Paul Dekker
{{short description|American football player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Paul Dekker
|image=
|caption=
|position=End
|birth_date={{birth date|1931|02|24}}
|birth_place=Muskegon, Michigan, U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|2001|5|8|1931|2|24}}
|death_place=Burlington, Ontario, Canada
|height_ft=6
|height_in=5
|weight_lbs=220
|high_school=Muskegon (Michigan)
|college=Michigan State (1949–1952)
|draftyear=1953
|draftround=3
|draftpick=27
|pastteams=
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|1953}}, {{NFL Year|1956}})
- Hamilton Tiger-Cats ({{CFL Year|1956}}–{{CFL Year|1962}})
|highlights=
- Grey Cup champion (1957)
- 4× CFL East All-Star (1958–1961)
- National champion (1952)
|pfr=DekkPa20
}}
Paul Nelson Dekker (February 24, 1931 – May 8, 2001) was an American professional football end who played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Redskins in the third round of the 1953 NFL draft after playing college football for the Michigan State Spartans.
Early life
Paul Nelson Dekker was born on February 24, 1931, in Muskegon, Michigan. He played high school football at Muskegon High School as an end and earned all-state honors twice.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/11/c71af3ab772919/25-greatest-football-players-of-all-time-from-the-muskegon-area.html | title=25 greatest football players of all time from the Muskegon area | publisher=mlive.com | date=November 13, 2019 | accessdate=22 November 2024 | author=DeCamp, Scott}} He was inducted into the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.{{cite web | url=https://mashf.com/hall-of-fame/paul-dekker/ | title=Paul Dekker | publisher=mashf.com | accessdate=21 November 2024}}
College career
Dekker was a member of the Michigan State Spartans of Michigan State College from 1949 to 1952. He was a two-year starter and letterman from 1951 to 1952. He was part of the Michigan State team that won the school's first football national championship in 1952, after finishing the season with a 9–0 record. Dekker was also named to the Associated Press's All-Western team in 1952 and caught 13 passes for 171 yards and one touchdown that season.{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/paul-dekker-1.html | title=Paul Dekker | publisher=sports-reference.com | accessdate=22 November 2024}} After his senior year, he played in the East–West Shrine game, the Chicago Charities College All-Star Game, and the Hula Bowl.
Professional career
Dekker was selected by the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) in the third round, with the 27th overall pick, of the 1953 NFL draft.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DekkPa20.htm | title=Paul Dekker | publisher=pro-football-reference.com | accessdate=21 November 2024}} He played in 11 games, starting eight, during his rookie year in 1953, catching 14 passes for 182 yards and one touchdown. He became a free agent on May 1, 1954. Dekker re-signed with the team in 1956 but was later released on September 21, 1956.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/d/dekk00200.html | title=Paul Dekker NFL Transactions | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=21 November 2024}}
Dekker played in 90 games for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1956 to 1962, recording 234 receptions for 3,718 yards and 27 touchdowns. He was part of the Tiger-Cats team that won the 45th Grey Cup against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on November 30, 1957.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1957irfuham.html | title=1957 Hamilton Tiger-Cats (IRFU) | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=21 November 2024}} He was a CFL East All-Star four times from 1958 to 1961.{{cite web | url=https://www.statscrew.com/football/stats/p-dekkepau001 | title=Paul Dekker | publisher=statscrew.com | accessdate=21 November 2024}}
Personal life
Dekker died on May 8, 2001, in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
References
{{reflist}}
{{1952 Michigan State Spartans football navbox}}
{{Washington Redskins 1953 NFL draft picks}}
{{45th Grey Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dekker, Paul}}
Category:American football ends
Category:Canadian football ends
Category:Michigan State Spartans football players
Category:Washington Redskins players
Category:Hamilton Tiger-Cats players
Category:Players of American football from Michigan