1971 Jets Running Back Profiles

MATT SNELL

Fullback

No. 41
Ohio State
"The Jets' running kingpin when healthy, 219-pound fullback Matt Snell was another of their multitude of wounded last season, seeing only enough action to bang out 281 yards and one touchdown in 64 carries. After pacing New York to first place in the AFC rushing statistics for the first three games of 1970, Snell ruptured his Achilles' tendon against Buffalo and underwent surgery.
It was a rude comedown from the 1969 campaign, during which Matt earned All-Pro honors for the first time by running for 695 yards and catching passes for 187 more. The only times Matt has failed to finish among the top ten in rushing were the two seasons missed with injuries, last year and 1967, when he was out with a knee injury.
Despite his numerous skills when in possession of the football, Snell is perhaps best known for his pass protection. Weeb Ewbank calls the 30-year-old Ohio State graduate 'the best pass protector in football.'"

-Brenda Zanger, Pro Football 1971

"Chalked up 1970 as a lost year in a brilliant career. Regarded among the game's best all-around fullbacks during his first seven seasons, Snell holds the Jets' all-time rushing record with 4,285 yards. He's often an All-League and All-Star game selection. He was team MVP in 1965 and Namath's personal choice for MVP in the 1969 Super Bowl when he ran for 121 yards. He is a super blocker for Namath and his teammates.

Snell was the leading AFC rusher after three games in 1970, then was lost for the season with an Achilles tendon injury. He talked about quitting but had a change of heart in February after declaring the heel well again. Dick Barnett of the New York Knicks, and a former Achilles victim, convinced Snell to make a comeback.

A Wall Street broker and recent initiate to the restaurant business with the purchase of a mid-Manhattan hangout called 'Fifth Down,' Snell grew up on Long Island and chose the Jets over the Giants during the signing war between the leagues. Called 'the complete ballplayer' by Ewbank, he's married."

-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)

"The all-time rushing leader for the Jets, and All-Pro selection and three times an All-AFL choice, Matt has been the workhorse of the Jets' ground game. He was off to his greatest start in 1970 when he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon against the Bills on October 4 and missed the remainder of the year. In three games he gained 281 yards including a 108-yard show against Cleveland in the opener.

Labeled the 'complete ballplayer' by Jets' Head Coach Weeb Ewbank, Ewbank also says Matt is 'the best pass protector in football.' He finished among the top ten rushers in the AFL five times.

Matt works for a brokerage firm in the off-season."

-1971 Topps No. 205

"The all-time rushing leader for the Jets, an All-Pro selection and three times an All-AFL choice. Matt Snell has been the workhorse of the Jet ground game.

Snell was off to his greatest start in 1970 when the second serious of his career struck in a game against Buffalo. He suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon when he was spun out of bounds in the fourth quarter and was operated on that night (October 4). Matt sat out the rest of the season.

In the first three games he had gained 281 yards, including a 108-yard show against Cleveland in the opener, and was leading the AFC in rushing. He had been off to a similarly great start in 1967 when he tore in his knee, also against Buffalo, and saw only limited action afterward.

Snell has led the Jets in rushing five of his seven years. He has rushed for 4,285 yards and 24 touchdowns during his career. He also ranks fourth in Jet receiving with 193 for 1,379 yards and is fifth in scoring with 186 points. He holds the Jet record for rushing in one season- 948 in 1964- and the single-game rushing mark of 180 in 1964 against Houston. Matt finished among the top 10 rushers in the AFL five times and the top ten receivers three times. 

He was named combined All-Pro by the writers and consensus All-AFL following the '69 season and was named second team All-Pro by the league's coaches. The AFL Rookie of the Year in 1964, he was the No. 1 draft choice of the Jets and No. 3 of the Giants in '64. Matt was Jet MVP in his sophomore year of 1965.

Joe Namath's nomination for Super Bowl MVP, Snell gained 121 yards on 30 carries in that game and also scored the only Jet touchdown. He is called the 'complete ballplayer' by Weeb Ewbank, who also says Snell is 'the best pass protector in football.'

Snell makes his year-round home in New Rochelle and is a partner in the Amos Treat brokerage firm. He operates a restaurant in New York City, Matt Snell's Fifth Down. He was an all-Met performer at Carle Place High on Long Island. His hometown is Locust Valley, New York."

-The New York Jets Official 1971 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos

EMERSON BOOZER

Halfback

No. 32

Maryland State

"Talk about triple threats in football! Emerson Boozer, the 5-11, 207-pound halfback of the Jets, goes one better. In addition to being proficient in running, pass receiving and blocking, Boozer excels in public speaking. He is one the most highly sought Jets for the postseason banquet tour. Emerson also conducts a sports show on a New York radio station and aspires to a full-time broadcasting career when he's finished playing.

For the present, Boozer, six years out of Maryland State, will let his actions speak for him. His past two seasons have been the best of his pro career. He picked up 581 yards in 1970 after a 604-yard year in '69. Emerson got off to a brilliant beginning last season, with 148 yards and three touchdowns in the first two games. But he was another victim of the injury avalanche which struck the Jets' offense in the third game of the year against Buffalo. Boozer missed four games in all with bruised rib cartilage. 

He came back late in the season with 115- and 114-yard performances against Oakland and Miami, respectively, the second and third best one-game outputs of his career. In 1969 he pounded out 129 yards against Cincinnati."

-Brenda Zanger, Pro Football 1971

"Deserving of the coveted No. 32 jersey (Jimmy Brown's old number) for a running back. Boozer rushed well in 1970 until hit by the plague of injuries that swept over the Jets. He came on strong at the end of the season with back-to-back games of 115 and 114 yards rushing.

Boozer led the team with 581 yards and a 4.2 average, plus he had five touchdowns. Despite missing four full games, he was 12th in the AFC in rushing.

An explosive runner appropriately born on the Fourth of July, he has gained from 400 to 600 yards annually as a pro. He's also a respectable pass receiver, catching a career high of 28 in 1970. The Jets got him on the sixth round of the draft."

-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)

"Emerson had his second finest season rushing in his five-year pro career in 1970, finishing as the Jets' top runner despite missing four games with bruised ribs. He had three of his best five single-game performances last year: 90 yards against the Patriots September 27; 115 yards against Oakland December 6 and 114 yards against Miami December 13. The 28 passes Emerson caught in 1970 were the most of his career as were the 258 yards.

His sophomore year of 1967 was a brilliant one and he was on his way to breaking pro records for scoring when he suffered torn knee ligaments in the year's ninth game. The 13 touchdowns he had scored at that time ranked only six short of the AFL record. In 1968, Emerson was the second leading Jet runner."

-1971 Topps No. 73

"Boozer had his second finest season rushing in his five-year career. He finished at the top of the Jets' rushing list with 581 yards and five touchdowns, despite missing four games with bruised rib cartilage. His 581 yards fell just short of his 1969 performance of 604.

He was off to his fastest start last year, with 148 yards and three touchdowns over the first two games, when the injury avalanche struck the Jets offense at Buffalo (October 4). Despite missing his usual running mate, Matt Snell, Boozer still had three of his five best individual games in 1970- 90 yards against Boston in the second game, and 115 and 114 yards against Oakland and Miami respectively late in the campaign.

Buffalo was to prove unlucky for Boozer again on October 25 when he exited the game at Shea Stadium early in the third quarter with damaged ribs. He spent the next three weeks on the move list and returned to active status, although he did not play, against Boston. Then came 61 yards against Minnesota and the back-to-back 100-yard games against the Raiders and Dolphins.

Emerson finished 12th among the AFC rushing leaders. The 28 passes he caught were the most of his career as were his 258 yards receiving.

His sophomore year (1967) was a brilliant one and he was on his way to breaking pro records for scoring when he suffered torn knee ligaments in the ninth game against Kansas City. The 13 touchdowns he had scored at that time was only six short of the AFL record. 

In 1968 he was the second-leading Jet runner and was an AFL All-Star. Emerson carried for 51 yards on 11 tries in the AFL championship game. He was praised by Weeb Ewbank for his blocking in the Super Bowl. Boozer led the way for Snell, who gained 121 yards.

His knee strengthened through '68 and '69 and showed it was back to full strength last year. Boozer ranks as the club's third-leading rusher of all time (2,523 yards) and fourth-leading scorer (198 points). He has caught 80 passes in his career.

His bouncy, high kneed style of running comes from his high school coach. Drafted sixth by the Jets in 1966, he was named AFL Rookie of the Year by the Pittsburgh Courier in '66.

Born on the Fourth of July, Boozer majored in industrial education. He does excellent work on the banquet circuit and worked for the Census Bureau during the 1970 off-season. He has a radio program on WLIB and aspires to become a broadcaster.

Emerson makes his year-round home in Huntington Station, New York. His hometown is Augusta, Georgia."

-The New York Jets Official 1971 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos

GEORGE NOCK

Running Back

No. 37

Morgan State

"George started the last nine games of the year after injuries had cut through the backfield. He became a regular, teaming up with Emerson Boozer, Lee White and Chuck Mercein as the fullbacks. George finished as the club's second-leading rusher with 402 yards. He also caught 18 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown.

He got his first start against Buffalo at Shea. His touchdown reception was against the Giants when he took a swing pass and weaved his way into the end zone. Nock set the all-time Jets record for carries in a game with 32 against Minnesota and rolled up 117 yards in the same game, his career best. He scored five touchdowns in 1970, two of them against Boston at Shea, and scored all of his touchdowns in a four-game stretch midway through the year.

His running style is reminiscent of Emerson Boozer. He gives great second effort and makes his own holes when stopped at first.

Nock was the 16th round draft choice in 1969. He spent his rookie year on the taxi squad, activated for only two games plus the AFL playoff.

Nicknamed 'Peahead' by his Morgan State teammates, George enjoys sketching and sculpturing in his spare time. His hometown is Philadelphia, Pa."

-The New York Jets Official 1971 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos

LEE WHITE

Running Back

No. 34

Weber State

"White started six games at fullback, though he was hobbled some of the time due to a shoulder injury suffered against the Giants. He had his best season in yardage with 215, ranking fourth among the Jets. The second-leading rusher in the pre-season, White improved his blocking last year.

He had his best efforts against the Giants and Rams. Against the Giants, he gained 42 yards in less than a quarter before exiting with a badly bruised shoulder. He saw little action the next week at Pittsburgh but came back strong against the Rams with 72 yards on 22 carries. Lee scored a touchdown in that game on a screen pass from Al Woodall as he squirmed through the defense brilliantly.

A No. 1 draft choice in 1968, Lee is fully recovered from the knee injury which eliminated his rookie season. He injured the ligaments in his right knee in the opening game in '68 and underwent surgery immediately.

Lee has worked for an insurance company in the off-season. He enjoys music and tennis. His hometown is Las Vegas, Nevada."

-The New York Jets Official 1971 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos

CLIFF MCCLAIN

Running Back

No. 42

South Carolina State

"Drafted in the 5th round in 1970, Cliff was on the taxi squad before joining the 40-man roster. He was active for the final 11 games of the year after recuperating from rib cartilage damaged in the opening pre-season contest against Buffalo. He caught one pass for 11 yards against Pittsburgh.

McClain competed in track in college. He ran a 9.7 100, ran in the 440 relay and threw the javelin. His hometown is Orlando, Florida."

-The New York Jets Official 1971 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos

JOHN RIGGINS

Running Back

1st Round

Kansas

"No. 1 draft choice of the Jets. Labeled 'best running back in the draft' by Ewbank, Riggins broke Gale Sayers' season and career rushing records at Kansas.

He has the power to go inside and 4.6 speed in the 40 to go outside. He averaged an even five yards a carry in tough college competition and was All-Big Eight.

Riggins is a fine all-around athlete from Centralia, Kansas, a town with a population of less than 1,000."

-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)

BRUCE BROWN

Running Back

Free Agent

Tampa

"Bruce was a running back for three years as a teammate of [Jet second-round draft choice] John Mooring. He also played one season at the University of Miami as a freshman. Weeb Ewbank was impressed with him in films of his senior year. Bruce was signed as a free agent.

He was MVP of the Tampa-Tulsa game in 1969. He competed in track and baseball in high school, setting sprint and long jump records.

Bruce enjoys swimming and golf. His hometown is Lowell, Mass."

-The New York Jets Official 1971 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos