Cedric Oglesby

Oglesby was born on July 26, 1977, in Decatur, Georgia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/oglesced01.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=Cedric Oglesby Stats}} He grew up in Stone Mountain and attended Southwest DeKalb High School, where he played football and soccer.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112371640/the-atlanta-constitution/|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 8, 1998|page=100|title=Punt-master in his prime|author=Mahone, Derrick}} {{Open access}} After graduating from Southwest DeKalb, Oglesby was convinced by coach Buck Godfrey to attend South Carolina State University. In his first year at the school, he was named second-team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference while playing both placekicker and punter for the South Carolina State Bulldogs.{{Cite web|url=https://profootballarchives.com/players/o/ogle00450.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=Cedric Oglesby Stats}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/944904577/?match=1&terms=cedric%20oglesby|newspaper=News & Record|url-access=subscription|date=November 28, 1996|page=58|title=Howard quarterback top threat in MEAC|agency=Associated Press}}

Oglesby earned his second consecutive all-conference selection as a sophomore in 1997, being named first-team All-MEAC as a punter after recording 69 punts averaging 39.3 yards each. He also went 8-of-13 on field goals and converted all but three of his 31 extra point attempts. He finished with a team-leading 52 total points in 11 games. In the annual McDonald's Heritage Bowl, a loss against the Southern Jaguars, Oglesby tied the bowl game's record for best punt average, recording 43.6 yards per punt on seven attempts.

Oglesby's head coach, Willie Jeffries, described him as "just a good athlete. He can do a two-step punt, a one-step punt and a no-step punt." In the 1998 season, Oglesby set the school record for most field goals made, with 11, and also broke the team record for longest field goal, successfully attempting a 52-yarder.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112373834/the-times-and-democrat/|newspaper=The Times and Democrat|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 22, 1999|page=74|title=Dingle expected to become one of team's defensive leaders}} {{Open access}} He spent his final season at South Carolina State in 1999.

After going unselected in the 2000 NFL draft, Oglesby was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112374053/the-odessa-american/|newspaper=The Odessa American|via=Newspapers.com|title=Briefly|date=April 18, 2000|page=20}} {{Open access}} He was released on April 30.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112374150/the-greenville-news/|newspaper=The Greenville News|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 1, 2000|page=21|title=National Football League}} {{Open access}} The following year, he spent time with the San Diego Chargers, but was not able to make the final roster, despite making all of his field goal attempts in preseason, including a game-winning 33-yarder against the Miami Dolphins in overtime.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112374233/arizona-republic/|newspaper=Arizona Republic|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 20, 2001|page=87|title=Black kicker wants full-time job|author=Somers, Kent}} {{Open access}}

While a free agent in {{NFL Year|2001}}, Oglesby worked as a substitute teacher. He was practicing kicking in December, near the end of the NFL season, when he got a call from the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals' previous kicker, Bill Gramatica, had injured himself celebrating, and so Oglesby was signed as a replacement for the final three games of the season, beating Vitaly Pisetsky for the job. He made his NFL debut in week 15 against the Dallas Cowboys, making a 34-yard field goal and two extra points, but missing a 35-yard attempt.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112374652/arizona-republic/|newspaper=Arizona Republic|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 24, 2001|title=Inauspicious start|page=22}} {{Open access}} It made him one of the first African-American kickers in league history. Oglesby performed better in his second match, making all three of his field goal attempts, each of his three extra points, and a tackle in the 30–7 win over the Carolina Panthers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112374787/arizona-republic/|newspaper=Arizona Republic|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 31, 2001|page=26|title=Better effort}} {{Open access}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/oglesced01/gamelog/|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=Cedric Oglesby Career Game Log}} He played his final game against the Washington Redskins in week 17, making two field goals and two extra points in the 17–20 loss. He became a free agent after the season and did not sign another NFL contract.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112375021/st-lucie-news-tribune/|newspaper=St. Lucie News Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 2, 2002|page=34|title=Unrestricted}} {{Open access}}

Oglesby became a Christian while at South Carolina State. He operated a kicking camp after his playing career.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112375110/the-times-and-democrat/|newspaper=The Times and Democrat|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 29, 2002|page=9|title=NFL's Oglesby to host kicking camp in Orangeburg|author=Grant, Thomas Jr.}} {{Open access}} In 2008, he was named to ESPN's all-time black college football team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=3697955|publisher=ESPN|title=All-time black college football team|date=November 12, 2008|author=Hunt, Donald}}

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Category:1977 births

Category:Living people

Category:American football punters

Category:American football placekickers

Category:Players of American football from Decatur, Georgia

Category:South Carolina State Bulldogs football players

Category:Dallas Cowboys players

Category:San Diego Chargers players

Category:Arizona Cardinals players