Tony Lorick

William Anthony Lorick (May 25, 1941 – February 17, 2013) was an American football running back who played for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL).

A Los Angeles prep phenom at halfback, Lorick was converted to fullback by head coach Frank Kush during his college years at Arizona State University. He played four years as a tough blocker and effective runner for the Baltimore Colts before being traded to the New Orleans Saints for the second round draft pick that would be converted into Pro-Bowl linebacker Ted Hendricks.

Lorick would be plagued by injuries during his final two seasons in the NFL and would finish with 2,124 yards rushing with a 3.9 yards per carry average, and 3,014 total yards with a total of 19 touchdowns.

Biography Early life

Tony Lorick was born May 25, 1941, in Los Angeles, California.

Lorick attended John C. Fremont High School in Los Angeles, where he was a star running back, gaining 3,600 yards and racking up 230 points scored over three varsity football seasons.

Collegiate career

After graduation from high school, Lorick spent one year at Eastern Los Angeles Junior College, gaining 1,043 yards rushing. Blessed with a large number of alternative scholarship offers, Lorick initially decided upon the University of Washington in Seattle, — only to be rained upon every day during a two week visit. Lorick later asserted that he would have been the first round selection of the Colts, but Raiders owner Al Davis "circulated a rumor that I'd already signed with him. The Colts came back to see if I was available in the second round after I proved to them there wasn't a contract out there." He carried the ball 100 times on the season for 513 yards, an impressive average of 5.1 yards per carry, scoring 4 touchdowns. The injury which limited him to 63 carries for 296 yards (4.7 yards per carry average). His production as a rusher went into decline, however, though he gained 524 yards in 1966 and 424 yards in 1967, his yards per attempt numbers had fallen to 3.7 and 3.3 yards, respectively. A newcomer, rookie Terry Cole, looked capable. He carried the ball 439 times for 1,769 yards (4.0 yards per carry average) and scored 14 rushing touchdowns.

New Orleans Saints

Lorick would play two seasons for the Saints, one of the perennial doormats of the NFL during this era. He would start 8 games for New Orleans in the 1968 season, gaining 343 yards on the ground (3.3 yards per carry average) and 272 in the air, for a total of 625 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Tony Lorick died on February 17, 2013, at Kerrville. He was 71 years old at the time of his death.

NFL career statistics Legend Bold Career high

Regular season Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1964 BAL 14 7 100 513 5.1 60 4 11 164 14.9 59 0 1965 BAL 14 0 63 296 4.7 38 1 15 184 12.3 49 2 1966 BAL 14 11 143 524 3.7 41 3 12 81 6.8 19 0 1967 BAL 14 9 133 436 3.3 22 6 22 189 8.6 34 0 1968 NOR 13 8 104 344 3.3 36 0 26 272 10.5 29 3 1969 NOR 14 0 5 11 2.2 6 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 83 35 548 2,124 3.9 60 14 86 890 10.3 59 5

Playoffs Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1964 BAL 1 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 3 18 6.0 8 0 1965 BAL 1 0 1 1 1.0 1 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 2 0 1 1 1.0 1 0 3 18 6.0 8 0