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.
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![]() Butkovich carrying ball behind blocking from Buscemi (50) and Kasap (64) in 1943 | |
No. 25 | |
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Position: | Fullback |
Personal information | |
Born: | (1921-04-04)April 4, 1921 St. David, Illinois |
Died: | April 18, 1945(1945-04-18) (aged 24) Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, Japanese Empire |
Career information | |
High school: | Lewistown (IL) |
College: | Purdue |
NFL Draft: | 1944 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11 |
Career history | |
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Instead of going to the Rams he enlisted in the US Marines and fought in World War II. While serving as a Marine in the 6th Division on Guadalcanal he participated in the Mosquito Bowl.[1] He died at Okinawa.
He led the nation in rushing in 1943; 833 yards, 142 carries (5.9 average), scoring 16 touchdowns (still tied for a Purdue 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 yards 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.
NCAA Collegiate Career statistics | |||||||||
Illinois Fighting Illini | |||||||||
Season | Rushing | ||||||||
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Att | Yards | Avg | Yards/G | TD | |||||
1941 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||
1942 | 60 | 174 | 2.9 | 34.8 | -- | ||||
Purdue Boilermakers | |||||||||
1943 | 142 | 833 | 5.9 | 92.6 | 16 | ||||
NCAA Career Totals | 202 | 1,007 | 4.9 | 71.9 | 16 |
He was a native of St. David, Illinois and graduated from Lewistown High School in Lewistown, Illinois.
He was killed in action at Okinawa.[4]
Further reading
Cleveland Rams 1944 NFL Draft selections | |
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1944 NFL Draft first-round selections | |
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Los Angeles Rams first-round draft picks | |
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Formerly the Cleveland Rams (1936–1945) and St. Louis Rams (1995–2015) | |
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