Ike Forte
{{short description|American football player (born 1954)}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Ike Forte
| number = 38, 30, 35
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1954|3|8|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Texarkana, Arkansas, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| weight_lb = 203
| height_in = 0
| high_school = Texas (Texarkana)
| college = Arkansas
| draftyear = 1976
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 35
| pastteams =
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|1976|1977}})
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|1978|1980}})
- New York Giants ({{NFL Year|1981}})
|highlights =
| statlabel1 = Rushing attempts
| statvalue1 = 165
| statlabel2 = Rushing yards
| statvalue2 = 511
| statlabel3 = Rushing TDs
| statvalue3 = 5
| pfr = FortIk00
}}
Donald Roy "Ike" Forte (born March 8, 1954) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the New England Patriots, Washington Redskins, and New York Giants. He played college football at the Arkansas Razorbacks and was selected in the second round of the 1976 NFL draft.
College career
Forte began his college career with the Tyler Junior College, playing two seasons. He earned junior college All-America honors in his sophomore season when he ran for 1,175 yards.{{Cite web |date=July 28, 2010 |title=Former Apache Great to be Inducted into University of Arkansas Hall of Honor |url=https://www.apacheathletics.com/article/1018 |access-date=January 28, 2022 |website=Tyler Junior College Athletics |language=en |archive-date=January 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128175406/https://www.apacheathletics.com/article/1018 |url-status=dead }}
Next moving to Arkansas, Forte was the leading rusher for the team in his junior and senior seasons, earning All-Southwest Conference honors in both 1974 and 1975.{{Cite web |title=Arkansas Football Media Guide |url=http://www.hogwired.com//pdf4/133090.pdf?SPSID=30726&SPID=2419&DB_OEM_ID=6100 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728190548/http://www.hogwired.com//pdf4/133090.pdf?SPSID=30726&SPID=2419&DB_OEM_ID=6100 |archive-date=July 28, 2012 |access-date=June 11, 2012 |website=hogwired.com}} He had eight 100-yard games rushing and finished as the third best rusher in team history to that point.{{Cite web |title=Arkansas Football Media Guide |url=http://www.hogwired.com//pdf1/133089.pdf?SPSID=30726&SPID=2419&DB_OEM_ID=6100 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212221556/http://www.hogwired.com//pdf1/133089.pdf?SPSID=30726&SPID=2419&DB_OEM_ID=6100 |archive-date=February 12, 2012 |access-date=August 5, 2015 |website=hogwired.com}}
In 1975, Forte was a co-captain and a key player in the Hogs winning the Southwest Conference title and, in his last college game, he led the team in a 31–10 upset of the Georgia Bulldogs in the 1976 Cotton Bowl Classic.{{Cite web |title=Cotton Bowl - Georgia vs Arkansas Box Score, January 1, 1976 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/1976-01-01-arkansas.html |access-date=January 28, 2022 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} In that game, he rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns, earning the game's Most Outstanding Offensive Player award.
Professional career
Forte began his journeyman career in the National Football League with the New England Patriots after being drafted by them in the second round with the 38th overall pick in the 1976 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=1976 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1976/draft.htm |access-date=January 28, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In his career, Forte scored seven touchdowns while gaining 511 rushing yards on 165 carries and 387 receiving yards on 39 receptions.{{Cite web |title=Ike Forte Career Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FortIk00.htm |access-date=January 28, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Patriots1976DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Forte, Ike}}
Category:Sportspeople from Texarkana, Arkansas
Category:American football running backs
Category:Arkansas Razorbacks football players
Category:New England Patriots players
Category:New York Giants players