Highlighted Year: Otis Armstrong, 1974

Halfback, Denver Broncos

Age: 24 (Nov. 15)

2^nd season in pro football & with Broncos

College: Purdue

Height: 5’10” Weight: 196

Prelude:

Armstrong rushed for 3315 yards in college and, as a senior in 1972, was a consensus first-team All-American and placed eighth in Heisman Trophy voting. The Broncos chose him in the first round (ninth overall) of the ’73 NFL draft and he saw limited action as the backup to star HB Floyd Little. Tried at fullback in 1974, he took over at halfback when Little was injured.

1974 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 263 [3]

Most attempts, game – 31 (for 183 yds.) vs. Houston 12/8

Yards – 1407 [1]

Most yards, game – 183 yards (on 31 carries) vs. Houston 12/8

Average gain – 5.3 [1]

TDs – 9 [3, tied with Sam Cunningham, Chuck Foreman & Larry Csonka]

100-yard rushing games – 7

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 38      

Most receptions, game – 6 (for 96 yds.) vs. Kansas City 11/18

Yards – 405

Most yards, game – 96 (on 6 catches) vs. Kansas City 11/18

Average gain – 10.7

TDs – 3

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 16

Yards – 386

Most yards, game – 72 (on 3 ret.) vs. Pittsburgh 9/22

Average per return – 24.1 [19]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 41 yards

All-Purpose yards – 2198 [2]

Scoring

TDs – 12 [3, tied with Mack Herron & Tom Sullivan]

Points – 72 [11, tied with Mack Herron & Tom Sullivan]

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Pro Football Weekly

2^nd team All-NFL: NEA

1^st team All-AFC: AP, UPI, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Broncos went 7-6-1 to finish second in the AFC West.

Aftermath:

Armstrong was sidelined by a rib injury that cost him ten games in 1975, and he carried only 31 times for 155 yards and caught one pass. He bounced back in’76 to rush for 1008 yards on 247 attempts (4.1 avg.) and catch 39 passes for 457 more yards, and was named to the Pro Bowl. An ankle injury limited Armstrong to 489 rushing yards in the 1977 AFC Championship season and his production remained similarly low for the remainder of his career, which ended with the 1980 season. Overall, in eight years with the Broncos, Armstrong rushed for 4453 yards on 1023 carries (4.4 avg.) and caught 131 passes for 1302 yards, scoring a total of 32 touchdowns.

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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