| Ronnie Lee South | |
| Number: | 11 |
| Position: | Quarterback/Punter |
| Birth Date: | 8 May 1945 |
| Birth Place: | Wynne, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 1 |
| Weight Lbs: | 195 |
| High School: | Russellville (AR) |
| College: | Arkansas |
| Draftyear: | 1968 |
| Draftround: | 5 |
| Draftpick: | 115 |
| Pastteams: | |
| Pfr: | SoutRo00 |
Ronnie Lee South (born May 8, 1945) is a former American football quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). South played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks where he was a member of their 1965, 1966 and 1967 teams.
South was taken in the fifth round of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft by the New Orleans Saints.[1] On April 16, 1968, he signed his initial contract with the Saints to play as part of their 1968 season.[2] South played with the team through their summer training camp, but was later released in August as part of the teams' final roster cuts.[3] After the final cuts, South was signed to the Saints' practice squad.
During their November 3 game against Dallas, Saints starting quarterback Billy Kilmer injured his ankle.[4] As such, South was elevated to the active roster to serve as backup to Karl Sweetan.[4] [5] As South was also a punter, then punter Tom McNeill was released from the team to make room for South on the active roster.[5] In their game against Cleveland, Sweetan injured his ankle and South entered the game in the first quarter for his first series before Sweetan returned later.[6] Sweetan was unable to complete the game, and in the fourth quarter South threw what was his only NFL touchdown pass to Jim Hester from seven-yards out in the fourth quarter.[6]
With both Kilmer and Sweetan injured, it was speculated South would start for the Saints in their game against the Packers at Milwaukee County Stadium.[7] Sweetan did start the game, but was taken out and replaced with South in the first quarter due to the lingering effects of his injured ankle.[8] South finished the game only 7 of 23 passing and with an average of 23 yards for his seven punts.[8] South finished the season as a backup. South was later cut by New Orleans on July 29, 1969.[9]