ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — As we watch the final rounds of the NFL Draft unfold it’s interesting to note many of the Rockford area players who have been selected through the years.
It’s also incredible to note that three players from East High School were all selected in the same draft in 1979. They all played on the 13-0 East team in the fall of 1974 that is regarded by most old-timers in Rockford as the greatest Rockford team ever. (The attached photo is one of those players Jerry Holloway).
Note: There have been many other local football players who ended up playing in the NFL, but they were not drafted.
NFL DRAFT PICKS (Rockford Area)
2016: Dean Lowry (Boylan/Northwestern-DT) Packers 4th Rd. #137
2005: Sean Considine (Byron/Iowa-S) Eagles 4th Rd. #102
2001: Carlos Polk (Guilford/Nebraska-LB) S.D. Chargers 4th Rd. #112
1997: Tim Scharf (Boylan/Northwestern-LB) Jets 6th Rd. #146
1987: Mike Junkin (Belvidere/Duke-LB) Browns 1st Rd. #5
1987: Leonard Bell (Jefferson/Indiana-S) Bengals 3rd Rd. #76
1979: Ira Matthews (East/Wisconsin-RB) Oakland Raiders 6th Rd. #142
1979: Jerry Holloway (East/W. Illinois-TE) St. Louis Cardinals 10th Rd. #255|
1979: Stuart Walker (East-Colorado-DT/LB) Falcons 12th Rd. #323
1975: Jerry Latin (East/NIU-RB) St. Louis Cardinals 11th Rd. #280
1975: Mitch Anderson (East/Northestern) Falcons 17th Rd. #419
1970: Seth Miller (Auburn/Arizona St.-DB) Falcons 8th Rd. #195
1967: Preston Pearson (Freeport/Illinois-RB) Colts 12th Rd. #298
1961: Marshall Starks (West/Illinois-DB) St. Louis Cardinals 8th Rd. #106|
1960: Jerry Stalcup (East/Wisconsin-LB/FB) Rams 6th Rd. #62
1952: Stanley Campbell (Rochelle/Iowa St.-G) Lions 18th Rd. #213
1949: Al Mastrangeli (East/Purdue-C) Packers 13th Round #123
1936: Richard ‘Dick’ Smith (Rockford/Minnesota-OT) Bears 7th Rd. #60
