Willie Spencer

Last updated

Willie Spencer
Personal information
Born:(1953-01-28)January 28, 1953
Massillon, Ohio
Died:September 19, 2021(2021-09-19) (aged 68)
Massillon, Ohio
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school: Massillon Washington (OH)
Position:Running back
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games:31
Games started:0
Player stats at PFR

Willie Thomas Spencer Sr. (January 28, 1953 - September 19, 2021) is a former American football player.

Spencer was born in Massillon, Ohio, in 1953. He attended Massillon Washington High School. [1] In 1971, he led the county with 116 points scored and 1,251 yards. [2] He also played basketball and led Jefferson in rebounding as a senior. [3]

Spencer opted to skip college football and signed in 1972 with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League. [3] He was cut by Ottawa in July 1972 and assigned to Indianapolis of the Midwest Football League. [4]

In 1973, he played in the Atlantic Coast Football League for the Hartford Knights. [1] He jumped to the Memphis Southmen of the newly formed World Football League (WFL) in 1974. He scored five touchdowns against the Jacksonville Sharks on October 2, 1974. [5] He played two seasons with Memphis, appearing in 27 games and rushing for 1,369 yards during the 1974 and 1975 seasons. [1]

The WFL folded after the 1975 season, and Spencer played in 1976 for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). [6] He concluded his football career with the New York Giants during the 1977 and 1978 seasons. He appeared in a total of 31 NFL games. [6]

Spencer died on September 19, 2021. [7]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Willie Spencer". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Spencer captures triple crown". The Evening Independent. November 16, 1971 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 "Spencer to try Canadian play". The Evening Independent. May 5, 1972 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Spencer Irked By Demotion". The Akron Beacon Journal. July 14, 1972. p. B5 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Jennings, Spencer Lift Southmen to Easy Win". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. October 3, 1974. p. D4 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 "Willie Spencer". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  7. ↑ Willie Thomas Spencer, Sr.
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