Jim Yarbrough
Encyclopedia
James Kelley "Jim" Yarbrough (born October 28, 1946) is a former American college and professional football
player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League
(NFL) for nine years during the 1960s and 1970s. Yarbrough played college football
for the University of Florida
, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Detroit Lions
of the NFL.
. He grew up in Arcadia, Florida
, where he attended DeSoto County High School, and played high school football
for the DeSoto Bulldogs. Yarbrough was an offensive end, doubled on defense as a roving "monster man" linebacker, and also kicked most of the extra points for the Bulldogs. He was also a shot-putter on the DeSoto County High School track team and center on the basketball team.
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
, where he played for coach Ray Graves
' Florida Gators football
team from 1966 to 1968. Memorably, he was a sophomore starter for the Steve Spurrier
-led squad that won the first major bowl game in Gators history when they defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
27–12 to win the 1967 Orange Bowl
. Yarbrough returned to Florida during the NFL off-season to complete his bachelor's degree
in marketing
in 1971, and he was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great."
, and he played his entire nine-season professional career for the Lions as an offensive tackle from to . He became a regular starter at left tackle in the last four seasons of his NFL career, starting forty-one of his last forty-nine games.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) for nine years during the 1960s and 1970s. Yarbrough played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
of the NFL.
Early years
Yarbrough was born in Charlotte, North CarolinaCharlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. He grew up in Arcadia, Florida
Arcadia, Florida
Arcadia is a city in DeSoto County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,604 as of the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city grew to 7,151. It is the county seat of DeSoto County; it is also DeSoto County's only incorporated community. On October 27, 2009,...
, where he attended DeSoto County High School, and played high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
for the DeSoto Bulldogs. Yarbrough was an offensive end, doubled on defense as a roving "monster man" linebacker, and also kicked most of the extra points for the Bulldogs. He was also a shot-putter on the DeSoto County High School track team and center on the basketball team.
College career
Yarbrough received an athletic scholarshipAthletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where he played for coach Ray Graves
Ray Graves
Samuel Ray Graves is a former American college and professional football player and former college football coach. He is a native of Tennessee and an alumnus of the University of Tennessee, where he played college football...
' Florida Gators football
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
team from 1966 to 1968. Memorably, he was a sophomore starter for the Steve Spurrier
Steve Spurrier
Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach...
-led squad that won the first major bowl game in Gators history when they defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
27–12 to win the 1967 Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009...
. Yarbrough returned to Florida during the NFL off-season to complete his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
in 1971, and he was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great."
Professional career
The Detroit Lions chose Yarbrough in the second round (forty-seventh pick overall) of the 1969 NFL Draft1969 NFL Draft
The 1969 National Football League Draft was part of the Common Draft, the third and final year in which the NFL and American Football League held a joint draft of college players. The draft took place on January 28–29, 1969....
, and he played his entire nine-season professional career for the Lions as an offensive tackle from to . He became a regular starter at left tackle in the last four seasons of his NFL career, starting forty-one of his last forty-nine games.
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- Florida Gators football, 1960–1969
- List of Detroit Lions players
- List of Florida Gators football players
- List of University of Florida alumni