Ricky Nattiel

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Ricky Nattiel

| number = 84, 81

| position = Wide receiver

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|1|25|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Gainesville, Florida, U.S.

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 9

| weight_lb = 180

| high_school = Newberry {{nowrap|(Newberry, Florida)}}

| college = Florida

| draftyear = 1987

| draftround = 1

| draftpick = 27

| pastteams =

Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|1987|1991}})
Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|1992}})*{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-ricky-nattiel-in-tampa/169226959/|first=Tom|last=McEwen|authorlink=Tom McEwen (sportswriter)|title=Nattiel hopes to blast off in Tampa Bay|work=The Tampa Tribune|date=March 3, 1992|page=23|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}
Denver Broncos (1992)

| highlights =

PFWA All-Rookie Team (1987)
Second-team All-American (1986)
First-team All-SEC (1986)
Florida–Georgia Hall of Fame
University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame

| statlabel1 = Receptions

| statvalue1 = 121

| statlabel2 = Receiving yards

| statvalue2 = 1,972

| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns

| statvalue3 = 8

| pfr = NattRi00

}}

Ricky Rennard Nattiel ({{IPAc-en|n|ɑː|ˈ|t|iː|l}} {{respell|nah|TEEL}};[https://media.denverbroncos.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1989.pdf Denver Broncos 1989 Media Guide (pronunciations on page 119).] Retrieved January 25, 2021 born January 25, 1966), nicknamed "Ricky the Rocket", is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for six seasons with the Denver Broncos in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1980s and 1990s. Nattiel played college football for the Florida Gators before playing professionally for the Broncos.

Early life

Nattiel was born in Gainesville, Florida in 1966.{{Cite web |title=Ricky Nattiel Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NattRi00.htm |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He attended Newberry High School in nearby Newberry, Florida,databaseFootball.com, Players, {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100212090744/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=NATTIRIC01 Ricky Nattiel]}}. Retrieved June 22, 2010. where he was the quarterback for the Newberry Panthers high school football team."[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L7QRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5291,1427183&dq=ricky-nattiel&hl=en Panthers' Nattiel Puts on Show, 28–0]," The Gainesville Sun, p. 4D (November 20, 1982). Retrieved June 22, 2010. During his senior season in 1982, Nattiel led his Panthers to a 9–1 regular season and two state playoff victories,Mike Bianchi, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NbQRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6975,3570110&dq=newberry-panthers&hl=en Newberry Does It To Hawthorne Again, 21–0]," The Gainesville Sun, p. 3D (November 27, 2982). Retrieved June 22, 2010. Richard Gerber, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NbURAAAAIBAJ&sjid=q-kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6848,1299560&dq=newberry-panthers&hl=en Newberry Moves On With 28–7 Win Over Father Lopez]," The Gainesville Sun, p. 4D (December 4, 1982). Retrieved June 22, 2010. before the Panthers lost in the Florida Class 2A state semifinal game.Richard Gerber, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PLURAAAAIBAJ&sjid=q-kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1613,3929906&dq=newberry-panthers&hl=en Generous Newberry Absorbs 44–6 Loss]," The Gainesville Sun, pp. 1D & 3D (December 11, 1982). Retrieved June 22, 2010. Nattiel also played basketball and ran track for the Panthers, and was recognized as an all-county athlete in both.Mike Bianchi, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LbcRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5593,1697636&dq=ricky-nattiel&hl=en All-County Squad Honors Top Scorers]," The Gainesville Sun, p. 3D (March 20, 1983). Retrieved June 22, 2010. "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6rMRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tOkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4812,969720&dq=ricky-nattiel&hl=en Track Stars Are Honored]," The Gainesville Sun, p. 3B (May 19, 1983). Retrieved June 22, 2010.

College career

Nattiel accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he was a wide receiver for coach Charley Pell and coach Galen Hall's Florida Gators football teams from 1983 to 1986.[http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2011/media_guide.pdf 2011 Florida Gators Football Media Guide] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402035222/http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2011/media_guide.pdf |date=April 2, 2012 }}, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 88, 96, 103, 124, 127, 143–145, 147–148, 149–150, 159, 184 (2011). Retrieved August 31, 2011. Notwithstanding his high school background as a quarterback, he was recruited as a defensive back and possibly as a wide receiver, but necessity his freshman year in 1983 forced the coaches' choice.Mike Bianchi, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zrARAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4775,1725270&dq=ricky-nattiel&hl=en Nattiel Is A Definite Plus For UF]," The Gainesville Sun, pp. 1D & 3D (October 6, 1983). Retrieved June 22, 2010. When senior Gators receiver Dwayne Dixon was hobbled halfway through the season, Nattiel started in his place and established his own reputation as a future star receiver to be watched. Nattiel was a key target of Gators quarterback Kerwin Bell during the 1984 and 1985 seasons, when the Gators posted identical 9–1–1 overall win–loss records and led the Southeastern Conference (SEC) with best-in-the-conference records of 5–0–1 and 5–1. Memorably, he dashed ninety-six yards on a touchdown pass from Bell in the Gators' 27–0 victory over the rival Georgia Bulldogs in 1984, contributing to his nickname, "Ricky the Rocket."Mark Schlabach, "[https://www.espn.com/college-football/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=3672786 Dawgs-Gators winner will have inside track to SEC East title]," ESPN (October 30, 2008). Retrieved June 22, 2010. Nattiel finished his college career with 117 receptions for 2,086 yards and eighteen touchdowns; he also had 589 yards in punt returns. He was a team captain, a first-team All-SEC selection and a second-team All-American in 1986, and received the Gators' Fergie Ferguson Award as the senior who most displayed "outstanding leadership, courage and character."

Nattiel was recognized by the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 1984 and 1986. He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in public health in 1987, and he was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1998.F Club, Hall of Fame, [http://www.gatorfclub.org/hall-of-fame/greats Gator Greats]. Retrieved December 14, 2014.Pat Dooley, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5UVWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FOsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4623,573655&dq=university-of-florida-athletic-hall-of-fame&hl=en Jones, Nattiel lead class into UF Hall]," The Gainesville Sun, pp. 1C & 5C (April 3, 1998). Retrieved July 23, 2011 In one of a series of articles written for The Gainesville Sun in 2006, the Sun sports editors recognized him as the No. 46 all-time greatest Gator of the first 100 years of Florida football.Robbie Andreu & Pat Dooley, "[http://www.gainesville.com/article/20060719/GATORS70/60719017?tc=ar No. 46 Ricky Nattiel]," The Gainesville Sun (July 19, 2006). Retrieved April 4, 2013.

Professional career

The Denver Broncos chose Nattiel in the first round (27th overall pick) of the 1987 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=1987 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1987/draft.htm |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He played for the Broncos in six NFL seasons from {{NFL Year|1987}} to {{NFL Year|1992}},National Football League, Historical Players, [http://www.nfl.com/players/rickynattiel/profile?id=NAT622935 Ricky Nattiel]. Retrieved June 22, 2010. including eight playoff games and two Super Bowls. His rookie season, he had 31 receptions for 630 yards, setting a franchise rookie record of 20.3 yards per catch.{{As of|2017}} His second year, he upped his receptions to 46, and was the Broncos primary punt returner for 972 all purpose yards. His numbers decreased after that. One of the highlights of his professional career was catching a 56-yard touchdown pass from quarterback John Elway against the Washington Redskins on the Broncos' first play from scrimmage in Super Bowl XXII.Paul Zimmerman, "{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20030404201028/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/features/superbowl/archives/22/ One Super Show!]}}," Sports Illustrated (February 8, 1988). Retrieved June 22, 2010. Nattiel and fellow Broncos wide receivers Vance Johnson and Mark Jackson all played together from {{NFL Year|1987}} to {{NFL Year|1992}} and were nicknamed "The Three Amigos."John Mossman, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zwwSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NuoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3857,6982262&dq=three-amigos&hl=en Denver's Three Amigos make a comeback with a Gringo sidekick]," The Gainesville Sun, p. 2C (January 24, 1990). Retrieved June 22, 2010. He finished his six-year NFL career with 121 receptions for 1,972 yards and eight touchdowns.

NFL career statistics

class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"

! colspan="2"| Legend

Bold

| Career high

= Regular season =

rowspan="2"\| Year !rowspan="2"\| Team !colspan="2"\| Games !colspan="5"\| Receiving
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
1987	DEN \| 12 \|\| 3 \|\| 31 \|\| 630 \|\| 20.3 \|\| 54 \|\| 2
1988	DEN \| 15 \|\| 11 \|\| 46 \|\| 574 \|\| 12.5 \|\| 74 \|\| 1
1989	DEN \| 8 \|\| 0 \|\| 10 \|\| 183 \|\| 18.3 \|\| 43 \|\| 1
1990	DEN \| 15 \|\| 3 \|\| 18 \|\| 297 \|\| 16.5 \|\| 52 \|\| 2
1991	DEN \| 16 \|\| 0 \|\| 16 \|\| 288 \|\| 18.0 \|\| 70 \|\| 2
1992	DEN \| 4 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0.0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
colspan="2"\|	70	17	121	1,972	16.3	74	8

= Playoffs =

rowspan="2"\| Year !rowspan="2"\| Team !colspan="2"\| Games !colspan="5"\| Receiving
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
1987	DEN \| 3 \|\| 2 \|\| 8 \|\| 171 \|\| 21.4 \|\| 56 \|\| 2
1989	DEN \| 3 \|\| 0 \|\| 2 \|\| 43 \|\| 21.5 \|\| 28 \|\| 0
1991	DEN \| 2 \|\| 0 \|\| 3 \|\| 37 \|\| 12.3 \|\| 23 \|\| 0
colspan="2"\|	8	2	13	251	19.3	56	2

Life after the NFL

Nattiel, who is Baptist,Tammy Nattiel, "[http://www.catholic.org/diocese/diocese_story.php?id=26640&cb300=vocations Top Ten Catholic Heroes of the Super Bowl]," Catholic Online (January 30, 2008). Retrieved June 22, 2010. was formerly the junior varsity coach and wide receivers coach of the Trinity Catholic High School Celtics football team in Ocala, Florida.Byron Saucer, "[http://www.ocala.com/article/20080326/NEWS/803260329/1001/NEWS01&title=Nattiel_resigns_as_Trinity_head_coach?tc=ar Nattiel resigns as Trinity coach; Brantley offers to take the job]," Ocala Star-Banner (March 26, 2008). Retrieved June 22, 2010. When former Celtics head coach Kerwin Bell resigned in 2007, Nattiel became the head coach of the Celtics for a single season, leading them to a 7–5 record and a berth in the Florida State 2B regional playoffs.

References

Bibliography

Carlson, Norm, University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators, Whitman Publishing, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia (2007). {{ISBN|0-7948-2298-3}}.
Golenbock, Peter, Go Gators! An Oral History of Florida's Pursuit of Gridiron Glory, Legends Publishing, LLC, St. Petersburg, Florida (2002). {{ISBN|0-9650782-1-3}}.
Hairston, Jack, Tales from the Gator Swamp: A Collection of the Greatest Gator Stories Ever Told, Sports Publishing, LLC, Champaign, Illinois (2002). {{ISBN|1-58261-514-4}}.
McCarthy, Kevin M., [https://books.google.com/books?id=_Tk-IQepI6cC Fightin' Gators: A History of University of Florida Football], Arcadia Publishing, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (2000). {{ISBN|978-0-7385-0559-6}}.
Nash, Noel, ed., The Gainesville Sun Presents The Greatest Moments in Florida Gators Football, Sports Publishing, Inc., Champaign, Illinois (1998). {{ISBN|1-57167-196-X}}.