Willard Reaves
Encyclopedia
Willard Sheldon Reaves (born August 17, 1959 in Flagstaff
, Arizona
) is a former Canadian Football League
running back
for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
. He also played in the National Football League
for the Miami Dolphins
and the Washington Redskins
.
at Northern Arizona University
from 1977 to 1980. He rushed for 2,139 yards at university, the best being 1979 when he rushed for 1,084 yards and was voted First Team All Big Sky Conference First Team All American.
In 1992, Reaves was inducted into the Northern Arizona University Athletics Hall of Fame, and in 2002 he became a member of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
.
and an all star. In 1984, he rushing for 1,733 yards on 304 carries and 18 touchdowns, all team records, and helped him win the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award
. He also helped his team win the 72nd Grey Cup
, their first victory since 1962.
Reaves rushed for 1,000 yards two other times (1,323 in 1985 and 1,471 in 1987) and finished his career with 5,923 total rushing yards for the Blue Bombers. He was a three time CFL all star.
(he was originally undrafted
) and in 1989 he played two games with the Miami Dolphins
and one game with the Washington Redskins
.
is a profesional hockey player and right wing
for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League
; while other son Jordan plays high school basketball in Winnipeg for the Shaftesbury High School
Titans.
Willard Reaves became a Canadian citizen in 1990.
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
) is a former Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
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...
for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
. He also played in 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...
for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
.
College career
Reaves played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of...
from 1977 to 1980. He rushed for 2,139 yards at university, the best being 1979 when he rushed for 1,084 yards and was voted First Team All Big Sky Conference First Team All American.
In 1992, Reaves was inducted into the Northern Arizona University Athletics Hall of Fame, and in 2002 he became a member of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
The Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, dedicated to the history of sport in Manitoba and honouring the best in sport. The organization began in 1980 and in 1993, a museum was opened in The Forks...
.
Canadian Football League
Reaves played five seasons for the Blue Bombers from 1983 to 1987. He rushed for 898 yards in his first year and was runner up for the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie AwardCFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
The Most Outstanding Rookie Award is annually rewarded to the player deemed to be the best player in his first year in the Canadian Football League. This is the fifth-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it...
and an all star. In 1984, he rushing for 1,733 yards on 304 carries and 18 touchdowns, all team records, and helped him win the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award
The Most Outstanding Player Award is annually awarded to the best player in the Canadian Football League. The Most Outstanding Player award can be compared to the National Football League's Most Valuable Player, otherwise known as the "MVP" award...
. He also helped his team win the 72nd Grey Cup
72nd Grey Cup
The 72nd Grey Cup was the 1984 Canadian Football League championship game that was played at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats...
, their first victory since 1962.
Reaves rushed for 1,000 yards two other times (1,323 in 1985 and 1,471 in 1987) and finished his career with 5,923 total rushing yards for the Blue Bombers. He was a three time CFL all star.
National Football League
He also tried out with the NFLNational 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...
(he was originally undrafted
Undrafted
An undrafted sportsperson or undrafted free agent is specific type of sportsperson who plays, or attempts to play, in a professional sports league without first being selected in a draft....
) and in 1989 he played two games with the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and one game with the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
.
Personal life
Following his retirement from the NFL, Reaves moved back to Winnipeg and became a Sergeant with the Manitoba Sheriff Service. Willard's son Ryan ReavesRyan Reaves
Ryan Reaves is a professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the St. Louis Blues.Reaves was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in round 5, #156 overall, of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Reaves was recalled from Peoria by the Blues on October 10, 2010 after Cam Janssen suffered a concussion...
is a profesional hockey player and right wing
Winger (sport)
In certain sports, such as football, field hockey, ice hockey, handball, rugby union, lacrosse and rugby league, the term winger is the name of a position. It refers to positions on the extreme left and right sides of the pitch . In American football and Canadian football, the analogous position...
for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
; while other son Jordan plays high school basketball in Winnipeg for the Shaftesbury High School
Shaftesbury High School
Shaftesbury High School is located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in Tuxedo neighbourhood. It has a population of 750 students who come from Charleswood, Linden Woods and Tuxedo.-Notable alumni:* Nia Vardalos - Actress* Steven Fletcher - Politician...
Titans.
Willard Reaves became a Canadian citizen in 1990.