The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Williams and Blackwood named to Miami Dolphins’ 50th Season All Time Team
12.17.2015 | Football
Former Longhorns honored for their contributions to the historic franchise
AUSTIN, Tex. - Former Texas Longhorns running back Ricky Williams and former defensive back Glenn Blackwood have been named to the Miami Dolphins 50th Season All Time Team.
To commemorate the Dolphins' 50th season, a group of the top 50 players in team history were selected. The team was honored at halftime of the Dolphins' Monday night home game against the New York Giants on December 14.
Williams was selected in the first round (fifth overall) in the 1999 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. After three years in New Orleans, he spent seven seasons in Miami with the Dolphins (2002-2003, 05, 07-10). While playing running back for Miami, Williams ran for 6,436 yards and 48 touchdowns, ranking him second all-time in team history in those two categories. Williams was the NFL rushing leader and set a Dolphins record after running for 1,853 yards in 2002. In 2003, he rushed for 1,372 yards. No other Miami running back in the history of the franchise has come within 100 yards of either of those totals.
Williams spent a total of 12 seasons in the NFL and is one of just 26 players in NFL history to rush for more than 10,000 career yards, finishing his career with 10,009 yards and 66 rushing TDs. He also had 342 receptions for 2,606 receiving yards.
A two-time unanimous first-team All-American and the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner at Texas, Williams was a four-year starter (1995-98) who completed his career with 21 NCAA and 46 school records. He led Texas to the final SWC Championship (1995) and the first-ever Big 12 title (1996). Williams was a unanimous first-team All-American as a junior and senior, along with being a two-time Doak Walker Award winner as the nation's top running back. Additionally, he was named the Maxwell Award winner and was voted national player of the year by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Associated Press and Sporting News in 1998.
The San Diego native was a three-time first-team All Big-12 choice and won back-to-back NCAA rushing titles in 1997 and 1998. He led the nation in scoring in 1997 and was a close second in 1998. When he finished his career at Texas, Williams' 6,279 rushing yards, 72 rushing TDs, 75 total TDs, 452 points, 33 games with a TD, 11 career 200-yard games, and 6.2 yards per carry were all NCAA all-time records. He also broke the NCAA all-purpose yardage record with 7,206 yards despite never returning a punt or kickoff. Williams eclipsed Tony Dorsett's more than two-decade-old NCAA rushing record with 259 yards in the Horns 26-24 regular season victory over Texas A&M in 1998.
Blackwood starred for the Longhorns in the defensive backfield from 1976-1978. Blackwood's versatility allowed Texas coaches to play him at all four positions during his time with the team. He posted 62 tackles, six pass breakups and had three interceptions including one returned for a touchdown in his junior season.
Although Blackwood missed parts of his senior season with injuries, he was selected in the eighth round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. Blackwood played nine seasons (1979-87) at safety for the Dolphins and started all but two games from 1980 through 1985. He teamed with his brother, Lyle Blackwood, in the defensive backfield of the "Killer Bs" defense, including the Super Bowl seasons of 1982 and 1984. Blackwood's total of 29 career interceptions is tied for fourth on the Dolphins' all-time interceptions list. He led the Dolphins with six interceptions in both 1984 and 1985.
Four different groups voted on the composition of the team, including fans, Dolphins alumni, South Florida media and a select blue ribbon panel. Each group's selections counted for 25 percent of the overall vote.
Here is the complete team:
Dick Anderson, Bob Baumhower, Doug Betters, Glenn Blackwood, Kim Bokamper, Tim Bowens, Bob Brudzinski, Nick Buoniconti, Mark Clayton, Bryan Cox
Larry Csonka, A.J. Duhe, Bruce Hardy, Vern Den Herder, Mark Duper, Norm Evans, Manny Fernandez, Bob Griese, Brent Grimes, Keith Jackson
Jim Jensen, Jim Kiick, Bob Kuechenberg, Jim Langer, Larry Little, Sam Madison, Jim Mandich, Dan Marino, O.J. McDuffie, Nat Moore
Earl Morrall, Mercury Morris, Tony Nathan, Ed Newman, John Offerdahl, Louis Oliver, Mike Pouncey, Reggie Roby, Jake Scott, Keith Sims
Bill Stanfill, Dwight Stephenson, Patrick Surtain, Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas, Cameron Wake, Paul Warfield, Richmond Webb, Ricky Williams, Garo Yepremian
