Rufus French facts for kids
| No. 9 | |
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| Position: | Tight end |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | March 15, 1978 |
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight: | 256 lb (116 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Amory (Amory, Mississippi) |
| College: | Ole Miss |
| Undrafted: | 1999 |
| Career history | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Joel Rufus French, born on March 15, 1978, is a former American football player. He played as a tight end for the Ole Miss Rebels in college. He was recognized as an All-American twice. This means he was considered one of the best college players in the country. He also played for the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers in the National Football League (NFL).
Early Life and Sports
Joel Rufus French grew up in Amory, Mississippi. He was a talented athlete at Amory High School. There, he played both football and baseball. In 1996, the San Diego Padres baseball team even picked him in a special draft. This showed how good he was at sports.
College Football Career
French decided to focus on football for college. He joined the Ole Miss Rebels team. He quickly became a star player. In 1998, he was named a unanimous All-American. This means every major group of experts agreed he was one of the best players.
He was also chosen for the First-team All-SEC in both 1997 and 1998. The SEC is a very strong group of college teams. In 1998, he was a finalist for the Conerly Trophy. This award goes to the best college football player in Mississippi.
By the end of his college career, French had caught 84 passes. He gained 814 receiving yards and scored four touchdowns. After his junior year, he decided to enter the 1999 NFL draft. This meant he would try to play professional football.
Professional Football Journey
After the 1999 NFL draft, Rufus French signed with the Seattle Seahawks. He joined them as a player who was not drafted but still got a chance. He was with the Seahawks for a couple of years.
During the 2000 season, he had to take time off. He was recovering from a knee injury. The Seahawks released him from the team in August 2001.
In March 2002, French signed with the Green Bay Packers. He hoped to continue his professional career there. However, he was released by the Packers in July 2002.
