Split End
No. 84
San Jose State
"The surprise of '60 was why the Eagles permitted end Art Powell to get away. He was among the standout NFL rookies in '59, excelling in punt and kickoff returns. Voted an AFL All-Star for his feat in leading the loop in catching touchdown passes (14) and taking down 72 passes for 1,265 yards. He also gained 63 yards with two kickoff returns.
Only 24, this San Jose (California) sparkler figures to remain among the high echelon offensive stars."
-1961 Pro Football Handbook
"'Art Powell,' said Sammy Baugh, the finest passer in football history, 'is the best receiver I've ever seen.'
Powell was a defensive back before he joined the Titans.
The end with the most natural class in the league is Powell. For a guy of 24, he's had a rather stormy career. His older brother is a former heavyweight fighter and defensive end who plays with the Oakland Raiders. Like Charlie, Art was a brilliant high school athlete in San Diego; he went on to San Jose State, scored 47 points in one basketball game and then led the nation in receiving as a sophomore end with 40 catches, five for touchdowns. All-American honors loomed, but Art jumped school and went up to Canada for a couple of seasons. When his college class was graduated, the Eagles drafted Art, who switched over to defense and made the grade as a regular in the secondary. The pros are looking for his kind, a 6-3 212-pounder who can run with everybody. As a rookie he led the NFL in kickoff returns, taking one ball back 95 yards against the Giants, missing a touchdown when he stepped into a hole and fell down. He returned a punt 58 yards for a score.
It looked like a long career in the NFL for him as 1960 began, but the Eagles weren't enchanted with his behavior. They cut him loose, and not a team in the league picked him up; no one wanted to risk his temperament. The Titans weren't so queasy. First, they put him at offensive end, which Art wanted. Then they left him alone, and he revealed tremendous talent. Until he joined the team just before the season, the lone receiver was Don Maynard, the slim kid from Texas Western who had been discarded by the Giants. With both of them in the lineup, defenses went nuts; they gathered in 141 passes to be the most effective unit in pro football, and Powell scored 14 touchdowns to lead the league. If Art never caught a pass, he'd still be the most valuable guy in the Titans lineup, for every team is forced to double up its coverage on him. Acting as a decoy, he frees Maynard and the backs for receptions."
-Murray Olderman, Sports All-Stars 1961 Pro Football
"When it comes to leaving his feet and beating a defender to a pass, powerful Powell is in a class by himself. His 14 touchdowns were tops in the league."
-1961 Topps No. 151
THURLOW COOPER
Tight End
No. 88
Maine
Cooper is a blocking tight end who also caught nine passes for 161 yards, a 17.9 average. His longest reception was for 38 yards and he scored three touchdowns.
In a distinguished collegiate career at the University of Maine, Cooper was All-Maine three years, All-Yankee Conference two years and All-New England in 1956, the same year he earned Little All-America honorable mention.
DAVE ROSS
End
No. 80
Los Angeles State
"Coach Sammy Baugh thinks highly of the young California product. At LA State, Dave led the California IAA in pass receiving, won All-Conference honors and was named a first-team Junior College All-American.
Ross has size and there's no question about his speed- he won the NCAA regional high hurdles championship in 1959. He was signed by the Detroit Lions last year but later acquired by the Titans.
He lives in Whittier, California, also the hometown of Richard Nixon. Dave is married and has a 4 1/2-year-old son, Ronald David."
-1961 New York Titans Official Yearbook
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