Willard Reaves

Willard Sheldon Reaves (born August 17, 1959 in Flagstaff, Arizona) was a Canadian Football League running back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He also played in the National Football League for the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Redskins.

College career

Reaves played college football at Northern Arizona University from 1977 to 1980. He rushed for 2,139 yards in his university career, his best year being 1979 when he rushed for 1,084 yards and was voted an All American.

In 1992 he was inducted into the Northern Arizona University Athletics Hall of Fame, and in 2002 he became a member of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

Canadian football career

Reaves played five seasons for the Blue Bombers from 1983 to 1987. He rushed for 898 yards in his first year and was runner up for the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award and an all star. In 1984, he rushing for 1,733 yards on 304 carries and 18 touchdowns, all team records, and helped him win the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award. He also helped his team win the 72nd Grey Cup, their first victory since 1962.

Reaves rushed for 1,000 yards two other times (1,323 in 1985 and 1,471 in 1987) and finished his career with 5,923 total rushing yards for the Blue Bombers. He was a three time CFL all star.

NFL career

He also tried out with the NFL (he was originally undrafted) and in 1989 he played two games with the Miami Dolphins, returning 6 kickoffs, and one game with the Washington Redskins, running once and losing a yard.

He has since become a Canadian citizen, and he is also the father of Ryan Reaves, a St. Louis Blues prospect playing with the the Brandon Wheat Kings. He is now a sheriff's officer for the Winnipeg judicial system.