Neal Colzie

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Neal Colzie

| number = 45, 20

| position = Cornerback

| birth_date = {{birth date|1953|2|28|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Fitzgerald, Georgia, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2001|8|20|1953|2|28}}

| death_place = Miami, Florida, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lbs = 200

| high_school = Coral Gables Senior
(Coral Gables, Florida)

| college = Ohio State

| draftyear = 1975

| draftround = 1

| draftpick = 24

| teams =

| highlights =

| statlabel1 = Interceptions

| statvalue1 = 25

| statlabel2 = Kickoff returns

| statvalue2 = 7

| statlabel3 = Punt returns

| statvalue3 = 170

| pfr = ColzNe20

}}

Cornelius Connie "Neal" Colzie (February 28, 1953 – August 20, 2001) was an American professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was selected in the first round of the 1975 NFL draft with the 24th overall pick.

Early life

Born on February 28, 1953, in Fitzgerald, Georgia,{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/players/nealcolzie/profile?id=COL820320 |title=Neal Colzie |publisher=National Football League |access-date=May 23, 2009}} Colzie was one of six children of Thelma and Jim Colzie. His father was a Negro league baseball pitcher. After attending Coral Gables Senior High School in Coral Gables, Florida, he played for Ohio State University, where he recorded 15 interceptions and returned 60 punts for 855 yards and two touchdowns. At the time, his 15 interceptions ranked him fourth in school history, and his 855 punt return yards were a school record.

Professional career

During his nine-season career, Colzie recorded a total of 25 interceptions, which he returned for 412 yards and a touchdown. He also recovered five fumbles, returning them for 42 yards and a touchdown. His best season was in 1981, recording six interceptions for 110 yards and a touchdown, along with one fumble recovery. Colzie also returned seven kickoffs for 130 yards in his career.

Colzie excelled as a punt returner on special teams. In his first NFL season, he recorded 655 punt return yards, the most ever by an NFL rookie. Overall, Colzie returned 170 punts for 1,759 yards during his career. One of his more notable performances was in the Raiders' 32–14 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI. Colzie recorded four punt returns for a Super Bowl record of 43 yards, including a 25-yard return that set up a Raiders touchdown, and a 12-yard return that set up a field goal. He played in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders (1975–1978), Miami Dolphins (1979), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1980–1983). He also played for the Orlando Renegades of the United States Football League (USFL) in 1985.

He was offered a role in the movie " Black Sunday " but turned it down, refusing to wear a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform for the role.

Colzie died on August 20, 2001, in Miami of a heart attack at the age of 48.

References

External links

[http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/players.nsf/d38b711701bec86985256bbc0008ce5e/b8d284393c72c0fe85256c350068fed5?OpenDocument Colzie's stats including his special teams return yards]

Category:American football cornerbacks

Category:Ohio State Buckeyes football players

Category:Oakland Raiders players

Category:Miami Dolphins players

Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players

Category:1953 births

Category:2001 deaths

Category:Washington Federals/Orlando Renegades players

Category:People from Fitzgerald, Georgia

Category:Players of American football from Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:Spring Football League coaches