Linebacker
No. 54
Nebraska
"Ruud started three of the final four games last year and appeared in all 14 at outside linebacker. He was hampered by his late arrival and missed most of training camp, yet showed the speed and agility that could make him a top linebacker. The Bills' number one draft choice in 1975, Tom will be counted on in 1976.
A unanimous All-Big Eight selection in 1974, Tom also earned Associated Press All-American honorable mention. He led the Cornhuskers with 104 tackles while adding three fumble recoveries and two pass interceptions.
Tom was an All-Academic Big Eight choice in both 1973 and 1974 and finished his career with 209 tackles. He played in the Senior Bowl last winter.
A business major interested in banking and public relations, he lists music, hunting, fishing and skiing as his hobbies. He has five sisters and a brother."
-Buffalo Bills 1976 Yearbook
Friday, December 4, 2015
1976 Profile: Willie Parker
Long Snapper-Center
No. 61
North Texas State
"Parker has played in every game for the Bills for the past two years, seeing action on special teams and as a snapper for punts, field goals and PAT's. He's also been the number one backup center and can play guard; versatility is his big asset.
Willie was drafted third by San Francisco in 1971 and spent most of that season on the 49ers reserve squad. He was on the LA reserve list for a full year before being picked up by Buffalo for a future draft choice in September 1973.
Parker was a second team All-Missouri Valley Conference choice as a junior and a first team selection as a senior. He went back to Texas this winter after spending the two previous years in Orchard Park. He has passed his insurance examination."
-Buffalo Bills 1976 Yearbook
No. 61
North Texas State
"Parker has played in every game for the Bills for the past two years, seeing action on special teams and as a snapper for punts, field goals and PAT's. He's also been the number one backup center and can play guard; versatility is his big asset.
Willie was drafted third by San Francisco in 1971 and spent most of that season on the 49ers reserve squad. He was on the LA reserve list for a full year before being picked up by Buffalo for a future draft choice in September 1973.
Parker was a second team All-Missouri Valley Conference choice as a junior and a first team selection as a senior. He went back to Texas this winter after spending the two previous years in Orchard Park. He has passed his insurance examination."
-Buffalo Bills 1976 Yearbook
1976 Profile: Bob Nelson
Middle Linebacker
No. 56
Nebraska
"Nelson was dressed for the first three games of the 1975 season before being placed on the injured reserve list with a leg injury. He missed most of training camp but impressed the coaches with his aggressiveness and strength before being hurt. Bob will be a strong challenger for a middle linebacker berth this year.
He was a teammate, classmate and roommate of Tom Ruud, the Bills' first round pick in the 1975 draft. Bob was a second team All-Big Eight selection his last year and a standout performer in the Senior Bowl. He was involved in 198 tackles while picking up three varsity letters at Nebraska and had a pair of fumble recoveries and a pass interception during his career.
A business education major interested in coaching, Bob has worked summers in a family ice cream plant."
-Buffalo Bills 1976 Yearbook
No. 56
Nebraska
"Nelson was dressed for the first three games of the 1975 season before being placed on the injured reserve list with a leg injury. He missed most of training camp but impressed the coaches with his aggressiveness and strength before being hurt. Bob will be a strong challenger for a middle linebacker berth this year.
He was a teammate, classmate and roommate of Tom Ruud, the Bills' first round pick in the 1975 draft. Bob was a second team All-Big Eight selection his last year and a standout performer in the Senior Bowl. He was involved in 198 tackles while picking up three varsity letters at Nebraska and had a pair of fumble recoveries and a pass interception during his career.
A business education major interested in coaching, Bob has worked summers in a family ice cream plant."
-Buffalo Bills 1976 Yearbook
1976 Profile: Mike Montler
Center
No. 53
Colorado
"Montler started every game at center for the second straight year and ran his consecutive string to 35 straight starts. He didn't miss a game in 1974 despite a painful leg injury. He took over the starting duties in the ninth game of the 1973 season when Bruce Jarvis was injured and has beaten off all challengers to the center spot. Mike came to Buffalo as an offensive tackle, yet made the switch easily.
Mike was acquired by Buffalo in the trade that also brought Jim Cheyunski and Halvor Hagen from New England. He was a starting offensive lineman for four years in New England where he was a second round draft choice in 1969. He's the oldest man on the Buffalo roster.
Montler won All-America and All-Big Eight honors as a tackle for Eddie Crowder at Colorado. Captain of the Buffaloes as a senior, he captured the Ernie Davis Memorial Award in the 1969 Coaches' All-America Game. Mike was a member of the Blue-Grey, Hula and Senior Bowl squads and the College All-Star team.
Mike played service football during a four-year tour in the Marine Corps. His duty stations included San Diego and Okinawa. His undergraduate major at Colorado was business with a minor in journalism. He's worked in the off-season with a Sheriff's department and in the PR departments of both a bank and a real estate firm."
-Buffalo Bills 1976 Yearbook
No. 53
Colorado
"Montler started every game at center for the second straight year and ran his consecutive string to 35 straight starts. He didn't miss a game in 1974 despite a painful leg injury. He took over the starting duties in the ninth game of the 1973 season when Bruce Jarvis was injured and has beaten off all challengers to the center spot. Mike came to Buffalo as an offensive tackle, yet made the switch easily.
Mike was acquired by Buffalo in the trade that also brought Jim Cheyunski and Halvor Hagen from New England. He was a starting offensive lineman for four years in New England where he was a second round draft choice in 1969. He's the oldest man on the Buffalo roster.
Montler won All-America and All-Big Eight honors as a tackle for Eddie Crowder at Colorado. Captain of the Buffaloes as a senior, he captured the Ernie Davis Memorial Award in the 1969 Coaches' All-America Game. Mike was a member of the Blue-Grey, Hula and Senior Bowl squads and the College All-Star team.
Mike played service football during a four-year tour in the Marine Corps. His duty stations included San Diego and Okinawa. His undergraduate major at Colorado was business with a minor in journalism. He's worked in the off-season with a Sheriff's department and in the PR departments of both a bank and a real estate firm."
-Buffalo Bills 1976 Yearbook
1976 Profile: Royce McKinney
Kick Returner-Defensive Back
No. 41
Kentucky State
"McKinney appeared in nine games with the Bills last year after being signed as a free agent early in the season. He started one game at safety and saw action on special teams and as a fifth defensive back. Royce returned six kickoffs for 151 yards and a 25.2 average. His longest return was for 37 yards.
Royce was a four-year starter at Kentucky State and was an NAIA All-American. Fourth in the NAIA in 1974 with a 23.6 punt return average, he returned punts 69 and 65 yards for touchdowns and had eight interceptions, returning three for touchdowns."
-Buffalo Bills 1976 Yearbook
No. 41
Kentucky State
"McKinney appeared in nine games with the Bills last year after being signed as a free agent early in the season. He started one game at safety and saw action on special teams and as a fifth defensive back. Royce returned six kickoffs for 151 yards and a 25.2 average. His longest return was for 37 yards.
Royce was a four-year starter at Kentucky State and was an NAIA All-American. Fourth in the NAIA in 1974 with a 23.6 punt return average, he returned punts 69 and 65 yards for touchdowns and had eight interceptions, returning three for touchdowns."
-Buffalo Bills 1976 Yearbook
1976 Profile: Reggie McKenzie
Guard
No. 67
Michigan
"McKenzie has now started 57 straight games with the Bills in the last four years, with a strong performance in 1975 to help the Bills' offense break several records. An All-Conference selection of both UPI and the Sporting News in 1974 after winning All-Pro honors from the AP, Pro Football Writers and Football News in 1973. He was also the winner of the Wisconsin Pro Football Writers' award as the NFL's top blocking lineman in 1973.
Reggie has outstanding speed and the ability to get out in front of a play, and his pass blocking is vastly improved. He has outstanding leadership traits and is the Bills' player representative.
McKenzie was a consensus All-American for Bo Schembechler at Michigan and a member of two Michigan Rose Bowl teams (1970,1972). A two-time All-Big Ten choice, he won invitations to the Hula Bowl and College All-Star games.
Reggie won his B.S. degree in physical education and has ambitions for graduate study, perhaps in law. He was co-chairman of Buffalo Brotherhood Week for the National Conference of Christians and Jews and worked during the off-season as a public relations representative for a local hotel. Music and reading are Reggie's hobbies.
He has four brothers and three sisters and was married in June to Gthellean Hicks, Miss Massachusetts of 1974."
-Buffalo Bills 1976 Yearbook
No. 67
Michigan
"McKenzie has now started 57 straight games with the Bills in the last four years, with a strong performance in 1975 to help the Bills' offense break several records. An All-Conference selection of both UPI and the Sporting News in 1974 after winning All-Pro honors from the AP, Pro Football Writers and Football News in 1973. He was also the winner of the Wisconsin Pro Football Writers' award as the NFL's top blocking lineman in 1973.
Reggie has outstanding speed and the ability to get out in front of a play, and his pass blocking is vastly improved. He has outstanding leadership traits and is the Bills' player representative.
McKenzie was a consensus All-American for Bo Schembechler at Michigan and a member of two Michigan Rose Bowl teams (1970,1972). A two-time All-Big Ten choice, he won invitations to the Hula Bowl and College All-Star games.
Reggie won his B.S. degree in physical education and has ambitions for graduate study, perhaps in law. He was co-chairman of Buffalo Brotherhood Week for the National Conference of Christians and Jews and worked during the off-season as a public relations representative for a local hotel. Music and reading are Reggie's hobbies.
He has four brothers and three sisters and was married in June to Gthellean Hicks, Miss Massachusetts of 1974."
-Buffalo Bills 1976 Yearbook
1976 Profile: John McCrumbly
Middle Linebacker
No. 57
Texas A&M
"McCrumbly appeared in 13 games last year, including two as a starter at middle linebacker. He backed up Merv Krakau in the middle and saw considerable action in the last half of the season when the Bills went to a 3-4 alignment. John has quick feet and is a strong hitter.
He earned All-Southwest Conference honors as a middle linebacker with the Aggies in 1974 and was a two-time All-American linebacker at Tyler Junior College before transferring to Texas A&M. He was a high school fullback.
John is a recreation and parks major who would like to become a coach. He enjoys pool and swimming."
-Buffalo Bills 1976 Yearbook
No. 57
Texas A&M
"McCrumbly appeared in 13 games last year, including two as a starter at middle linebacker. He backed up Merv Krakau in the middle and saw considerable action in the last half of the season when the Bills went to a 3-4 alignment. John has quick feet and is a strong hitter.
He earned All-Southwest Conference honors as a middle linebacker with the Aggies in 1974 and was a two-time All-American linebacker at Tyler Junior College before transferring to Texas A&M. He was a high school fullback.
John is a recreation and parks major who would like to become a coach. He enjoys pool and swimming."
-Buffalo Bills 1976 Yearbook
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