Lewis Jolley

Lewis Jolley

No. 40
Position:	Running back Kick returner
Personal information
Born:	(1949-11-15) November 15, 1949 (age 75) Bostic, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
College:	North Carolina
NFL draft:	1972 / round: 3 / pick: 56
Career history
Houston Oilers (1972–1973) Charlotte Hornets (1974–1975)
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-ACC (1971)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts: 7 Rushing yards: 6 Rushing TDs: 0 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Lewis Elman Jolley (born November 15, 1949) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Houston Oilers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels.[1][2]

Jolley began his college career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a wingback after not playing football his senior year in high school due to an injury.[3][4] He was converted to a running back in 1971, his senior year in college.[3] He capped his college career playing in the December 1971 Gator Bowl, which North Carolina lost to the Georgia Bulldogs by a score of 7-3.[5]

Jolley was selected by the Oilers in the third round of the 1972 NFL draft with the 56th overall pick.[6][7] He was cut before the 1972 regular season began, but then joined the Oilers' taxi squad before being activated as a special teams player.[1][8] He returned 11 kickoffs for 267 yards, or 24.3 yards per return.[6] In 1973 for Houston he played in 10 of the team's 14 games, rushed 7 times for 6 yards, had 3 receptions for 56 yards, and returned 2 kickoffs for 41 yards.[6] His last game was also his most active. In a December 2 game against the Oakland Raiders, he rushed 5 times for 1 yard and caught 2 passes for 56 yards.[9] But he also had a critical fumble that led to the Raiders' victory.[10]

The Oilers waived Jolley before the 1974 regular season.[11] After being waived by the Oilers, he signed with the Charlotte Hornets of the World Football League.[12][13][14] He played for the Hornets in 1974 and 1975.[15][16] After the Hornets folded, Jolley became a traveling salesman for Worthington Steel, where he was still working as of 1986.[17][18][19]

References

1. Carr, A.J. (September 16, 1973). "Lewis is Jolley in Houston after proving he can play". News and Observer. p. II-12. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
2. Carr, A.J. (November 3, 1971). "Carolina's Lewis Jolley satisfied with role". News and Observer. p. 15. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
3. Germino, Hugo (November 8, 1971). "Lewis Jolley". Durham Sun. p. 2-B. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
4. Barnes, Craig (October 6, 1970). "Carolina's Lewis enjoys 'Jolley' good showing". News and Observer. p. 15. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
5. Morris, Richard (January 1, 1972). "Poulos boosts Georgia to Gator Bowl Victory". Asheville Citizen-Times. p. 11. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
6. "Lewis Jolley". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
7. Rollins, Glenn (February 2, 1972). "Jolley, McMakin say early picks 'a shock'". Charlotte Observer. p. 11A. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
8. "Houston cuts Lewis Jolley". Charlotte Observer. September 16, 1972. p. 5B. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
9. "Lewis Jolley Game Logs". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
10. Levitt, Ed (December 3, 1973). "Let's Not Complain". Oakland Tribune. p. 33. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
11. "Lewis Jolley cut by Oilers". Chapel Hill News. September 11, 1974. p. 6. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
12. Owen, Howard (October 8, 1974). "Lewis Jolley: Closer to Home". The Chapel Hill News. p. 8. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
13. "Hornets sign Lewis Jolley". Greenville News. October 8, 1974. p. 12. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
14. "Hornets sign ex-UNC ace Lewis Jolley". Charlotte News. October 7, 1974. p. 3C. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspaper.com.
15. "Parilli names rookie Hornets' backup QB". The Bee. November 12, 1974. p. 11. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
16. Quincy, Bob (August 17, 1975). "Big plays turn momentum to Hornets". Charlotte Observer. p. 1C. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
17. Sink, Richard (March 14, 1976). "Some Hornets remain in football". Charlotte Observer. pp. 1F, 8F. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
18. Sink, Richard (October 24, 1976). "EX-HORNETS: WHAT THEY'RE UP TO NOW". Charlotte Hornets WFL. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
19. Carr, A.J. (August 13, 1986). "Getting pumped up for the big (football) season". News and Observer. p. 4B. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via newspapers.com.