Candidate #3: Larry Csonka
Class of 1987
Fullback >>> 6-3, 237
(Syracuse)
1968-1974, 1979 Miami Dolphins, 1976-1978 New York Giants
Lawrence Richard Csonka. . .Syracuse All-America, 1967. . . No. 1 draft pick, 1968. . .Powerhouse runner, excellent blocker, receiver. . . Only 21 fumbles in 1,891 carries. . . Surpassed 1000 yards rushing three seasons. . . Four-time All-AFC, picked for five Pro Bowls. . .All-Pro 1971, 1972, 1973. . .MVP in Super Bowl VIII. . .Made great comeback with 1979 Dolphins. . .Career stats: 8,081 yards rushing, 106 receptions, 68 touchdowns. . .Born December 25, 1946, in Stow, Ohio.
Larry Csonka, a classic 6-3, 235-pound line-smashing fullback, provided the major rushing thrust in the Miami Dolphins' vaunted ball-control offense when the team was dominating the National Football League in the early 1970s.
A consensus All-America at Syracuse and the Dolphins’ No.1 draft pick in 1968, Larry contributed almost picture-perfect performances to Miami's three Super Bowl seasons in 1971, 1972, and 1973. Csonka surpassed 1,000 yards in rushing all three seasons with his best production – 1,117 yards – coming during Miami's perfect season in 1972. Larry earned AII-AFC honors four times and was named All-Pro in 1971, 1972, and 1973. He was also selected to play in five straight Pro Bowls, although injuries forced him to miss two of those games.
Perhaps his finest single-game effort came in Super Bowl VIII, when he was selected as the game’s Most Valuable Player. Miami's powerful attack was at its best with Csonka carrying 33 times for a then-Super Bowl record 145 yards and two touchdowns. Larry wound up his 11-year career with 8,081 yards rushing and added 820 yards on 106 pass receptions.
Extremely sure-handed, he fumbled only 21 times in 11 seasons. His 408 points came on 68 touchdowns. Csonka, who was born in Stow, Ohio, on December 25, 1946, startled the pro football world by playing out his option with Miami in 1974 and then joining the Memphis' Southmen of the World Football League. When the WFL folded, he joined the New York Giants as a free agent in 1976. He enjoyed moderate success for three seasons with the Giants before returning to the Dolphins for a final 1979 season. Csonka's final fling proved to be a success. His 873 yards rushing was his best since 1973 and his 13 total touchdowns and 12 touchdowns rushing both were career highs.
Code:
+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| Rushing | Receiving |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| Year TM | G | Att Yards Y/A TD | Rec Yards Y/R TD |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| 1968 mia | 11 | 138 540 3.9 6 | 11 118 10.7 1 |
| 1969 mia | 11 | 131 566 4.3 2 | 21 183 8.7 1 |
| 1970 mia | 14 | 193 874 4.5 6 | 11 94 8.5 0 |
| 1971 mia | 14 | 195 1051 5.4 7 | 13 113 8.7 1 |
| 1972 mia | 14 | 213 1117 5.2 6 | 5 48 9.6 0 |
| 1973 mia | 14 | 219 1003 4.6 5 | 7 22 3.1 0 |
| 1974 mia | 12 | 197 749 3.8 9 | 7 35 5.0 0 |
| 1976 nyg | 12 | 160 569 3.6 4 | 6 39 6.5 0 |
| 1977 nyg | 14 | 134 464 3.5 1 | 2 20 10.0 0 |
| 1978 nyg | 14 | 91 311 3.4 6 | 7 73 10.4 0 |
| 1979 mia | 16 | 220 837 3.8 12 | 16 75 4.7 1 |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| TOTAL | 146 | 1891 8081 4.3 64 | 106 820 7.7 4 |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
Seasons among the league's top 10
Rushes: 1971-8, 1973-10
Rushing yards: 1970-5, 1971-3, 1972-4, 1973-5
Rushing TDs: 1968-4t*, 1970-9t, 1971-10t, 1974-3t, 1979-4t
Yards from scrimmage: 1971-5
Rush/Receive TDs: 1968-8t*, 1974-10, 1979-6
* - AFL
Among the league's all-time top 50
Rushes: 33
Rushing yards: 34
Rushing TDs: 31
Postseason data
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Year Opp Result | RSH YD TD | REC YD TD
---------------------+-----------------+-----------------
1970 oak L,14-21 | 10 23 0 | 0 0 0
1971 kan W,27-24 | 24 86 1 | 0 0 0
1971 bal W,21-0 | 15 63 1 | 0 0 0
*1971 dal L,3-24 | 9 40 0 | 2 18 0
1972 cle W,20-14 | 12 32 0 | 0 0 0
1972 pit W,21-17 | 24 68 1 | 1 9 0
*1972 was W,14-7 | 15 112 0 | 1 -1 0
1973 cin W,34-16 | 20 71 1 | 0 0 0
1973 oak W,27-10 | 29 117 3 | 0 0 0
*1973 min W,24-7 | 33 145 2 | 0 0 0
1974 oak L,26-28 | 24 114 0 | 0 0 0
1979 pit L,14-34 | 10 20 1 | 0 0 0
---------------------+-----------------+-----------------
TOTAL | 225 891 10 | 4 26 0
* - Super Bowl