July 10, 2016

Highlighted Year: Ron Davenport, 1985

Fullback, Miami Dolphins


Age: 23 (Dec. 22)
1st season in pro football
College: Louisville
Height: 6’2”   Weight: 225

Prelude:
In college, Davenport rushed for 1477 yards on 369 carries (4.0 avg.) and caught 55 passes for another 532 and scored a total of 18 touchdowns. He was chosen by the Dolphins in the sixth round of the 1985 NFL draft and proved to be an outstanding short-yardage runner near the goal line and in third down situations.

1985 Season Summary
Appeared in all 16 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing
Attempts – 98
Most attempts, game – 12 (for 49 yds.) vs. Indianapolis 9/15, (for 55 yds.) vs. Kansas City 9/22
Yards – 370
Most yards, game – 57 yards (on 6 carries) vs. Buffalo 12/22
Average gain – 3.8
TDs – 11 [3, tied with Marcus Allen, 1st in AFC]

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 13      
Most receptions, game – 4 (for 23 yds.) at Buffalo 11/24
Yards – 74
Most yards, game – 23 (on 4 catches) at Buffalo 11/24
Average gain – 5.7
TDs – 2

Scoring
TDs – 13 [5, tied with Daryl Turner]
Points – 78

Postseason: 2 G
Rushing attempts – 9
Most rushing attempts, game – 6 vs. Cleveland, AFC Divisional playoff
Rushing yards – 54
Most rushing yards, game – 48 vs. Cleveland, AFC Divisional playoff
Average gain rushing – 6.0
Rushing TDs – 2

Pass receptions – 3
Most pass receptions, game – 3 vs. New England, AFC Championship
Pass receiving yards – 23
Most pass receiving yards, game – 23 vs. New England, AFC Championship
Average yards per reception – 7.7
Pass Receiving TDs – 0

Dolphins went 12-4 to finish first in the AFC East. Won AFC Divisional playoff over Cleveland Browns (24-21). Lost AFC Championship to New England Patriots (31-14).

Aftermath:
Davenport spent another four seasons with the Dolphins, but his first remained his most productive. He ran for 314 yards in 1986 but with no rushing TDs and scored just two more in the remainder of his time with the club. He was utilized more as a receiver out of the backfield and achieved career highs with 30 receptions for 282 yards in 1988. Competing with FB Woody Bennett, a better pass blocker, and effective in spurts, Davenport was also inconsistent. Overall, he rushed for 1127 yards on 374 attempts (4.1 avg.), caught 93 passes for 801 yards, and scored 17 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