Otis Wonsley
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | August 13, 1957 Pascagoula, Mississippi | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 214 lb (97 kg) | ||||||||||||
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| High school: | Moss Point (MS) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Alcorn State | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1980 / round: 9 / pick: 229 (by the New York Giants) | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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Otis Wonsley (born August 13, 1957) is a former American football running back who played for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alcorn State University and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1980 NFL Draft.
Early life
Wonsley was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and played high school football at Moss Point High School in Moss Point, Mississippi.
College career
Wonsley attended and played college football at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi. During his career at Alcorn State, he rushed for over 1,500 yards.[1]
Professional career
Wonsley was drafted in the ninth round (229th overall) of the 1980 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, but was cut by the Giants after training camp.[1] He was then signed by the Washington Redskins in April 1981,[2] where he spent his entire playing career and was used primarily as a backup to John Riggins. He was also a member of The Fun Bunch,[1] which was a group of Redskins players known for their choreographed group celebrations in the end zone (usually a group high-five) following a touchdown. The Fun Bunch's actions eventually resulted in a league-wide ban of "excessive celebration" in 1984.
Wonsley was a member of the Redskins Super Bowl XVII-winning team and played a vital role in what would be the game-winning play. During the game, a play that was designed for gaining short yardage called "70 chip" turned out to be the key play of the game. With 10 minutes remaining, Riggins took a handoff from Joe Theismann on 4th-and-inches, and followed Wonsley[1] and tight end Clint Didier through the left side. Riggins then broke an attempted tackle by Dolphin cornerback Don McNeal and ran for a 43-yard touchdown.[3] The Super Bowl win was the Redskins' first championship victory since 1942.[4] On December 6, 2007, Riggins' run was voted by fans as the Redskins' Greatest Moment.[5][6]
Personal life
Wonsley has two brothers, Nathan and George Wonsley, who were also running backs in the NFL. He is the stepfather of NBA player Roger Mason, Jr.
References
- ^ a b c d Moran, Malcolm (December 18, 1984). "Players; Mastering the Art of Head-Knocking". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- ^ Wallace, William (November 14, 1983). "6 Ex-Giants Aid The Redskins". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- ^ "Magic '70 Chip' Ends Four Decades of Trying". Washington Post. 1996-07-27. Retrieved 2015-06-17.
- ^ "Super Bowl XVII MVP: John Riggins". NFL. Retrieved 2015-06-17.
- ^ "Riggins' Run Is Redskins' Greatest Moment". Washington Redskins. Archived from the original on 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
- ^ "Redskins' top plays: John Riggins' run". ESPN. July 11, 2014. Retrieved 2015-06-17.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference