Veryl Switzer
Encyclopedia
Veryl Switzer is a former halfback
in the National Football League
who played 24 games for the Green Bay Packers
. In 1954, the Green Bay Packers
used the 4th pick in the 1st round of the 1954 NFL Draft
to sign Switzer out of Kansas State University
where he played from 1951 to 1953. He held the career punt return record at KSU until 1995 and scored the second longest punt return touchdown in school history (93 yards on Sept 19 1953, one of two he posted that year). His best year was 1953 when he led Kansas State in rushing with 558 yards, receiving with eight catches for 211 yards, scoring with eight touchdowns and 49 points, punt returns with a 31.0-yard average and kick returns with a 22.3-yard average.
Switzer went on to play for two seasons with the Packers before serving two years in the United States Air Force as a first lieutenant. His attempt to resume his NFL career was unsuccessful when he was released in September 1958 by the Packers. He instead returned to professional football in the Canadian Football League
with the Calgary Stampeders
in 1958 and was subsequently traded to the Montreal Alouettes
in March 1959 and played two seasons with the team.
He later worked for the Chicago Board of Education for 10 years before coming returning to KSU in an administrative capacity in 1969. He is currently Co-Director, Earl Woods National Youth Golf Academy and Associate Athletic Director for Academics.
Switzer was a charter member of the K-State Sports Hall of Fame and is enshrined in the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame and the Kansas High School Activities Association Hall of Fame.
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
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...
who played 24 games for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. In 1954, the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
used the 4th pick in the 1st round of the 1954 NFL Draft
1954 NFL Draft
The 1954 National Football League Draft was held on January 28, 1954.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:-Round eleven:...
to sign Switzer out of Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
where he played from 1951 to 1953. He held the career punt return record at KSU until 1995 and scored the second longest punt return touchdown in school history (93 yards on Sept 19 1953, one of two he posted that year). His best year was 1953 when he led Kansas State in rushing with 558 yards, receiving with eight catches for 211 yards, scoring with eight touchdowns and 49 points, punt returns with a 31.0-yard average and kick returns with a 22.3-yard average.
Switzer went on to play for two seasons with the Packers before serving two years in the United States Air Force as a first lieutenant. His attempt to resume his NFL career was unsuccessful when he was released in September 1958 by the Packers. He instead returned to professional football in 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....
with the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
in 1958 and was subsequently traded to the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
in March 1959 and played two seasons with the team.
He later worked for the Chicago Board of Education for 10 years before coming returning to KSU in an administrative capacity in 1969. He is currently Co-Director, Earl Woods National Youth Golf Academy and Associate Athletic Director for Academics.
Switzer was a charter member of the K-State Sports Hall of Fame and is enshrined in the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame and the Kansas High School Activities Association Hall of Fame.