Roland Hooks

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Roland Hooks
No. 25
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1953-01-02) January 2, 1953 (age 69)
Brooklyn, NY
Career information
High school:West Craven (NC)
College:North Carolina State
NFL Draft:1975 / Round: 10 / Pick: 253
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Rushing Yards:1,682
Average:4.2
Touchdowns:12
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Roland L. Hooks (born January 2, 1953 in Brooklyn, New York) is a former American football running back in the NFL who played for the Buffalo Bills. He played college football at North Carolina State University.

Early years[]

Hooks attended West Craven High School. He accepted a football scholarship from North Carolina State University.

As a sophomore in 1972, when Lou Holtz arrived as the new head coach at North Carolina State University, he implemented split-back veer offense to take advantage of the talent at running back, that included Hooks, Stan Fritts, Willie Burden and Charley Young.[1] At the time, this was arguably the best group of running backs in the nation, they were known as "The Four Stallions" and everyone of them went on to play in a professional football league.[2][3] He posted 62 carries (sixth on the team) for 283 yards (fourth on the team), a 4.6-yard average and 2 rushing touchdowns.

As a junior in 1973, he was part of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship team as a halfback. He registered 48 carries (fifth on the team) for 235 yards (fourth on the team), a 4.9-yard average and one rushing touchdown.

As a senior in 1974, he was second on the team behind Fritts with 136 carries for 850 yards, a 6.3-yard average and 9 rushing touchdowns. He finished his college career with 246 carries for 1,368 yards, a 5.6-yard average and 12 rushing touchdowns.

Professional career[]

Hooks was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the 10th round (253rd overall) of the 1975 NFL Draft.

He scored four touchdowns in a single half on his first four carries against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 9, 1979.[4][5]

Hooks might be best known for a Hail Mary catch he made against the New England Patriots on November 22, 1981.[6] The 36-yard touchdown pass from Bills quarterback Joe Ferguson as time expired won the game for Buffalo, 20-17.[7] The win proved to be crucial in giving Buffalo the final playoff spot in the AFC in 1981.

Personal life[]

Hooks was an assistant football coach at Galena High School in Reno, Nevada.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ "Holtz Selects Starting Backfield For WolfPack". Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  2. ^ "Offensive fireworks due at Liberty Bowl". Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  3. ^ "WolfPack Gridders Get Their Shot At Winning". Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  4. ^ "The School of Hard Knox 1978-1985 Buffalo Bills". billszone.com. 2004-01-01. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  5. ^ "McGahee joins exclusive Bills club with 4 TDs". billszone.com. 2004-11-28. Archived from the original on 2008-10-11. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
  6. ^ NFL.com: Hooks' Hail Mary catch video
  7. ^ Buffalo Rumblings: Best Moments in Bills History, No. 21: Roland Hooks' Hail Mary Catch
  8. ^ https://www.washoeschools.net/cms/lib08/NV01912265/Centricity/Domain/67/Annual%20District%20Salaries/2012_Annual_District_Salaries_and_Benefits_for_Web.pdf

External links[]

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