Clyde Duncan Explained

Clyde Duncan
Number:86
Position:Wide receiver
Birth Date:5 February 1961
Birth Place:Oxon Hill, Maryland, U.S.
Death Place:Fort Washington, Maryland, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:202
High School:Oxon Hill (MD) Potomac[1]
College:Tennessee
Draftyear:1984
Draftround:1
Draftpick:17
Pastteams:
Statlabel1:Receptions
Statvalue1:4
Statlabel2:Receiving yards
Statvalue2:39
Statlabel3:Touchdowns
Statvalue3:1
Pfr:DuncCl20

Clyde Louis Duncan, Jr. (February 5, 1961 – February 16, 2015)[2] was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver for the St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers. Duncan was a first-round pick for the Cardinals in the 1984 NFL draft, but he only played in 1984 and 1985, finishing his career with just four receptions.[3]

Early life

Duncan attended Potomac High School, in Oxon Hill, Maryland.[4] Playing at both receiver and tailback for Potomac's football team, he accumulated 2,209 yards his senior year, including 958 yards receiving and 808 yards rushing, and was named a high school All-American by Football News and the Maryland Player of the Year by the Washington Pigskin Club.

Duncan played college football at Tennessee from 1979 to 1983.[5] Along with teammates Willie Gault, Anthony Hancock, Lenny Taylor and Tim McGee, he helped create the school's reputation as "Wide Receiver U."[6] He played sparingly in 1979, redshirted in 1980, played as a defensive back in 1981, and played primarily as a reserve receiver in 1982.[7] In 1983, however, he led the team in receiving with 33 catches for 640 yards and six touchdowns.[8] He caught touchdown passes of 80 yards and 57 yards in Tennessee's 41–34 win over Alabama,[9] and his 85-yard touchdown catch against Vanderbilt remains the third-longest in school history.[10] He attracted close attention from scouts for his workout performance at the 1983 Blue–Gray Football Classic.[11]

Professional football career

Duncan was selected in the first round of the 1984 NFL draft by the Cardinals.[12] Duncan's rookie year was disrupted by a contract dispute,[13] and he did not sign with the Cardinals until September 10.[14] He soon separated his shoulder, sending him to the injured reserve list.[15] In 1985, Duncan did work his way into the lineup, but caught only four passes on the season[16] and lost his role as third receiver.[17] The Cardinals released Duncan on August 18, 1986.[18] Duncan was subsequently acquired by the Cleveland Browns in the spring of 1987,[19] but he was released at the start of preseason[20] and did not appear in another NFL game.

He died at the age of 54 in 2015.[21] [22]

Notes and References

  1. http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=740&pg=58 1979 Signees
  2. Web site: CLYDE DUNCAN Obituary (2015) - Dunkirk, MD - The Washington Post . 2024-03-17 . Legacy.com.
  3. [Pete Palmer|Palmer, Pete]
  4. Southeast Missourian. "Cards make surprise drafts". Associated Press, May 2, 1984, p. 9. Retrieved on July 18, 2013.
  5. Web site: Shaw . Taylor . 2015-02-24 . Former 1st-round NFL draft pick, Vols WR Clyde Duncan dies . 2024-03-17 . WATE 6 On Your Side . en-US.
  6. Mike Strange, "Vols Were Sugar Sweet", Knoxnews.com, September 30, 2012. Retrieved: July 10, 2013.
  7. http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=198&pg=43 1983 Squad
  8. http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=747&pg=93 1983 Offensive Statistics
  9. "Fierce Offensive Struggle Swings UT's Way on Johnnie Jones' Scamper ", 1984 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide, p. 87.
  10. http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/guides/2012/records.pdf Individual Football Records
  11. Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington). "Tennessee's Duncan dazzling pro scouts". December 25, 1983, p. C2. Retrieved on July 18, 2013.
  12. Web site: 1984 NFL Draft Listing . 2023-10-10 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  13. Reading Eagle. "Notes". July 29, 1984, p. 99. Retrieved on July 18, 2013.
  14. Southeast Missourian (Cape Girardeau, Mo.). "Duncan to sign with Cardinals". September 9, 1984, p. 27. Retrieved on July 18, 2013.
  15. St. Petersburg Times. "NFL notes". October 16, 1984, p. 3C. Retrieved on July 18, 2013.
  16. Palmer et al., p. 201.
  17. [John Clayton (sportswriter)|Clayton, John]
  18. Palm Beach Post. "Transactions". August 19, 1986, p. 6C. Retrieved on July 18, 2013.
  19. Gadsden Times. "Deals". March 17, 1987, p. C2. Retrieved on July 18, 2013.
  20. Spokesman-Review. "Moves". August 3, 1987, p. C4.
  21. Tom Mattingly, "Clyde Duncan, Part of 'Wide Receiver U,' Dies at 54", Knoxville News Sentinel, February 23, 2015.
  22. Web site: February 23, 2015. Associated Press . Former 1st-round NFL draft pick, Vols WR Clyde Duncan dies . 2021-06-10 . USA TODAY . en-US.