon Gerard Banks is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Oakland Invaders of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at Stanford University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Weems</span> American football player (born 1985)

Eric Grimes Weems is a former American football wide receiver, special teamer, and return specialist. He played college football at Bethune–Cookman and was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He has also played for the Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans.

Gary Marshall Barnes is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers, the Dallas Cowboys, the Chicago Bears, and the Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at Clemson University.

Jimmy Robinson is a former American football wide receiver and retired wide receivers coach of the National Football League. He played for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers during his playing career. He was a wide receivers coach in professional football since 1984, coaching for the Memphis Showboats, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, and most recently the Dallas Cowboys.

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

Tavon Wesley Austin is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at West Virginia where he received All-American honors twice. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

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

Brice Christian Butler is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at USC and San Diego State.

Tim Daniel is a former American football wide receiver in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the eleventh round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida A&M University.

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

Calvin Orin Ridley is an American football wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Washington (wide receiver)</span> American football player (born 1996)

James Edward Washington Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Oklahoma State, where he won the Fred Biletnikoff Award and named a unanimous All-American in 2017 before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Deante Wayne Burton is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He played college football at Kansas State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D. J. Moore (wide receiver)</span> American football player (born 1997)

Denniston Oliver "D. J." Moore Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Maryland and was drafted by the Panthers in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

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

Russell Gage Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU, and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CeeDee Lamb</span> American football player (born 1999)

CedarianDeLeon "CeeDee" Lamb is an American football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma where he was a consensus All-American in 2019 and was drafted by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Kirk Douglas Phillips is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at the University of Tulsa.

Sims Edward Stokes III is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Northern Arizona University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Olave</span> American football player (born 2000)

Christian Josiah Olave is an American football wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State, where he holds the school record of most career touchdown receptions at 35. Olave was drafted by the Saints in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

References

  1. "Pro Football Careers Loom For Bethune's Gonzalez, Bostic" . Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  2. "Bethune Trio Making Strong Bids To Land Nfl Jobs" . Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  3. "Brown Isn't Blue Because Gonzalez Is A Cowboy" . Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  4. "Gonzalez Makes Speedy Impression : Landry Likes the Chances of Dallas' Rookie Wide Receiver". Los Angeles Times . 27 July 1985. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  5. "For The Record". The Washington Post . Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  6. "The Dallas Cowboys released three players Saturday". Associated Press . Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  7. "Little: Not Drafting Irvin Was A Mistake" . Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  8. "Atlanta Falcons" . Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  9. "NFL Roster Moves" . Retrieved January 12, 2019.