Horace Ivory
1977 · Round 2 · Pick 44 · RB · New England Patriots
Horace Ivory was born on August 8, 1954, in Fort Worth and was an all-state running back at Nolan Catholic High School. Notre Dame offered him a scholarship, but for academic reasons he went to Navarro Junior College. He helped Navarro go 10–1 in 1973 and win the Wool Bowl, and he entered the Navarro College Hall of Fame in 2023. He transferred to Oklahoma and ran for 1,390 yards on 213 carries (6.5 per carry) in 22 games. Wikipedia credits him with the 1974 and 1975 national titles. Grokipedia says he played the 1975 and 1976 seasons. New England drafted him in the second round in 1977, and he had his best rushing year in 1978. In 1980 he led the NFL in kickoff return average and earned All-Pro recognition as a returner. He finished with Seattle. The Daily Oklahoman wrote on May 4, 1977 (NewsBank page 47): "The first Sooner chosen was running back Horace Ivory, who went in the second round to the New England Patriots, coached by ex-OU coach Chuck Fairbanks." A December 3, 1978 Daily Oklahoman column (NewsBank page 93) describes Texas Stadium as "a stadium only 35 miles from his home in Fort Worth."
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace_Ivory | https://grokipedia.com/page/Horace_Ivory | https://soonersports.com/sports/2019/8/13/208798496 | https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/I/IvorHo00.htm | The Daily Oklahoman, May 4, 1977, page 47 (via NewsBank Oklahoman Collection, scanned page) | The Daily Oklahoman, December 3, 1978, page 93 (via NewsBank Oklahoman Collection, scanned page)