Lawrence Ricks
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Tallmagde Ricks (born June 4, 1961) is a former American football
professional running back
and kick returner
who was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys
of the National Football League
and Michigan Panthers
of the United States Football League
. Ricks had been a star running back for the Michigan Wolverines football
team. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs
of the National Football League
. Ricks attended Barberton High School
.
Ricks played in two Rose Bowls and a Bluebonnet Bowl
for the University of Michigan
. He led all rushers
in the January 1, 1983 Rose Bowl
, which was a rematch of the December 31, 1981 Bluebonnet Bowl against the UCLA Bruins football
team. Bo Schembechler
started Ricks for six games and Butch Woolfolk
for six games during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season
. Woolfolk started all 12 games during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season
. Then, during the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season
, Ricks started all twelve games and was named first team All-Big Ten. Ricks totaled 2751 rushing yards at Michigan, including ten 100-yard games and 24 touchdown
s. His senior season totals were 1388 yards, including seven 100-yard games.
by the Dallas Cowboys. He was also drafted in the 1983 USFL Territorial Draft by the Michigan Panthers. John Mackovic
used Ricks sparingly in the NFL where he totaled 29 yards rushing, 5 yards receiving, and 83 yards returning kickoff
s.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
professional running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
who was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and Michigan Panthers
Michigan Panthers
The Michigan Panthers were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.-Team history:The Michigan Panthers were named as a charter member of the United States Football League on May 11, 1982....
of the United States Football League
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
. Ricks had been a star running back for the Michigan Wolverines football
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
team. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. Ricks attended Barberton High School
Barberton High School (Barberton, Ohio)
Barberton High School is a public high school in Barberton, Ohio, USA. It is the only high school in the Barberton City School District, serving approximately 1100 students in grades 9-12 as of the 2009–10 school year....
.
College
Bluebonnet Bowl
The Bluebonnet Bowl was an annual college football bowl game played in Houston, Texas. A civic group was appointed by the Houston Chamber of Commerce Athletics Committee in 1959 to organize the bowl game. It was held at Rice Stadium from 1959 through 1967, and again in 1985 and 1986. The game was...
for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He led all rushers
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
in the January 1, 1983 Rose Bowl
1983 Rose Bowl
The 1983 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game, played on January 1, 1983. It was the 69th Rose Bowl game. The UCLA Bruins defeated the Michigan Wolverines by a score of 24-14. Tom Ramsey, UCLA quarterback and Don Rogers, UCLA defensive back, were named the Rose Bowl Players Of The Game...
, which was a rematch of the December 31, 1981 Bluebonnet Bowl against the UCLA Bruins football
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
team. Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
started Ricks for six games and Butch Woolfolk
Butch Woolfolk
Harold E. "Butch" Woolfolk is a former American football running back and kick returner who played in college for the University of Michigan and in the National Football League for the New York Giants , Houston Oilers and Detroit Lions . Woolfolk attended Westfield Senior High School in...
for six games during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season
1980 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season saw Georgia take its first national title since World War II.The Georgia Bulldogs starred freshman running back Herschel Walker, who made his NCAA debut against Tennessee. Down 15-2 at halftime, Georgia sent in Walker, the third string running back at the...
. Woolfolk started all 12 games during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season
1981 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the Clemson Tigers, unbeaten and untied, taking the national championship after a victory over traditional power Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. This was also the first year of the California Bowl, played in Fresno, California; this game fancied...
. Then, during the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season
1982 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season saw Paul "Bear" Bryant retire as head coach at Alabama with 323 career victories in 38 seasons.The Penn State Nittany Lions won their first consensus national championship, closing out an 11-1 season by defeating Georgia and Heisman Trophy winner Herschel...
, Ricks started all twelve games and was named first team All-Big Ten. Ricks totaled 2751 rushing yards at Michigan, including ten 100-yard games and 24 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. His senior season totals were 1388 yards, including seven 100-yard games.
Professional career
Ricks was drafted in the eighth round of the 1983 NFL Draft1983 NFL Draft
The 1983 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 26–27, 1983...
by the Dallas Cowboys. He was also drafted in the 1983 USFL Territorial Draft by the Michigan Panthers. John Mackovic
John Mackovic
John Mackovic is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of United States national American football team, which was formed to compete in the American Football World Cup...
used Ricks sparingly in the NFL where he totaled 29 yards rushing, 5 yards receiving, and 83 yards returning kickoff
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
s.