Career end 1943 Position Fullback | Name Tony Butkovich Nominations Heisman Trophy Died April 18, 1945 | |
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Date of birth: (1921-04-04)April 4, 1921 Date of death: April 18, 1945(1945-04-18) (aged 24) NFL draft: 1944 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11 Education University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Purdue University | ||
Tony Butkovich: Football Fullback
Anthony J. Butkovich (April 4, 1921 – April 18, 1945) was an American football fullback from the University of Illinois and spent his last year at Purdue. He was drafted by the Cleveland Rams in the first round of the 1944 NFL Draft, but never played professional football. Instead, he enlisted in the US Marines and fought in World War II.
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Purdue career
He led the nation in rushing in 1943; 833 yds, 142 carries (5.9 avg), scoring 16 touchdowns (still a Boilermakes single season record) and led the Boilermakers to a record of 9–0 and a share of the Big Ten Title. The Boilermakers finished the season as the No. 4 team in the nation. In conference play alone, he led the conference in rushing (629 yrds over 95 carries) and scoring (13 touchdowns, 78 points).
He was selected All-American by the Associated Press (AP), International News Service, The Sporting News, United Press International (UPI) and Stars and Stripes; he was also First Team, All-Conference.
Statistics
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Peraonsl life
He was a native of St. David, Illinois and graduated from Lewistown High School in Lewistown, Illinois.
He was killed in action at Okinawa.