Jon Volpe
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1968)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox gridiron football person
|name=Jon Volpe
|image=
|import=yes
|position1=Running back
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1968|4|17}}
|birth_place=Kincheloe, Michigan, U.S.
|number=
|college=Stanford
|high_school=
|height_ft=
|height_in=
|weight_lbs=
|playing_years1={{CFL Year|1991}}–{{CFL Year|1993}}
|playing_team1=BC Lions
|playing_years2={{CFL Year|1994}}
|playing_team2=Las Vegas Posse
|career_highlights=
- 2× Eddie James Memorial Trophy (1991, 1992)
- CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award ({{CFL Year|1991}})
- First-team All-Pac-10 (1988)
|CFLAllStar={{CFL Year|1991}}, {{CFL Year|1992}}
}}
Jon Volpe (born April 17, 1968) is an American former professional Canadian football running back in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Early life
Volpe had a difficult childhood. His father left when he was 5 years old, his mother was an alcoholic and lived on the street, and his brother went to jail several times. Jon Volpe, being only 5 feet 7 inches tall, received a football scholarship to Stanford University, where he was an all-conference running back (leading in rushing yards), earning GTE Academic All-American honors and being named a Rhodes Scholar nominee (while getting a BSc in engineering.)
Professional career
He was not drafted by the NFL. However, he had a tryout with the Pittsburgh Steelers before he headed to Canada to play for the B.C. Lions. He had a successful rookie season in 1991; rushing behind Doug Flutie (who threw for a record 6,619 yards), Volpe added 1,395 rushing yards and led the league with 16 rushing touchdowns and 20 total touchdowns. Volpe was named an All-Star and won the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award. In 1992, he added 941 yards and 13 touchdowns, and was again named an All-Star. A contract dispute meant a late start to the 1993 season and he had a generally unsuccessful season, appearing in only five games. He left the Lions after three years and 36 games.
Volpe moved to the expansion Las Vegas Posse in 1994, rushing 43 times for 182 yards and 3 touchdowns in four games. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1995, but a preseason shoulder injury ended his career.
Private life
Volpe is chairman and CEO of Nova Home Loans. He is married to Heather and has a daughter, Kaylie, and a son, Trevor.
Footnotes
{{Reflist}}
References
- [http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Currents/Content?oid=53316 Jon Volpe in the Tucson Weekly, Feb. 5, 2004]
- B.C. Lions Media Guide
{{CFL MORs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Volpe, Jon}}
Category:Las Vegas Posse players
Category:Stanford Cardinal football players
Category:Canadian Football League Rookie of the Year Award winners
Category:People from Chippewa County, Michigan
Category:Players of American football from Michigan
Category:American football running backs
Category:Canadian football running backs
Category:Players of Canadian football from Michigan
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