It is often overlooked that the New York Jets drafted two quarterbacks in 1965. Everyone knows the story of Joe Namath and the $427,000 contract. However, with their 12th-round selection, the Jets also picked up Notre Dame star and Heisman Trophy winner, John Huarte.
Huarte battled Namath for the starting spot, but fell to third string behind Namath and Mike Taliaferro. He was traded to the Boston Patriots in 1966. The following page comes from the Pats 1967 team yearbook.
It baffled me that Jets at the time drafted Heisman winner John Huarte, after just signing Joe Namath to a huge contract. One knew Joe had to be the starter, because of revenue,getting a good fan base, and overall publicity.Sonny Werblin was a tremendous promoter, just what the struggling league needed. Unfortunately, John Huarte’s best days were in college, a curse of many a Heisman winner.
I don’t think the selection of Huarte was a big mistake. He was a high profile player who could spark more interest in the Jets. Also, Namath was injured in college. They may have looked at Huarte as an insurance policy. Unfortunately for Huarte, he was a bust in the pros!
John Hurate was one of the few former Heisman Trophy Winners that should not have won the most prestigious individual award in College Football.
He did so because of the school, Notre Dame, voted #1 that season by the National Football Foundation—another unworthy choice for honors.
Howard Twilley had a remarkable, record-setting season: 134 catches going for 1779 yards and 16 TDs. This was the first time a receiver would catch 100 plus balls in a season. Hurate wasn’t even the country’s leading passer; at the time, went to the player with the most competitions. (Twilley’s teammate at Tulsa, Jerry Rhome, was the leader with 224–also a record.)
As a kid in the late ’70’s–and as a Redskin fan–I knew Howard Twilley as a wide receiver who scored a touchdown in the undefeated 1972 Dolphins’ win over the Redskins in the Super Bowl.
I never knew Twilley had such a tremendous college career. Come to think of it, I know very little about his pro career. I’d like to learn more.
Overdrive1975…here are some of Twilley’s outstanding accomplishments from college and links to his pro career.
In 1964 Twilley caught 95 passes–which easily surpassed the previous mark of 70 (Lawrence Elkins, Baylor) set in 1963.
For the 1965 season, he became the first college football player to haul-in at least 100 passes, playing for Tulsa. He caught 134–in 10 games–his 13.4 receptions/game remain the standard.
Playing from 1963-65, his career numbers look like this: 261-3343 12.8* and 32 TDs.
* Yards per catch.
His career numbers still listed within the records for receivers.
Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
His HF Bio Sketch:
http://www.footballfoundation.org/Programs/CollegeFootballHallofFame/SearchDetail.aspx?id=60059
PRO FOOTBALL:
NFL draft:
1966 / Round: 14 / Pick: 209
AFL draft:
1966 / Round: 12 / Pick: 101
–season stats http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TwilHo00.htm?redir
One other comment.Seeing that picture of Mike Holovak really brought memories.I don’t think think he ever got enough credit for a very distinguished career as a head coach, a position coach, and a great GM for the Houston Oilers.
At the time Joe Namath was drafted, John Huarte was also drafted – in case Namath didn’t work out, also because Sonny Werblin was interesting in generating publicity for his team. Huarte was the Heisman Trophy winner – so it was felt he was worth the chance. To show you how times have changed, AFTER Namath signed his contract, Dr. James Nicholas then examined his knees and told management they should be thinking about another quarterback and expect 5 years or so from Namath. Chances are, today this exam would have been done BEFORE the draft and Namath would have been picked MUCH lower.
If not afield, John Huarte did look majestic & resplendent on his 1965 Topps Tall Boy 🙂
His name reminds me of others like him AFL, several ‘cant miss’ QB’s who fell short lofty expectations, backups and/or starters, if only briefly, never became stars for one reason or another. Nevertheless, to younger ‘we’s a then younger football world, all looked just as shiny & gum-stained as any star upon their football cards, will never forget.
1st round picks Jacky Lee, Richie Lucas, Pete Beathard, Steve Tensi and Rick Norton (Greg Cook, if due to injury) as well 2nd rounders Marty Domres & Mike Livingston come to mind, those did not measure up and/or sustain success. Some chosen lower the pre-combined draft days before 1967 had varying degrees success: Eddie Wilson, Mike Taliaferro, Don Trull (a few drafted aft too, including Marlin ‘The Magician’ Briscoe his brief time at QB); those chose NFL in lieu AFL Don Meredith, Roman Gabriel & Roger Staubach to conjure what might have been, thoughts.
Another guy drafted round 2 who never played in the AFL but later QB’d his NFL team to a Superbowl victory: the Raiders Ken Stabler. Of note, Eldridge Dickey who was a 1st round choice of Oakland the same year Stabler was picked 2nd 1968, reportedly performed better at QB during training camp than Stabler did, according some, but, was nevertheless moved to wide receiver where his pro career was short-lived.
Hindsight, if quality depth at the QB position NFL & AFL was considered thin in the 1960’s with only 23 teams, is it any wonder circa 2015 that another dozen teams & upwards 20 more players per roster has but exacerbated said.
Marty Domres…wasn’t he also a punter? I had his football cards in the mid-to-late ’70’s, when he played for the Baltimore Colts.
Marlin Briscoe had a very interesting career. In 1968, he was the first black quarterback to start a game. He was also the one who through that famous long bomb to Floyd Little to win the game. I forget who the opponent was, but it was one of those amazing plays you don’t forget.
The very next season, as a wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills, Briscoe caught passes from the first black quarterback to start a season, James Harris.
Briscoe later started opposite Paul Warfield on those legendary Miami Dolphin teams in 1972 and ’73. Still later, he started for the Detroit Lions in 1975 and the New England Patriots in ’76.
For a few games in either ’75 or ’76, Briscoe played for the San Diego Chargers, meaning he played for 6 teams.
Roger Staubach is one of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game. He broke the heart of this D.C. boy too many times ! ! ! Kansas City was interested in him, but Staubach wanted to play in the more established league.
Typo: “another 10 teams” (hundreds of additional players, i.e., the watered down factor)…
Alright, third time’s the charm: 9 teams
🙂
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