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.
--
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
