Sunday, December 14, 2014

1972 New York Jets Rookie Profiles

JEROME BARKUM
Wide Receiver
1st Round
Jackson State
"Barkum might team with Rich Caster, another Jackson State product. They once teamed together in college. Jerome has superstar potential.
A 4.6 man in the 40, he made all the Little All-America teams and some regular All-America selections, especially those made on the basis of pro potential. Barkum caught 128 passes for 2,130 yards and 27 touchdowns in college. He played in the Senior Bowl and in East-West Shrine Game.
The first choice of the Jets, Jerome is the cousin of the Detroit Lions' Lem Barney."

-Jim Benagh, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1972 Edition

"Here's another guy who is going to a club where there is a job wide open. The Jets have not been happy with Pete Lammons, who's slowed down, for the last couple of years. And Barkum is the kind of receiver who can become a star overnight because he'll be playing, hopefully for the Jets, with Joe Namath and he'll be playing in New York. Namath and Barkum could make people start comparing them right away to Unitas and John Mackey."

-Anonymous Scout, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1972 Edition)

"One of the finest receivers in the nation, Barkum was the first draft choice of the Jets. He has the speed (4.6) to do either end and at 6-3, 215, has the size for the inside blocking assignments. Scouts say he 'has the tools to be a superstar.'
A teammate of Richard Caster at Jackson State, Barkum caught 128 passes for 2,130 yards and 27 touchdowns in his four-year career and had 10 touchdowns as a senior. He also worked on specialty units as a blocker.
Jerome played in the Senior Bowl and in the East-West Shrine Game. He was an AP Little All-America, All-SWAC for two years, and a Pittsburgh Courier All-America.
Nicknamed 'Gee,' Barkum is the cousin of Lem Barney, Detroit Lions cornerback. His brother, Marvin, is a sophomore quarterback at Mississippi State. Jerome holds a high school basketball record of 30 rebounds in a single game at 33rd Ave. High in Gulfport, Mississippi. He enjoys swimming, music and fishing. His hometown is Gulfport, Mississippi."

-The New York Jets Official 1972 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos


HANK BJORKLUND
Running Back
12th Round
Princeton
"Drafted in the 12th round, he 'looks just like (Ed) Marinaro,' says Weeb Ewbank about Bjorklund. Scouts were impressed with him in film, feeling he can provide inside power or dart outside equally effectively. He won All-East and All-Ivy League honors and was an honorable mention on the AP All-America squad.
Bjorklund was third in the nation in rushing as a junior (179 for 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns) and 11th as a senior (194 for 944 yards and 11 touchdowns). He was also Princeton's punter, averaging 33.8 as a senior. Bjorklund was the first Tiger to go over 1,000 yards in one season.
Hank joins John Dockery (Harvard) as an Ivy Leaguer on the Jets. His biggest thrill in athletics was his first varsity start as a sophomore when he scored three touchdowns and ran for 140 yards to lead the Tigers to a 35-7 win over Dartmouth and a piece of the Ivy title. His hometown is Glen Head, New York."

-The New York Jets Official 1972 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos


GARY HAMMOND
Wide Receiver-Kick Returner
3rd Round
SMU
"The most versatile player in college football. Hammond was a starting wide receiver as a soph, a running back as a junior and a quarterback as a senior, and starred at all positions. The Southwest Conference Player of the Year in 1971, he led the SWC twice in receiving, which seems to be his best pro position.
Hammond has also ranked high nationally as a kick returner and has 4.5 speed. He led the West to a triumph in the East-West Shrine Game.
An excellent student, Gary was a third-round draft choice."

-Jim Benagh, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1972 Edition

"The number three pick of the Jets, Hammond is a top-notch athlete. He made All-Southwest Conference three years in a row at three different positions: he was a wide receiver as a sophomore, a running back as a junior and a quarterback as a senior. Hammond was named SWC Player of the Year as a senior.
Gary twice led the SWC in receiving, catching 101 for 1,311 yards in his career, and rushed 437 times for 1,366 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also helped return kicks and was fourth in the nation as a sophomore on kickoff returns with 27 for 617 yards, a 22.9 average.
Hammond has 4.5 speed and a 3.5 grade point average in marketing and management. He led the West to victory in the East-West Shrine Game and played in the Hula Bowl. His brother Mark is a sophomore receiver for SMU.
Gary enjoys surfing and handball and has worked in public relations and sales for a metal company during the summers. His hometown is Port Arthur, Texas."

-The New York Jets Official 1972 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos


ROCKY TURNER
Wide Receiver
10th Round
Tennessee-Chattanooga
"Drafted in the 10th round, Turner is 'similar to Dan Abramowicz' say the scouting reports. He caught 119 for 1,864 yards and seven touchdowns as a wide receiver in college. Turner ranked in the top 20 in NCAA small college stats as a senior with 58 for 984 and five touchdowns. He also helped return kicks in his four-year career.
Rocky was an honorable mention on the AP Little All-America team. He had 14 catches against Mississippi in 1971, racing 198 yards with them.
His proper name is Harley. He majored in biology and his hobby is snakes. His hometown is Augusta, Georgia."

-The New York Jets Official 1972 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos


ED GALIGHER
Defensive Tackle
4th Round
UCLA
"Strong and mobile, Ed Galigher of UCLA is one of the best defensive linemen in the school's long football history."

-Bob Billings, Football Digest, January 1972

"A fourth-round pick, Galigher is a big, active lineman. Jet scouts saw him in the All-American Bowl and were impressed with his size. Galigher will get a shot along the defensive line. Reports say he punished his opponents and is a tough, come-on player.
Ed improved throughout his Bruin career after transferring from Chabot J.C. He had a knee operation in the spring of 1970. He was honorable mention All-Pacific Coast and majored in engineering. Ed rates his biggest thrill winning the California JC wrestling championship in the last two seconds of the match. His hometown is Hayward, California."

-The New York Jets Official 1972 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos


BILL DUNSTAN
Defensive Tackle
Free Agent
Utah State
"Dunstan signed with the Jets as a free agent. Drafted 14th by San Francisco in 1971, he played in three preseason games with the 49ers. Bill was recommended to the Jets by Bob Svihus.
He was a defensive lineman for three years at Utah State, earning three letters, and captained the team as a senior. He intercepted two screen passes against Kentucky as a senior.
Bill was a wrestler in high school and has run a 4.9. His hometown is Oakland, California."

-The New York Jets Official 1972 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos


JOEY JACKSON
Defensive End
6th Round
New Mexico State
"Joey Jackson has great strength and is the second fastest player on the squad."

-Bob Billings, Football Digest, January 1972

"A sixth-round draft choice, scouts say 'quick, all the tools, good pursuit.' Jackson played for two years at defensive end and one at defensive tackle for the Aggies. He scored a safety in the Aggies' 32-31 win over North Texas State. Jackson has 4.9 speed and will be looked at both inside and outside along the line. The coaches feel his best football is still ahead of him.
He's nicknamed 'Mad Mountain' after a local Indian legend. His brother Mike plays football for Central State. Joey is very active in the fellowship of Christian athletes and works with Christian youth camps. He enjoys roller skating. His hometown is Cincinnati, Ohio."

-The New York Jets Official 1972 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos


MIKE TAYLOR
Linebacker
1st Round
Michigan
"At 6-2, 220, Mike Taylor, Michigan, is cat quick and a real hitter. He should go high."

-Bob Billings, Football Digest, January 1972

"Another first-round draft choice, Taylor could help the Jets immediately because of their aging linebackers. He may play the middle or the outside; he played both positions in college and made All-Big Ten at each.
An All-America as a senior, Taylor helped make Michigan the number one team in the nation on defense. He's a 4.8 man in the 40.
Taylor will be tried in the middle first by the Jets, who have time to break him in correctly."

-Jim Benagh, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1972 Edition

"Their second pick in the first round, Taylor was the top-rated linebacker by the Jets. He has the speed and size to play either the middle or the outside. Scouting reports say he has great desire, aggressiveness, and plays the pass well.
Taylor was a two-year starter for the Wolverines at outside linebacker and played the middle as a senior. He won All-Big Ten and All-America honors and played in the Rose Bowl and Hula Bowl. He helped lead Michigan to the number one rushing defense in the nation and an undefeated regular season. Mike was the 20th player selected in the draft and will get a shot at the middle linebacker post.
Mike was all-city at Martin Luther King High in Detroit. He majored in physical education. His hometown is Detroit, Michigan."

-The New York Jets Official 1972 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos

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