Dennis Mosley

Dennis Mosley
Iowa Hawkeyes – No. 18
PositionRunning back
ClassJunior
Personal information
Born: (1957-03-19) March 19, 1957 (age 67)
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight180 lb (82 kg)
Career history
College
Career highlights and awards

Dennis Earl Mosley (born March 19, 1957) is a former American football running back. He attended the University of Iowa where he became the leading rusher in the Big Ten Conference in 1979. He also set Iowa records for single-season and career rushing yardage.

Early years

Mosley was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1957.[1] He grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, and in high school, he was the state champion in 100-, 220- and 440-yard dashes.[2]

University of Iowa

Mosley played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 1976 to 1979.[3] His 1977 and 1978 seasons were cut short by elbow and hip injuries.[4] As a senior, he led the Big Ten Conference with 1,267 rushing yards, 1,502 yards from scrimmage, and 16 touchdowns.[5] On September 29, 1979, he rushed for a career-high 229 rushing yards and three touchdowns in Iowa's annual rivalry game with Iowa State.[6] He was also selected as a first-team All-Big Ten running back in 1979 and as the most valuable player on the 1979 Iowa football team.

Mosley also had a 77-yard touchdown run against Iowa State in 1977.[7] His 270 rushing carries in 1979 was also an Iowa record, breaking the previous record by 65 carries.[4] He finished his career as Iowa's career rushing leader with 2,133 yards.[8]

Professional football

Mosley was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the ninth round (232nd overall pick) of the 1980 NFL draft.[2][9] In late August 1980, Mosley was cut by the Vikings before the start of the 1980 NFL season.[10]

In the summer of 1981, Mosley participated in training camp and pre-season games with the Ottawa Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.[8][11][12]

References

  1. ^ "Dennis Mosley". NFL.com. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Charley McKenna (May 1, 1980). "Vikings pick Mosley, a little man with big feats". Minneapolis Tribune. p. 1D.
  3. ^ "Dennis Mosley College Statistics". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Mike Finn; Chad Leistikow (1998). Hawkeye Legends, Lists, & Lore. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 153. ISBN 1-57167-178-1.
  5. ^ "1979 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  6. ^ Pat Harty (September 13, 2014). "He Who Can't Be Stopped". Iowa City Press-Citizen. p. 1B.
  7. ^ Pat Harty (September 13, 2014). "He Who Can't Be Stopped (part 2)". Iowa City Press-Citizen. p. 10B.
  8. ^ a b "Ex-Iowa back Mosley in bid to join CFL". The Des Moines Register. June 19, 1981. p. 4B.
  9. ^ "1980 NFL Draft: Full Draft". NFL.com. National Football League. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  10. ^ "Dennis Mosley cut by Vikings". Iowa City Press-Citizen. August 21, 1980. p. 2C.
  11. ^ "Mosley tries to catch on at Roughriders' camp". Iowa City Press-Citizen. June 19, 1981. p. 2B.
  12. ^ "Sports Deals". The Daily News. June 16, 1981. p. 5.