Ahman Green
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ahman Green | |
|---|---|
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| Date of birth | February 16, 1977 |
| Place of birth | Omaha, Nebraska |
| Position(s) | Running Back |
| College | University of Nebraska |
| NFL Draft | 1998 / Round 3 / Pick 15 |
| Pro Bowls | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 1998-1999 2000- |
Seattle Seahawks Green Bay Packers |
Ahman Rashad Green (born February 16, 1977 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA) is a running back who plays for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. Green is best known for his speed and power. Between the 2000 and 2004 NFL seasons, Green rushed for more yards, and gained more total yards from scrimmage, than any other running back in the NFL.
Ahman was named after former NFL wide receiver and current broadcaster Ahmad Rashad. [1]
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[edit] High school
- Was a high school All-America selection and state 'Player of the Year' at Central High School in Omaha.
- Attended same high school as Henry Fonda and Gale Sayers
- A three-year letter winner in football as a running back, also played linebacker and handled the team's punting duties
- A two-time academic all-state selection as a prep, later earned Academic All-Big 12 honorable mention in 1996 at Nebraska
[edit] University of Nebraska
Green was a standout running back and three year starter for the University of Nebraska. He was an integral component and key contributor on two national championship squads.
As a freshman Ahman Green was perhaps overshadowed by his backfield mates running back Lawrence Phillips and quarterback Tommie Frazier. But Ahman Green's freshman year at Nebraska was certainly a memorable one. He was a major contributor during Nebraska's 1995 Championship run. He rushed for 1,086 yards and 13 touchdowns on 141 carries (7.7 avg.) and was honored as a freshman All-America selection by Football News. In addition he earned Big Eight all-conference and 'Freshman of the Year' honors.
During his sophomore season in 1996 he compiled a team-leading 917 yards on 155 carries and 7 TDs. It was during the 1996 season that he posted a career-high 214 yards against Iowa State.
As a junior, he garnered All-Big 12 Conference recognition and was named second-team All-America by the Associated Press and The Sporting News as Nebraska again captured the national championship. He was a finalist for the 'Doak Walker Award,' the annual honor for college football's top running back in 1997. During that campaign he carried the ball 278 times for 1,877 yards (6.8 avg.) and 22 touchdowns (a school record for juniors). He posted 12 consecutive 100-yard games, including three contests with over 200 yards.
During his collegiate career Ahman Green compiled 3,880 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns, both totals good for second place on the Cornhuskers' all-time list. He also posted 300 yards and 3 TDs on 35 career receptions. In three bowl games, he rushed 45 times for 326 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Ahman Green's most memorable collegiate performance was on January 2nd, 1998 at the Orange Bowl. He rushed for an Orange Bowl record 206 yards and 2 TDs in 42-17 Orange Bowl victory over third ranked Tennessee. The tandem of Scott Frost and Ahman Green easily outperformed Tennessee's constellation of offensive stars: Peyton Manning, Jamal Lewis and Peerless Price. The exceedingly lopsided and decisive nature of this victory contrasted sharply with the also unbeaten Michigan Wolverine's close Rose Bowl victory over the Ryan Leaf's Washington State squad. The enormous discrepancy between the bowl game performances of these two undefeated teams allowed Nebraska to rally from behind in the polls, where Nebraska had fallen behind Michigan after Nebraska's close overtime victory over Missouri, and claim a controversial share of the National Title. This was the Cornhusker's record setting third National Championship in four years.
[edit] Green Bay Packers
In 2000 Green was traded along with a fifth round draft pick to the Green Bay Packers for Fred Vinson and a sixth round pick. Since then, he has been selected to the NFL Pro Bowl every year from 2001 to 2004 and has broken several franchise records. From the time he joined the Packers in 2000 up through the end of the 2004 season, Ahman Green gained more yards from scrimmage (9,036) and rushing yards (6,848) than any other NFL player. Despite his injury-shortened 2005 season, the Packers resigned Green to a one-year, $2 million contract, with an extra $3 million in incentives.
[edit] Fumbles
Despite his obvious talent, Green has struggled with a reputation for being fumble-prone. Some have blamed it on his excessive perspiration. [2] Former Green Bay star LeRoy Butler cited the left-handed Green's unwillingness to switch the ball to his right arm when running plays to the right side. [3] He has incorporated special arm bands to help keep the ball in his control.
