Saladin McCullough facts for kids
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| Position: | Running back |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | July 17, 1975 Monterey Park, California, U.S. |
| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight: | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | John Muir (Pasadena, California) |
| College: | Oregon |
| Undrafted: | 1998 |
| Career history | |
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| CFL status: | International |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Player stats at CFL.ca (archive) | |
Saladin McCullough, born on July 17, 1975, is a former American football player. He was a talented running back who played for several teams. He spent three seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL). During his time in the CFL, he played for the Edmonton Eskimos, Calgary Stampeders, and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Before becoming a professional, Saladin played college football at different schools. He started at Pasadena City College, then moved to El Camino Junior College, and finished his college career at the University of Oregon. He also played for teams like the Los Angeles Dragons and the Los Angeles Xtreme. His brother, Sultan McCullough, also played professional football in the NFL for the Washington Redskins.
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Growing Up: High School Football Star
Saladin McCullough started playing high school football at John Muir High School in Pasadena, California. He was an amazing player there. He set several school records during his high school career.
He gained 4,429 rushing yards, which means he ran with the ball for that many yards. He also scored 73 touchdowns. A touchdown is when a player carries the ball into the opponent's end zone, earning points for their team. In total, he had 5,748 all-purpose yards, which includes yards from running, catching, and returning kicks.
College Football Journey
Saladin McCullough played college football at three different schools. Each stop helped him become a better player.
Pasadena City College (1994)
In 1994, Saladin played for the Pasadena City Lancers at Pasadena City College. He played in seven games that season. He ran for 725 yards and scored six touchdowns.
El Camino Junior College (1995)
The next year, in 1995, he played for the El Camino Junior College Warriors. He had a great season there. In ten games, he rushed for 1,090 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He averaged an impressive 8.4 yards every time he carried the ball.
University of Oregon (1996-1997)
From 1996 to 1997, Saladin played for the Oregon Ducks at the University of Oregon. He continued to show his talent on the field.
In 1996, he set a school record for rushing touchdowns. He scored 15 touchdowns in just seven games! Because of his excellent performance, he received an honorable mention for the All-Pac-10 team. In 1997, his senior year, he rushed for 1,343 yards on 267 carries. He also made an exciting play at the start of the Ducks' 1997 season. He returned the first kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown!
Professional Football Career
After college, Saladin McCullough played professional football for several teams in different leagues.
Canadian Football League (CFL)
He played in one game for the Edmonton Eskimos during the 1999 season. Later, in 2003, he played in 13 games for the Calgary Stampeders. He rushed for 734 yards and scored three touchdowns for them. He also caught 32 passes for 298 receiving yards. In 2004, he played in one game for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Other Leagues
In 2000, Saladin played for the Los Angeles Dragons in the Spring Football League. The next year, in 2001, he was chosen by the Los Angeles Xtreme in the 2001 XFL Draft. He had a strong season with the Xtreme, scoring five rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. The Los Angeles Xtreme won the XFL championship in 2001, making Saladin a champion!
He also spent some time with the San Francisco 49ers in 2002 during their pre-season training. However, he was later released from the team.
