:Stanford Jennings
{{Short description|American football player (born 1962)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Stanford Jennings
| number = 36, 28
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|03|12}}
| birth_place = Summerville, South Carolina, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 205
| high_school = Summerville
| college = Furman
| draftyear = 1984
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 65
| pastteams =
- Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|1984|1990}})
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|1991}})
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|1992}})
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 = 1,250
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 = 4.0
| statlabel3 = Receptions
| statvalue3 = 116
| statlabel4 = Receiving yards
| statvalue4 = 1,096
| statlabel5 = Total touchdowns
| statvalue5 = 20
| pfr = J/JennSt00
}}
Stanford Jamison Jennings (born March 12, 1962) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Furman Paladins and was selected in the third round of the 1984 NFL draft. Jennings played seven seasons in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals (1984–1990), and one each for the New Orleans Saints (1991) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1992). Jennings returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown in Super Bowl XXIII.
Early life
Jennings was born to Walter and Fannie Jennings, both laborers on a dairy farm. He attended Summerville High School in Summerville, South Carolina. In three seasons with Jennings at tailback, Summerville lost only two games—none his junior and senior seasons—and he led the Green Wave to back-to-back Class 4A state titles in 1978–79. Jennings, who split time with two other tailbacks, was not heavily recruited by college programs. His final choices were The Citadel and Furman University.
College career
Jennings selected Furman, helping the Paladins win Southern Conference championships each of his four seasons. Furman went 36–9–2 during Jennings's stay, with shocking wins over South Carolina and Georgia Tech.{{cite web |url=http://www.furmanpaladins.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081808aae.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102031306/http://www.furmanpaladins.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081808aae.html |archive-date=2010-01-02 |title=No Ring For Jennings, But Lots Of Memories - FURMAN OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE}} Jennings starred at Furman—in four seasons, he rushed for 3,868 yards on 650 carries (a 6.0 average) and 39 touchdowns, with 76 receptions for 865 yards (an 11.4 average) and four receiving touchdowns. He was the 1981 SoCon Player of the Year{{Cite web|url=http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/issue/39784|title=Furman University - 2011 Furman Football Yearbook}}
Professional career
Jennings was chosen in the third round of the 1984 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.{{Cite web |title=1984 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1984/draft.htm |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} Primarily a kick returner and backup running back, he had his most productive season from scrimmage his rookie year of 1984. He played 15 games (starting four) and rushing for 379 yards on 79 attempts (a 4.8 average) and two touchdowns and caught 35 passes for 346 yards and two receiving touchdowns—all career bests.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JennSt00.htm|title = Stanford Jennings Stats| website=Pro-Football-Reference.com }} His top year as a kick returner was 1988, with career highs of 32 returns for 684 yards, including a 98-yard touchdown return (the longest of the season in the NFL) against the Kansas City Chiefs.{{cite web |url=http://www.bengals.com/team/40-memorable-moments.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091017075652/http://www.bengals.com/team/40-memorable-moments.html |archive-date=2009-10-17 |title=Top 40 Memorable Moments in Bengals History by Mercy Health Partners}} He returned a 93-yard kickoff in Super Bowl XXIII against the San Francisco 49ers.
Jennings finished his nine-season NFL career with 1,250 rushing yards, 116 receptions for 1,098 yards, and 2,965 yards returning kickoffs. He also scored 20 touchdowns. His 2,752 kickoff return yards with Cincinnati stood as a Bengals franchise record until surpassed by Tremain Mack in 2000.
Personal life
Jennings and his wife, Kathy, live in a northern suburb of Atlanta, Georgia, with their children Jamie and Kelsey Amanda. He is a regional sales manager for New Balance shoes.{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl hero meets Bengals in Atlanta - Story |url=http://www.wcpo.com/sports/football/bengals/super-bowl-hero-meets-bengals-in-atlanta |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112015023/http://www.wcpo.com/sports/football/bengals/super-bowl-hero-meets-bengals-in-atlanta |archive-date=2014-11-12 |website=WCPO.com}}
Jennings's younger brother, Keith Jennings, played tight end in the NFL.{{cite web |url=http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Generation-Next/c101fa69-f29c-482c-88bb-7bfb88656e3d |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520143727/http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Generation-Next/c101fa69-f29c-482c-88bb-7bfb88656e3d |archive-date=2011-05-20 |title=Generation Next}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20061007030609/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JENNISTA01 career stats]}}
{{Bengals1984DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jennings, Stanford}}
Category:American football running backs
Category:American football return specialists
Category:Furman University alumni
Category:Furman Paladins football players
Category:Cincinnati Bengals players
Category:New Orleans Saints players
Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players
Category:Players of American football from Summerville, South Carolina
Category:Players of American football from Berkeley County, South Carolina
Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen