Jump to content

E. J. Junior: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→Post-playing career: ce, rem dead raw URL ref
revise lead, cleanup body
Line 31: Line 31:
}}
}}


'''Ester James Junior III''' (born December 8, 1959) is a former American college and professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[linebacker]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for thirteen seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. Junior played [[college football]] for the [[University of Alabama]], and earned [[All-American]] honors. He was selected in the first round of the [[1981 NFL Draft]], and played professionally for the NFL's [[Arizona Cardinals|St. Louis Cardinals]], [[Miami Dolphins]], [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]], and [[Seattle Seahawks]].
'''Ester James Junior III''' (born December 8, 1959) is a former [[American football]] player and coach. He played professionally as a [[linebacker]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for 13 seasons, from 1981 to 1993, [[Arizona Cardinals|St. Louis Cardinals]], [[Miami Dolphins]], [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]], and [[Seattle Seahawks]]. Junior played [[college football]] for the [[University of Alabama]], earning consensus selection to the [[1980 College Football All-America Team]]. He was selected in the first round with fifth overall pick of the [[1981 NFL Draft]] by the Cardinals. Junior served as the head football coach at [[Central State University]] in [[Wilberforce, Ohio]] from 2009 to 2013.


==Early years==
==Early years and family==
Junior was born in [[Salisbury, North Carolina]], and grew up in [[Nashville, Tennessee]].Wife Yolanda have 7 children in all,Shandon Hood, Torren Hood, Adam J. Junior,Aja J Junior, E.J. Junior IV, Kyle E. Junior, and Cameron M. Junior, <ref>E. J. Junior [http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-sports/2009/07/5_questions_former_alabama_sta.html 5 Questions: Former Alabama star E.J. Junior]</ref>
Junior was born in [[Salisbury, North Carolina]] and grew up in [[Nashville, Tennessee]]. He and his wife, Yolanda, have seven children: Shandon Hood, Torren Hood, Adam J. Junior, Aja J Junior, E.J. Junior IV, Kyle E. Junior, and Cameron M. Junior.<ref>E. J. Junior [http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-sports/2009/07/5_questions_former_alabama_sta.html 5 Questions: Former Alabama star E.J. Junior]</ref>


==College career==
==Playing career==
===College===
Junior attended the University of Alabama, where he played for coach [[Bear Bryant]]'s [[Alabama Crimson Tide football]] team from 1977 to 1980.
Junior attended the University of Alabama, where he played for coach [[Bear Bryant]]'s [[Alabama Crimson Tide football]] team from 1977 to 1980, wearing jersey number 39. In the 1979 opener against [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football|Georgia Tech]], he returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown. He finished the season with 5 sacks, 52 tackles, and a blocked punt. As a senior in 1980, he produced 71 tackles and blocked a field goal. He was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.


⚫
Junior was a member of [[Kappa Alpha Psi]] fraternity at Alabama.
In the 1979 opener against [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football|Georgia Tech]], he returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown. He would finish the season with 5 sacks, 52 tackles, and a blocked punt.


⚫
===Professional===
As a senior in 1980, he produced 71 tackles and blocked a field goal. He was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.

He wore number 39 for the Crimson Tide.

⚫
He was also a member of [[Kappa Alpha Psi]] fraternity.

⚫
==Professional career==
The St. Louis Cardinals chose Junior in the first round (fifth pick overall) of the 1981 NFL Draft, and he played for Cardinals from {{NFL Year|1981}} to {{NFL Year|1988}}. He was a two-time [[Pro Bowl]] selection for the Cardinals in {{NFL Year|1984}} and {{NFL Year|1985}}. He subsequently played for the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks.
The St. Louis Cardinals chose Junior in the first round (fifth pick overall) of the 1981 NFL Draft, and he played for Cardinals from {{NFL Year|1981}} to {{NFL Year|1988}}. He was a two-time [[Pro Bowl]] selection for the Cardinals in {{NFL Year|1984}} and {{NFL Year|1985}}. He subsequently played for the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks.


Line 60: Line 55:
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}



{{Central State Marauders football coach navbox}}
{{Central State Marauders football coach navbox}}

Revision as of 23:13, 7 June 2019

E. J. Junior
No. 54, 53, 50, 93
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1959-12-08) December 8, 1959 (age 65)
Salisbury, North Carolina
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school:Maplewood Comprehensive
(Nashville, Tennessee)
College:Alabama
NFL draft:1981 / round: 1 / pick: 5
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Ester James Junior III (born December 8, 1959) is a former American football player and coach. He played professionally as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, from 1981 to 1993, St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Seattle Seahawks. Junior played college football for the University of Alabama, earning consensus selection to the 1980 College Football All-America Team. He was selected in the first round with fifth overall pick of the 1981 NFL Draft by the Cardinals. Junior served as the head football coach at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio from 2009 to 2013.

Early years and family

Junior was born in Salisbury, North Carolina and grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. He and his wife, Yolanda, have seven children: Shandon Hood, Torren Hood, Adam J. Junior, Aja J Junior, E.J. Junior IV, Kyle E. Junior, and Cameron M. Junior.[1]

Playing career

College

Junior attended the University of Alabama, where he played for coach Bear Bryant's Alabama Crimson Tide football team from 1977 to 1980, wearing jersey number 39. In the 1979 opener against Georgia Tech, he returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown. He finished the season with 5 sacks, 52 tackles, and a blocked punt. As a senior in 1980, he produced 71 tackles and blocked a field goal. He was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.

Junior was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity at Alabama.

Professional

The St. Louis Cardinals chose Junior in the first round (fifth pick overall) of the 1981 NFL Draft, and he played for Cardinals from 1981 to 1988. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection for the Cardinals in 1984 and 1985. He subsequently played for the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks.

Coaching career

Since leaving the NFL, Junior has been the executive director of youth programs in Miami under the NBA's Alonzo Mourning. He also spent time back in the NFL as a coach and in the front office. He was the Seattle Seahawks linebacker coach in 1994 and then was the director of player development programs for the Miami Dolphins from 1996-1998. He has been a minority intern coach for the Minnesota Vikings (2003) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2005) and coached in NFL Europe for the Rhein Fire in Düsseldorf, Germany. On the college setting, he coached the linebackers at the 2005 and 2006 East-West Shrine Game.

From 2006 to 2009, Junior was the linebackers coach at Southwest Baptist University. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in February 2009, but left a month later to become head coach at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio.[2] As of 2017, he is Defensive Line Coach at Delaware State.[3]

Honors

In May 2012, he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and into the Tennessee Hall of Fame 2010. He made the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame in 2007. Junior was nominated for the CFB Hall of Fame 2016 but fell short in votes. He was again nominated in June 2017.

References

  1. ^ E. J. Junior 5 Questions: Former Alabama star E.J. Junior
  2. ^ Junior Hired as Central State Coach The Sporting News, March 14, 2009
  3. ^ [1] Delaware State Football
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=E._J._Junior&oldid=900844457"