Verlie Abrams

Verlie Francis Abrams II (February 5, 1921 – September 16, 2008) was an American football guard who played one season in the American Football League (AFL) for the Wilmington Clippers. He played college football for Missouri, graduating in 1948, and appeared in four games for the Clippers in 1949.

Early life and education Verlie Abrams was born on February 5, 1921, in Oklahoma City. His family moved to Webb City, Missouri when he was young, and he attended Webb City High School there between 1936 and 1939. He joined University of Missouri in 1940, spending his first season on the freshman roster. He joined the varsity team in 1941, and was given a varsity letter in the following two years.

He was drafted to serve in World War II as a member of the United States Marine Corps in 1943, and played for the University of Notre Dame while in service. He was a demolition officer with the Marines, and "blasted Japs out of Okinawa caves, leveled their bridges, changed the courses of rivers so his side could gain," wrote Al Cartwright of The News Journal. "He coached his men to go all-out to blow the enemy out of the way, to be reckless," Cartwright also said. He was named honorable mention all-Big Six following the season. Al Cartwright wrote in The News Journal, "Abrams is this year's surprise package with the Wilmington pros. Not surprising because he's playing so well, but surprising because he merely is with them. While the Clipper officials were scurrying and shopping around for hard-wearing linemen all summer and even early in the season, Abrams just wandered into a Wilmington Park workout late in September and inquired whether or not he could try out for the team. And when the workout was over, the Clippers had themselves a former University of Missouri captain and all-Big Seven selection protecting them in the middle of the line." Wilmington folded after the season, ending his professional career.

Death Abrams died on September 16, 2008, in Old Hickory, Tennessee at the age of 87.