Jeff Wickersham
Encyclopedia
Jeff Wickersham was an American football quarterback for the LSU Tigers
during 1982-1985.
as a highly-recruited quarterback out of Merritt Island, FL (located on the Atlantic coast east of Orlando, FL).
During his three years as the quarterback for LSU's football team
, Wickersham completed 58.4% of his passes for 6,921 yards, which at the time were both the 3rd best performances in Southeastern Conference (SEC)
history. Wickersham was also the first quarterback in LSU history to pass for over 5,000 career yards, the first LSU quarterback to throw for over 2,000 yards in three different seasons, the first LSU quarterback to throw for over 2,500 yards in a season (1983), and the first LSU quarterback to throw for over 350 yards in a game (368 yards vs, Mississippi State in 1983).
During his freshman year (1982), Wickersham was a backup to senior quarterback Alan Risher.
During his sophomore year (1983), Wickersham completed 57.3% of his passes for 2,542 yards and 7 touchdowns (including 1,064 yards to All-American Eric Martin). One notable performance came against Washington, the ninth-ranked team in the country. In a 40–14 LSU win, Wickersham ran for three touchdowns. LSU finished the year with a 4-7 record.
During his junior year (1984), Wickersham completed 57.1% of his passes for 2,165 yards and 12 touchdowns. Major victories include LSU's 23-3 victory at #15 Southern California and #10 LSU's 36-10 victory at #16 Kentucky (televised on ABC). LSU finished the year with a 8-3-1 record and a #15 ranking in the final Associated Press Poll.
During his senior year (1985), Wickersham completed 60.4% of his passes for 2,145 yards and 5 touchdowns. Major victories include #16 LSU's 14-0 victory at Ole Miss (televised by TBS) and #17 LSU's 10-7 win at Notre Dame (televised by USA). LSU finished the year with a 9-2-1 record and a #20 ranking in the final Associated Press Poll. By the end of his college career, Wickersham held the school's record for most passing yards, along with 15 other marks.
by the Miami Dolphins
. He was the 11th quarterback taken, behind Jim Everett
of Purdue, Chuck Long
of Iowa, Jack Trudeau
of Illinois, Bubby Brister
of Louisiana-Monroe, Hugh Millen
of Washington, Robbie Bosco
of BYU, Doug Gaynor of Cal State-Long Beach, Mark Rypien
of Washington State, Stan Gelbaugh
of Maryland, and Mike Norseth of Kansas. On August 20, 1986, the Dolphins released Wickersham from their roster.
Jeff Wickersham also played for the Ottawa Rough Riders
of the Canadian Football League
for the 1987 and part of the 1988 seasons. He suffered a knee injury during an intrasquad game in '87 training camp which kept him out for most of the season
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
during 1982-1985.
College
Wickersham came to the Louisiana State University (LSU)Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
as a highly-recruited quarterback out of Merritt Island, FL (located on the Atlantic coast east of Orlando, FL).
During his three years as the quarterback for LSU's football team
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
, Wickersham completed 58.4% of his passes for 6,921 yards, which at the time were both the 3rd best performances in Southeastern Conference (SEC)
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
history. Wickersham was also the first quarterback in LSU history to pass for over 5,000 career yards, the first LSU quarterback to throw for over 2,000 yards in three different seasons, the first LSU quarterback to throw for over 2,500 yards in a season (1983), and the first LSU quarterback to throw for over 350 yards in a game (368 yards vs, Mississippi State in 1983).
During his freshman year (1982), Wickersham was a backup to senior quarterback Alan Risher.
During his sophomore year (1983), Wickersham completed 57.3% of his passes for 2,542 yards and 7 touchdowns (including 1,064 yards to All-American Eric Martin). One notable performance came against Washington, the ninth-ranked team in the country. In a 40–14 LSU win, Wickersham ran for three touchdowns. LSU finished the year with a 4-7 record.
During his junior year (1984), Wickersham completed 57.1% of his passes for 2,165 yards and 12 touchdowns. Major victories include LSU's 23-3 victory at #15 Southern California and #10 LSU's 36-10 victory at #16 Kentucky (televised on ABC). LSU finished the year with a 8-3-1 record and a #15 ranking in the final Associated Press Poll.
During his senior year (1985), Wickersham completed 60.4% of his passes for 2,145 yards and 5 touchdowns. Major victories include #16 LSU's 14-0 victory at Ole Miss (televised by TBS) and #17 LSU's 10-7 win at Notre Dame (televised by USA). LSU finished the year with a 9-2-1 record and a #20 ranking in the final Associated Press Poll. By the end of his college career, Wickersham held the school's record for most passing yards, along with 15 other marks.
Professional career
Wickersham was taken in the 10th round of the 1986 NFL Draft1986 NFL Draft
The 1986 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 29–30, 1986...
by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was the 11th quarterback taken, behind Jim Everett
Jim Everett
James Samuel Everett III is a retired professional American football quarterback who played for twelve seasons in the National Football League ....
of Purdue, Chuck Long
Chuck Long
Chuck Long is an American football coach. He played quarterback in college at Iowa for Hayden Fry and professionally with the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams. He is an inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame. In the January 2008 issue of San Diego Magazine he was chosen as one of...
of Iowa, Jack Trudeau
Jack Trudeau
Jack Francis Trudeau is a former professional American football player and current morning show co-host on Fox Sports Radio. He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2nd round of the 1986 NFL Draft. A 6'3",...
of Illinois, Bubby Brister
Bubby Brister
Walter Andrew "Bubby" Brister, III is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, and Minnesota Vikings...
of Louisiana-Monroe, Hugh Millen
Hugh Millen
Hugh Breedlove Millen is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the third round of the 1986 NFL Draft. A 6'5", 216-lb...
of Washington, Robbie Bosco
Robbie Bosco
Robbie Bosco is most widely known as an American football quarterback at Brigham Young University. Bosco is a native of Roseville, California....
of BYU, Doug Gaynor of Cal State-Long Beach, Mark Rypien
Mark Rypien
Mark Robert Rypien is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He is the first Canadian-born quarterback to start in the NFL.-Biography:...
of Washington State, Stan Gelbaugh
Stan Gelbaugh
Stanley Morris Gelbaugh is a former professional American football quarterback. Although he played several seasons in the National Football League, he attained his greatest success in the World League of American Football with the London Monarchs, where he was the league's Offensive Most Valuable...
of Maryland, and Mike Norseth of Kansas. On August 20, 1986, the Dolphins released Wickersham from their roster.
Jeff Wickersham also played for the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
for the 1987 and part of the 1988 seasons. He suffered a knee injury during an intrasquad game in '87 training camp which kept him out for most of the season
Outside of football
- Wickersham played the Denver Quarterback in the 1988 movie Everybody's All-AmericanEverybody's All-American (film)Everybody's All-American is a 1988 motion picture directed by Taylor Hackford and based on the novel Everybody's All-American by longtime Sports Illustrated contributor Frank Deford.The film covers 25 years in the life of a college football hero...
.