August 27, 2015

Highlighted Year: Billy Hillenbrand, 1948

Halfback, Baltimore Colts


Age: 26
3rd season in pro football, 2nd with Colts
College: Indiana
Height: 6’0”   Weight: 188

Prelude:
Hillenbrand was a consensus first-team All-American in 1942 and was chosen by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1944 NFL draft. However, he went into the military for two years during World War II and played service football. The versatile halfback signed with the Chicago Rockets of the new AAFC in 1946 and had a good year for a poor team, gaining 490 yards from scrimmage, intercepting three passes on defense, and returning both a punt and kickoff for touchdowns. He moved on to the Colts in 1948 and further developed as a receiver out of the backfield, catching 39 passes for 702 yards (18.0 avg.) and seven TDs and, adding in kick returns, he gained 1573 all-purpose yards.

1948 Season Summary
Appeared in all 14 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing
Attempts – 100 [10, tied with Edgar Jones]
Yards – 510 [12]
Most yards, game – 112 yards (on 12 carries) at Brooklyn 11/28
Average gain – 5.1 [9]
TDs – 7 [5, tied with Lou Tomasetti]

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 50 [3, tied with Fay King]
Yards – 970 [1]
Average gain – 19.4 [2]
TDs – 6 [8, tied with Jack Russell]

Kickoff Returns
Returns – 16 [4]
Yards – 356 [5]
Average per return – 22.3 [4]
TDs – 0
Longest return – N/A

Punt Returns
Returns – 18 [4]
Yards – 231 [6]
Average per return – 12.8 [5]
TDs – 0
Longest return – N/A

All-Purpose yards – 2067 [2]

Scoring
TDs – 13 [3]
Points – 78 [4]

Postseason: 1 G (Eastern Division playoff vs. Buffalo)
Rushing attempts – 6
Rushing yards – 5
Average gain rushing – 0.8
Rushing TDs – 0

Pass receptions – 7
Receiving yards – 75
Average yards per reception – 10.7
Pass receiving TDs – 0

Kickoff returns – 3
Kickoff return yards – 35
Average yards per return – 11.7
Kickoff return TDs – 0

Punt returns – 1
Punt return yards – 0
Punt return TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:
2nd team All-AAFC: League, UPI, NY Daily News

Colts went 7-7 to tie for first in the AAFC Eastern Division while leading the league in passing yards (2899). Lost Eastern Division playoff to Buffalo Bills (28-17).

Aftermath:
Hillenbrand’s outstanding 1948 season turned out to be his last. He retired, having caught 110 passes for 1987 yards (18.1 avg.) and 17 touchdowns, rushed for 889 yards on 216 carries (4.1 avg.) and another 11 TDs, returned 44 punts for a 13.9 average and a TD and 42 kickoffs for a 24.8-yard average and two scores. Overall, he scored 31 touchdowns in his three seasons.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970