Cephus Weatherspoon facts for kids
| No. 85 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Wide receiver |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | June 14, 1948 Meridian, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight: | 182 lb (83 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Globe (Globe, Arizona) |
| College: | Fort Lewis |
| NFL Draft: | 1972 / Round: 13 / Pick: 320 |
| Career history | |
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| Player stats at PFR | |
Cephus Weatherspoon is a former American football player. He was a wide receiver. He played for teams like the New Orleans Saints in the National Football League (NFL). He also played for the Birmingham Vulcans in the World Football League (WFL).
Contents
Cephus Weatherspoon's Early Life and College Years
Cephus Weatherspoon was born on June 14, 1948. He grew up in Meridian, Mississippi. He went to Globe High School in Globe, Arizona.
College Sports Experience
Weatherspoon attended Fort Lewis College. He had transferred there from Mesa Community College. At Fort Lewis, he played both football and basketball. In basketball, he played as a guard.
Playing in the National Football League
The New Orleans Saints picked Cephus Weatherspoon in the 1972 NFL Draft. He was chosen in the 13th round. He was the 320th player picked overall.
Joining the Saints
The Saints team thought Weatherspoon was a fast player. They said he could "accelerate rapidly." They also noted he had "quick hands and feet." He had a very good attitude too.
The Saints first put him on their "taxi squad." This is like a practice team. He was later brought onto the main team. This happened for a game against the Minnesota Vikings. He mostly played on special teams in that game. After the game, he went back to the taxi squad.
Moving On from the Saints
In 1973, the Saints' coach, J.D. Roberts, thought Weatherspoon was getting better. However, Coach Roberts was fired. Weatherspoon was then cut from the team. He did not play any regular season games that year. In 1974, he signed with the Denver Broncos. But he was cut before their season started.
Playing in the World Football League
In 1975, Cephus Weatherspoon joined the Southern California Sun. This team was part of the World Football League (WFL). His brother, Ed Weatherspoon, also played for the Sun. Ed was a defensive back.
Playing for the Birmingham Vulcans
Cephus Weatherspoon was traded to the Birmingham Vulcans in July 1975. This was just before the WFL season began. In his first game with the Vulcans, he made a big play. He caught a 53-yard pass. This helped his team score a touchdown. It was his only catch as a professional player.
The World Football League stopped playing games later that year. After the WFL, Weatherspoon played semi-pro football. This was in 1976 and 1977.
Later Life and Health Concerns
In 2012, Cephus Weatherspoon joined a group of players. They were concerned about head injuries from playing football. They filed a lawsuit against the National Football League.
