Ken Rice (American football) facts for kids
Rice in 1961
|
|||||||
| No. 75 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Tackle / guard | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | September 14, 1939 Attapulgus, Georgia, U.S. |
||||||
| Died: | October 14, 2020 (aged 81) Canton, Georgia, U.S. |
||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 240 lb (109 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Bainbridge (GA) | ||||||
| College: | Auburn | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1961 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8 | ||||||
| AFL draft: | 1961 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
|
|||||||
Ken Rice (born September 14, 1939 – died October 14, 2020) was an American professional football player. He played as an offensive tackle and guard in the AFL. Ken played for the Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, and Miami Dolphins. Before turning pro, he was a college football star at Auburn University, where he was named an All-American twice.
Contents
Early Life and High School Sports
Ken Rice was born in Attapulgus, Georgia, on September 14, 1939. He later moved to Bainbridge before starting high school. At Bainbridge High, Ken was an amazing athlete.
He played football, basketball, and baseball. He also competed in track and field. In track, Ken won three state championships in shot put. He was also a state champion in the discus throw. Many top colleges wanted him to play for them. In the end, Ken chose to attend Auburn University.
College Football Career
Ken Rice played college football for the Auburn Tigers from 1957 to 1960. He was a key player on both the offensive and defensive lines. In 1958, as a sophomore, he was named to the SEC's All-Sophomore Team. That year, the Tigers had a great record of 9 wins, 0 losses, and 1 tie.
Ken became an All-American in 1959. He was also voted the best offensive lineman in the SEC. In his final year, 1960, he was again named an All-American. He was once more voted the best offensive lineman in the SEC. That same year, he was also recognized as the best defensive lineman in the conference.
In 1992, Auburn fans voted Ken Rice onto their "Team of the Century." There is also an award named after him, the Ken Rice Award. This award is given every year to Auburn's best offensive lineman.
Professional Football Journey
After college, Ken Rice was a top pick in both the 1961 NFL Draft and the 1961 AFL Draft. He played professional football for seven years. During his career, he played in 79 games.
In his first year, 1961, with the Buffalo Bills, he was chosen for the AFL All-Star game. He was also named a second-team All-AFL lineman that season. In 1964, Ken was traded to the Oakland Raiders. Later, in 1966, the Miami Dolphins picked him from the Raiders in a special draft. Ken retired from football after the 1967 season because of a back injury. In 1989, he was honored by being inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.
Life After Football
After his football career, Ken Rice lived in Big Canoe, Georgia. Starting in the early 1970s, he worked in real estate development. Ken met Billie Ann Perrin while they were both attending Auburn University. They got married on June 20, 1959.
In 1995, Ken and Billie Ann bought the top of Mount Oglethorpe. This mountain was the original southern end of the famous Appalachian Trail. In 2014, they opened the mountain summit to the public. Billie Ann Rice passed away on June 7, 2014.
See also
- Other American Football League players
