Donnie Craft facts for kids
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | November 19, 1959 Panama City, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 206 lb (93 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | A. Crawford Mosley (Lynn Haven, Florida) |
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| College: | Louisville (1978–1981) | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1982 / Round: 12 / Pick: 314 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Donald Joseph Craft, known as Donnie, is a former American football player. He was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). Donnie played for the Houston Oilers for three seasons. He also played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Before going pro, he played college football at the University of Louisville.
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Early Life and High School
Donnie Craft was born on November 19, 1959. His hometown is Panama City, Florida. He went to A. Crawford Mosley High School in Lynn Haven, Florida.
College Football Journey
Donnie was a key player for the Louisville Cardinals football team. He played there from 1978 to 1981. He was a "letterman" for all four years. This means he earned a special award for playing well.
In 1978, as a freshman, he ran for 255 yards. He also scored one touchdown. He even completed two passes for 37 yards and two touchdowns!
In 1979, he rushed for 347 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught six passes.
His best year was 1980. He ran for 687 yards and scored five touchdowns. He was a very important part of the team's offense.
As a senior in 1981, he continued to shine. He rushed for 475 yards and five touchdowns. He also caught 25 passes for 207 yards. He even scored two receiving touchdowns that year.
Professional Football Career
Joining the Houston Oilers
After college, Donnie Craft was chosen by the Houston Oilers. This happened in the 1982 NFL draft. He was the 314th player picked overall.
In 1982, his first NFL season, he played in nine games. He ran for 42 yards and scored three touchdowns. He also caught 23 passes for 230 yards and one touchdown.
In 1983, he played in 15 games for the Oilers. He rushed for 147 yards and caught 12 passes. He was a versatile player for the team.
He played one game in 1984 before leaving the team.
Time with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Later in 1984, Donnie Craft joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. This team plays in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He signed a contract with them in September 1984.
He played in two games for the Tiger-Cats. He ran for 27 yards and caught eight passes for 56 yards. He also returned one kick for 37 yards. Donnie left the team in October 1984.
