Willard Reaves

Willard Sheldon Reaves (born August 17, 1959 in Flagstaff, Arizona) was a star 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.

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.

Reaves played five seasons for the 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. He was an instant fan favourite: "Incredibly popular because of his looks and his standout talent as a running back, Willard Reaves has taken his rightful place in the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame."

In 1984 he took the league by storm, when he rushed 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.

He also tried out with the NFL (he was originally undrafted) and in 1989 he played 2 games with the Miami Dolphins, returning 6 kickoffs, and one game with the Washington Redskins, running once and losing a yard.

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.

He has since become a Canadian citizen, and he is also the father of Ryan Reaves, drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 2005, and now playing with the Peoria Rivermen. He is now a sheriff's officer for the Winnipeg judicial system.