Corey Dillon
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Corey Dillon (born October 24, 1974 in Seattle) is an American football running back for the New England Patriots franchise. He attended the University of Washington and wears the number 28.
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High School Career
At Franklin High School in Seattle,Washington, Dillon was a two-sport standout. In football, he was an all-state selection and the all-metro player of the year. He was also an excellent baseball outfielder, earning all-metro honors, and was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 1993 Major League Baseball draft.
College Career
At the University of Washington Corey Dillon set the team all-time single-season records for rushing yards (1,555 yards) and touchdowns scored (22) in 1996. In the first quarter against San Jose State University, Dillon rushed for 222 yards and caught an 83 yard touchdown pass, setting NCAA records for both rushing yards and all-purpose yards (305) in one quarter. Dillon did not re-enter the game as the Washington Huskies were comfortably ahead 36-0 by the end of the first quarter.
NFL Career
Dillon was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. For six seasons, Dillon was one of the few bright spots on an otherwise mediocre Bengals team. From 1997 to 2002 he rushed for over 1000 yards each year. He also set an NFL record for most yards rushed in one game (279 yards) against the Denver Broncos (the record has since been broken by Jamal Lewis).
In 2003, Dillon only rushed for 541 yards due to injury, which, along with the emergence of Rudy Johnson, precipitated the trade of Corey Dillon to another team. Originally, he appeared to be headed for the Oakland Raiders, but the Raiders were unwilling to sacrifice a second round draft choice for the aging running back. The New England Patriots, on the other hand, willingly traded a second round pick to give the maligned star a second chance on a team with a proven track record.
In the 2004 season, Dillon proved himself to be a mature and dedicated team player, putting to rest the negative reputation he may have acquired before arriving in New England. Moreover, Dillon had his best year with 1,635 rushing yards, and set a franchise record in the process. The year culminated in a third Super Bowl win for New England, in no small part because of the new running game built around Dillon.
External links
- Template:Espn nfl
- New England Patriots profile (http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=28405)