Ernie Jennings
| No. 22 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Wide receiver |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | January 30, 1949 Atchison, Kansas, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Kansas City Central (Kansas City, Missouri) |
| College: | Air Force |
| NFL draft: | 1971: 10th round, 257th pick |
| Career history | |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Ernie Jennings (born January 30, 1949) is an American former college football player who was a wide receiver for the Air Force Falcons. He was named a consensus All-American in 1970.
Early life
Ernie Jennings was born on January 30, 1949, in Atchison, Kansas. He attended Kansas City Central High School in Kansas City, Missouri.
College career
Jennings played college football for the Air Force Falcons of the United States Air Force Academy. He originally joined the team as a defensive back but switched to receiver.[1] He was a consensus All-American in 1970 and finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting after catching 74 passes for 1,289 yards.[2] He also led NCAA Division I football in receiving touchdowns in 1970 with 17.[3] He is Air Force's all-time leader in receptions with 148, 2nd in receiving yards with 2,392 and leads the team in receiving touchdowns with 28.[4] Jennings was on the 2014 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame but was not chosen.[5][6]
Professional career
Jennings was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the tenth round of the 1971 NFL draft.[7] He spent time in the military after college and was released by the San Francisco 49ers in August 1975.[8]
Personal life
Jennings then began a career at NASA in 1976.[9]
References
- ^ Moss, Irv (December 25, 2007). "Jennings caught on quickly for Falcons". denverpost.com. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ "2014 NCAA Football Records: Consensus All-America Selections" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2014. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 26, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ^ "Ernie Jennings". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ "Former Air Force wideout Ernie Jennings joins elite list of College Football Hall of Fame nominees". militarytimes.com. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ "Ernie Jennings on College Football Hall of Fame ballot". goairforcefalcons.com. March 6, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ Volk, Pete (May 22, 2014). "2014 College Football Hall of Fame class includes Derrick Thomas, Sterling Sharpe". sbnation.com. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ "1971 NFL Draft". pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ "Ernie Jennings Cut". The Times from San Mateo, California. August 13, 1975. p. 19. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ "Jennings caught on quickly for Falcons". December 24, 2007.