Claxton Welch facts for kids
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| Position: | Running back | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | July 3, 1947 Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Weight: | 203 lb (92 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | David Douglas (Portland) | ||
| College: | Oregon | ||
| NFL Draft: | 1969 / Round: 9 / Pick: 230 | ||
| Career history | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||
Claxton Welch, born on July 3, 1947, is a former American football player. He played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was part of teams like the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, and New England Patriots. Before playing professionally, he played college football for the Oregon Ducks.
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Early Life and High School
Claxton Welch grew up in Portland, Oregon. He was born on July 3, 1947. His mom, Cornelia, was an elementary school teacher. His dad, Claxton Welch Sr., was a contractor. His parents were from Alabama and met while working at a shipyard.
Claxton went to David Douglas High School. There, he was a star athlete in both basketball and football. He was even named "All-State" in both sports. Because of his football skills, he earned a scholarship to play at the University of Oregon.
College Football Career
At the University of Oregon, Claxton Welch continued to show his talent. In his junior year, he ran for 474 yards. He also caught 7 passes for 109 yards. In his final year, he ran for 525 yards. This was impressive, especially since he missed three of the last four games that season.
Professional Football Journey
Claxton Welch was chosen by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1969 NFL/AFL draft. He was the 230th player picked overall. He was known for being very fast.
First Time with the Dallas Cowboys
As a rookie, Claxton was the fastest running back at the Cowboys' training camp. He was first placed on the "taxi squad." This was a group of players who practiced with the team but were not on the main roster. Later, he was moved to the main team on November 13, 1969. On September 13, 1970, he was released by the Cowboys.
Playing for the New Orleans Saints
After leaving the Cowboys, Claxton Welch was picked up by the New Orleans Saints on September 15, 1970. However, he only played in one game for them. He was released on September 22, 1970.
Return to the Dallas Cowboys
On October 14, 1970, Claxton was signed back to the Cowboys' taxi squad. He was later activated and played in 8 games for them. He is remembered for his performance in the 1970 NFC Championship game. In that game, he ran the ball 5 times for 27 yards. He helped give the main running back, Walt Garrison, a rest.
In the 1971 season, Claxton Welch was part of the Dallas Cowboys team that won Super Bowl VI. This was a huge achievement, and he earned a Super Bowl ring. The team was coached by the famous Tom Landry. Claxton was released by the Cowboys on September 6, 1972.
Time with the Kansas City Chiefs
On November 22, 1972, Claxton Welch signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was released by them on August 7, 1973. He then signed back onto their taxi squad.
Final Season with the New England Patriots
On October 24, 1973, Claxton Welch was claimed by the New England Patriots. He was later placed on the "injured reserve list" on December 5, 1973. This meant he couldn't play due to an injury. He was released on August 16, 1974, after he couldn't pass a physical exam. He finished his NFL career with 83 rushing yards and 7 receiving yards.
