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Ken Willard
Kenneth Henderson Willard (born July 14, 1943) is an American former professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL), where he was a four-time Pro Bowler with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1960s.
Willard was born on July 14, 1943, in Richmond, Virginia. He attend Varina High School where he was both an outstanding athlete, earning 16 letters in football, baseball, basketball and track; and was a member of academic honor societies. Willard was 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), 185 pounds (83.9 kg) in high school, with both speed and strength; running the hundred-yard dash and throwing the shot and discus for the track team.
In 1957, he was a star running back on the football team at only 14-years old, also playing on defense. On his first two plays as a runner he scored touchdowns on runs of 40 yards or more, but both were called back on penalties. He then caught a short pass and ran 60 yards for a touchdown on his first official play. His brother Richard was later the team's quarterback. In 1958, he made the all-district team in football.
As a senior, he won high school awards in baseball and track. He also was a power hitter playing American Legion baseball.
Willard received a football scholarship from the University of North Carolina in 1961 after turning down a $100,000 offer to play baseball for the Boston Red Sox, even after being personally recruited by Hall of famer Ted Williams. It was a difficult decision for Willard to turn down playing professional baseball, but he wanted a four year college education. Willard said "'You just can't put into words what makes you decide not to take it.'" Baseball was his first love as a sport, and he thought he would get back to it after a few years of football.
He played for the Tar Heels from 1962 to 1964, where he led the Atlantic Coast Conference in rushing yards in 1963 and was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the same year's Gator Bowl. He received All-ACC honors in 1963 and 1964 and was selected to the College Football All-America second-team in 1964.
Willard rushed for 1,949 yards on 514 attempts over his three years at North Carolina, with 18 touchdowns. He also had 46 pass receptions for 432 yards and another touchdown. Two-way player Chris Hanburger was the center on the offensive line that blocked for Willard at North Carolina, and was All-ACC at center as a junior and senior. Hanburger went on to an NFL career at linebacker for the Washington Redskins, and induction into the Professional Football Hall of Fame.
Willard was also a member of the UNC baseball team, where he led the ACC in home runs two times and is unofficially credited with the longest home run in Tar Heel history at an estimated 525 feet (160 m). He was also named All-Conference in baseball as a senior.
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Ken Willard
Kenneth Henderson Willard (born July 14, 1943) is an American former professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL), where he was a four-time Pro Bowler with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1960s.
Willard was born on July 14, 1943, in Richmond, Virginia. He attend Varina High School where he was both an outstanding athlete, earning 16 letters in football, baseball, basketball and track; and was a member of academic honor societies. Willard was 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), 185 pounds (83.9 kg) in high school, with both speed and strength; running the hundred-yard dash and throwing the shot and discus for the track team.
In 1957, he was a star running back on the football team at only 14-years old, also playing on defense. On his first two plays as a runner he scored touchdowns on runs of 40 yards or more, but both were called back on penalties. He then caught a short pass and ran 60 yards for a touchdown on his first official play. His brother Richard was later the team's quarterback. In 1958, he made the all-district team in football.
As a senior, he won high school awards in baseball and track. He also was a power hitter playing American Legion baseball.
Willard received a football scholarship from the University of North Carolina in 1961 after turning down a $100,000 offer to play baseball for the Boston Red Sox, even after being personally recruited by Hall of famer Ted Williams. It was a difficult decision for Willard to turn down playing professional baseball, but he wanted a four year college education. Willard said "'You just can't put into words what makes you decide not to take it.'" Baseball was his first love as a sport, and he thought he would get back to it after a few years of football.
He played for the Tar Heels from 1962 to 1964, where he led the Atlantic Coast Conference in rushing yards in 1963 and was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the same year's Gator Bowl. He received All-ACC honors in 1963 and 1964 and was selected to the College Football All-America second-team in 1964.
Willard rushed for 1,949 yards on 514 attempts over his three years at North Carolina, with 18 touchdowns. He also had 46 pass receptions for 432 yards and another touchdown. Two-way player Chris Hanburger was the center on the offensive line that blocked for Willard at North Carolina, and was All-ACC at center as a junior and senior. Hanburger went on to an NFL career at linebacker for the Washington Redskins, and induction into the Professional Football Hall of Fame.
Willard was also a member of the UNC baseball team, where he led the ACC in home runs two times and is unofficially credited with the longest home run in Tar Heel history at an estimated 525 feet (160 m). He was also named All-Conference in baseball as a senior.
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