Tony Boles facts for kids

Tony Boles (born December 11, 1967) is a former American football player. He played as a running back and kick returner. The Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL) drafted him. Before that, he was a star in college football for the Michigan Wolverines. He even led the Big Ten Conference in rushing once. His college career ended early because of a knee injury.

Early Life and High School Football

Tony Boles was born in Thomasville, Georgia. When he was ten years old, his family moved to Westland, Michigan. He grew up in a neighborhood that was mostly white. He was one of only four African American students at John Glenn High School. He also went to Marshall Junior High School.

High School Achievements

In high school, Tony Boles was an All-American running back. He set many school records. He had 3,139 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns in his career. He also helped his school reach the playoffs for the first time ever. Besides football, he also played basketball.

College Football Career

Boles played for the 1989 Rose Bowl Champions.

Tony Boles played for coach Bo Schembechler at the University of Michigan. He was named All-Big Ten twice in 1988 and 1989. These were the years Michigan won conference championships. He was also named the team's most valuable player for the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. These were Coach Schembechler's last two seasons at Michigan.

Key College Seasons

With Boles, the team won the 1989 Rose Bowl on January 1, 1989. However, they lost the game on January 1, 1990, when he was not playing. Boles shared the 1988 Big Ten rushing title with Anthony Thompson. Boles won the title for conference games only. Thompson won it for all games played. In 1986, he was limited to 4 games due to a hand injury. He mainly played as a kickoff returner that year.

As a sophomore in 1988, he rushed for 1,408 yards. He was second in the Big Ten Conference and fourth in the Nation for rushing. He became the tenth player in Michigan history to rush for over 1,000 yards in one season. He also had a 25.2-yard kickoff return average, which was second best in the conference. Against the University of Wisconsin, he rushed for 179 yards and 3 touchdowns on only 10 carries. He had a career-high 213 rushing yards against Wake Forest University.

Injury and Comeback Attempt

During the 1989 season, a pinched nerve limited his carries. Before the final game, he had 822 rushing yards in nine games. Coach Schembechler even supported him for the Heisman Trophy.

On November 18, 1989, he got a serious injury against the University of Minnesota. He tore a ligament in his knee. He had surgery, and Leroy Hoard took his place for the last 2.5 games. Even with the injury, he finished the season with 839 yards. He was the team's leading rusher and fifth in the Big Ten Conference. He was known for big plays, including runs of 91, 71, 64, and 46 yards. He also had an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. His 91-yard touchdown run against Indiana University was the second longest in school history at the time. His 85-yard kick return was the fourth longest and fifth kickoff return for a touchdown in Michigan history.

In 1990, Boles tried to come back as a wide receiver, but it did not work out. He spent his senior season recovering from his injury. Jon Vaughn and Ricky Powers played tailback instead of him.

College Statistics

Tony Boles had 10 games where he rushed for over 100 yards. He rushed for 2,247 yards in two years at Michigan. He was also a great kick returner. He gained 639 yards and scored a touchdown on 25 returns. This was an average of 25.6 yards per return.

Professional Football Career

Tony Boles was expected to be a top draft pick before his injury. The Dallas Cowboys selected him in the eleventh round (291st overall) of the 1991 NFL draft. This was part of coach Jimmy Johnson's plan to rebuild the team. His draft class included many picks, including three first-round selections.

Time with the Cowboys and Riders

Boles was given a rookie task to wash Emmitt Smith's car. He did not wash the car and was later released by the Cowboys. The Cowboys placed him on a special injury list on August 20, 1991.

In 1992, he played for the San Antonio Riders in the World League of American Football. His performance in the World League helped him get signed by the Cowboys again in April 1992. However, the team released him by June. He finished his time with 13 carries for 41 yards.

See also

• Lists of Michigan Wolverines football rushing leaders