1977 Profile: Joe Fields

Center
No. 65
Widener
"A young, baby-faced 'sleeper' draft choice who wound up playing in all 14 games and starting the final 10 at center in his second year, Fields has good quickness and fine attitude. He's an excellent long snapper on punts and placements. Joe has a good future but could use more strength and weight. He played in all 14 games as a rookie while handling snaps and backup center duties.
He never missed a play at Widener College (Chester, PA) despite a contused shoulder and a sprained ankle as a senior. All-conference in 1974, Fields called the blocking assignments for the offensive line. He was a teammate of Billy 'Whiteshoes' Johnson.
Joe has a B.S. in accounting. He's nicknamed 'W.C.' His birthplace is Woodbury, New Jersey, and his hometown is Deptford, New Jersey."

-1977 New York Jets Media Guide

1977 Profile: John Ebersole

Linebacker
No. 55
Penn State
"'Had his finest year in the pros,' says Walt Michaels. 'The extra responsibility of playing with the three rookies brought out a better quality in Ebersole.' Michaels labels Ebersole not as a killer but as an intelligent player who is equally effective against the run and the pass.
John took over at middle linebacker in the fourth game against the 49ers and started until a sprained ankle forced him to miss the season finale. He finished third on the club in total tackles behind linebacker mates Greg Buttle and Bob Martin, with 56 solos and 93 assists. John recovered three fumbles, knocked down four passes, had a quarterback sack and made an interception which set up a touchdown against Buffalo.
He has become a regular over the last four seasons. A tough player who will play hurt, he has missed only three games in seven years. In 1974 he tied for the club lead with three interceptions. He has good hands.
In college, Ebersole played two years on offense and two on defense and helped lead the Nittany Lions to second place in the national rankings in total defense. He earned the game ball against Kansas State when he played with a dislocated shoulder. John played in the Gator Bowl and in the Orange Bowl twice.
John holds a degree in health and physical education. He owns Ebersole Beverages, Inc. His birthplace hometown is Altoona, Pennsylvania."

-1977 New York Jets Media Guide

1977 Profile: Leonard Dunlap

Cornerback
No. 26
North Texas State
"A free agent signed by the Jets, Leonard was drafted in the first round by Baltimore in 1971. He played one season with the Colts, highlighted by a 57-yard punt return, and was traded the following year to San Diego for a draft choice. He intercepted five passes for the Chargers in 1972 and also averaged 22.6 yards on 12 kickoff returns and 9.4 yards on 19 punt returns.
Dunlap played two more years with the Chargers before being acquired by the Giants, who traded him to Detroit in 1975 for a draft choice. He missed the entire 1976 season with a knee injury and has suffered several injuries during his career which have hampered his progress.
He starred at Kilgore College in Texas before transferring to North Texas State, where he was the MVP of the Missouri Valley Conference. Leonard played in the North-South Game, the Senior Bowl and College All-Star Game.
Leonard has a degree in physical education. His birthplace is Monroe, Louisiana and his hometown is Houston, Texas."

-1977 New York Jets Media Guide

1977 Profile: Steve Davis

Running Back
No. 35
Delaware State
"Davis enjoyed his best season rushing as a pro last year. He gained 418 yards on 94 carries (4.4 average), with three touchdowns and was second to Clark Gaines among club leaders. Davis already ranks eighth on the Jets' all-time rushing list with 708 yards.
He gained a career high 76 yards on 16 carries in a win over Tampa Bay last year. He missed two games with a knee injury and had fumble trouble, losing six.
The Jets third-leading rusher in 1975 with 290 yards, Steve also was the Jets' second-leading kick returner with 20 for 483 (24.2 average). He did not return any kickoffs last season.
Davis was acquired from the Steelers in [August] 1975 in exchange for a 1977 third round draft pick. He led the Steelers in kickoff returns for three consecutive seasons, ranking fifth in the AFC in 1973 (26.9 average). He was drafted third by the Steelers in 1971 but missed his entire rookie season with a viral infection.
He was the first player ever drafted from Delaware State. He was the 13th leading collegiate rusher in 1970 with 980 yards. He gained 261 yards and led the CIAA in rushing as a senior.
Davis majored in physical education. His hometown is Lexington, Virginia."

-1977 New York Jets Media Guide

1977 Profile: Don Coleman

Linebacker
No. 57
Michigan
"Coleman signed as a free agent with the Jets last season after two years with the Saints, who drafted him in the 16th round in 1974. He missed the entire 1976 campaign after suffering a knee injury in the Houston preseason game that required surgery.
He played 13 games at outside linebacker for the Saints in 1975 and made 33 tackles. He appeared mostly on special teams as a rookie. Coleman played for the Saints at the same time that new Jet offensive backfield coach Bob Ledbetter was an assistant there.
Coleman was second team All-Big 10 as a senior. He was a three-year starter after switching from running back.
He has a B.A. in communications and would like to operate his own ad-production company someday. He's studying for a Master's degree in business administration at Hofstra.
Don was a four-sport star at St. John's High Toledo, his birthplace and hometown, where he was an all-state running back."

-1977 New York Jets Media Guide

1977 Profile: Richard Caster

Tight End
No. 88
Jackson State
"He caught 31 passes last season, second [on the club] only to Clark Gaines- but down from his total of 47 the season before. With Jerome Barkum out for 10 weeks, Caster was double-teamed by opposing defenses.
He is No. 3 on the all-time list of Jet receivers [for both catches and yardage] behind Don Maynard and George Sauer."

-John Devaney, Schenley Pro Football Guide 1977

"Shea Stadium boo-birds would feel lost without him. The fastest tight end in the league, Caster makes spectacular catches. He still drops too many easy ones when all alone- if anyone knows why, contact Walt Michaels.
A poor blocker, Caster played tight end and wide receiver last year. Double-teamed wherever he goes, he had the lowest number of catches (31) in five years last season when the Jets played shuffling quarterbacks.
The most dangerous touchdown threat among tight ends in the league, Caster has 35 touchdowns over the last seven years. He does 40 yards in 4.5 and knows where the sweet spots in the zone are.
Born in Mobile, Alabama, he was a college teammate of Jerome Barkum at Jackson State. Caster played out his option but was re-signed by the Jets last spring.
He's a good tennis player."

-Rich Kucner, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition


"The premier receiving tight end in pro football, Caster is an outstanding deep threat against the zone. He has steadily improved his blocking, yet fell off statistically last year when the Jets' passing game slackened; the opposition double-teamed him constantly with the threat of injured Jerome Barkum removed. Richard had 31 catches for 391 yards, a 12.6 average and only one touchdown, but tied for the third longest run in Jet history with a 60-yard end around against Washington.
Capable of being used as a wide receiver, Caster began his career as a wide receiver but switched to tight end in 1972 and did so well he earned a Pro Bowl selection. He also earned Pro Bowl honors after the 1974 and 1975 seasons. He played wide receiver in a one-game experiment at New England last year.
Richard led all AFC receivers in yardage (833) and touchdown catches (10) in 1972 and topped all NFL tight ends in yardage in 1974 and 1975. In 1974, he had 38 catches for 745 yards, a 19.6 average (third best in the NFL) and seven touchdowns. The following year he had 47 receptions for 820 yards, a 17.4 average and four touchdowns.
His career stats show 235 receptions for 4,229 yards, an 18.0 average and 35 touchdowns. His receptions rank him 10th among active AFC players. In Jets annals, Caster stands third in career catches and yardage behind Don Maynard and George Sauer and has a chance of passing Sauer (4,965) in yardage this year. He holds the club record for longest gain on a passing play with a 91-yarder from Namath against Baltimore in 1975.
His best day was in the 1972 game against Baltimore when he caught touchdown passes of 80, 79 and 10 yards and had 204 yards on only six catches, becoming the only NFL receiver to surpass 200 yards in a game that season. He has had 10 career 100-yard or more games.
Richard was a wide receiver and tight end at Jackson State where he was a teammate of Jerome Barkum. He caught 160 passes for 3,638 yards and 28 touchdowns. A Pittsburgh Courier second-team All-American, Richard was a member of the College All-Star squad.
Involved in the community, Richard has served as chairman of the March of Dimes Walk-A-Thon in New York City and received the Gordon's Good Guy award for his efforts.
Rich enjoys playing tennis and basketball. He makes his off-season home in Hempstead, New York and makes many personal appearances on behalf of the Jets. His birthplace and hometown is Mobile, Alabama."

-1977 New York Jets Media Guide

1977 Profile: Duane Carrell

Punter
No. 3
Florida State
"Last year Duane signed with the Jets as a free agent on September 1. He'd had a tryout with the club but wasn't signed at the time. He set a Jets record for most punts in a season with 81, averaging 39.7 yards. Duane's longest career punt was 72 yards at San Francisco last fall, the third best in Jets history. His individual average placed him sixth in the AFC and 11th in the AFL. He took over as the holder in the fifth game.
Carrell started in pro ball in 1974 with the Jacksonville Sharks of the World Football League. He joined the Dallas Cowboys when the Sharks folded and averaged 39.8 on 40 punts in the last half of the 1974 season. He completed a 37-yard touchdown pass against the Redskins that year. Carrell was waived by the Cowboys in 1975 but signed with Los Angeles and averaged 39.4 on 73 punts for the Rams that year.
Duane must work to get more hang time into his punts. His distance is adequate.
A three-year letterman as a punter and place kicker at Florida State, Duane played in the 1971 Fiesta Bowl. He holds a B.S. in management.
Duane is active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He's a salesman for Ward Hughes Co. His birthplace and hometown is Washington, D.C. and his name is pronounced CAR-ol."

-1977 New York Jets Media Guide