Deuce McAllister
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| Deuce McAllister | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | December 27, 1978 (age 28) |
| Place of birth |  Lena, Mississippi |
| Position(s) | Running back |
| College | Ole Miss |
| NFL Draft | 2001 / Round 1/ Pick 23 |
| Pro Bowls | 2003, 2002 |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 2001-present | New Orleans Saints |
Dulymus Jenod (Deuce) McAllister (born December 27, 1978) is an American football player, currently playing as a halfback for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. He was born in Lena, Mississippi.
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[edit] College career
The most decorated player from the University of Mississippi since the days of former Saints quarterback Archie Manning at the school, McAllister is the only player in school history to record three seasons with at least 1,000 all purpose yards. He holds the school's career record in carries (616), yards (3,060) and rushing touchdowns (36). His 13 100-yard rushing performances are also a school record. His 4,889 all-purpose yards shattered the old school record of 3,186. 41 total TDs set an Ole Miss all-time record, as did his 246 points. As a senior in 2000, McAllister was an All-SEC first team selection as an all purpose back by the Associated Press. He played in every game, starting eight contests and leading the team with 159 carries for 767 yards (4.8 avg.) and 14 TDs. McAllister led the team in scoring with 102 points, returned 17 punts for 191 yards (11.2 avg.) and a TD and added 340 yards on 20 kickoff returns (17.0 avg.). As a junior (1999), McAllister earned second-team All-American honors from the All-America Football Foundation and was also a first-team All-SEC pick by the league coaches and the Associated Press. In 10 games with eight starts, McAllister was second on the team with 151 carries for 809 yards (5.4 avg.) and 12 TDs. In his sophomore year (1998), McAllister was selected second-team All-SEC and led the team with 1,082 yards and 7 TDs on 212 carries (5.1 avg.). As a freshman (1997), he played in every game with one start and finished with 15 yards and 76 TDs on 8 carries (4.3 avg.).
[edit] NFL career
McAllister has been one of the NFL's more productive running backs since being picked by the Saints in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft, rushing for over 1,000 yards three straight years (a first in Saints' history) as the centerpiece of the Saints offensive attack. As of 2005, he ranks first in team record books with 5,586 rushing yards and 44 touchdowns and is first with 22 100-yard games, including a franchise-record nine straight contests in 2003. The Saints are 14-8 when he reaches the milestone, and McAllister has added 212 receptions for 1,577 yards and four touchdowns. In 2003, he finished second in the NFC in rushing and fourth in the league with a career-high 1,641 yards on 351 carries. That total is also second in club history (RB George Rogers, 1,674 yards, 1981). Including the 516 yards on a career-high 69 receptions, McAllister posted 2,157 yards from scrimmage that season to set a club record and rank second in the NFC. All of these accomplishments were a stunning encore to 2002, when in his first year as a starter he led the conference with 1,388 rushing yards, scored 16 TDs and was voted to the Pro Bowl. McAllister is the lone Saints' running back to be voted to the Pro Bowl in consecutive seasons.
McAllister was placed on injured reserve on October 10, 2005, after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, and returned to the roster for the 2006 season. While Deuce has remained the starter, he has shared time in the backfield for the first time in his career with the Saints' first-round draft pick Reggie Bush. As Bush steadily improved throughout the season, the two have grown to present a formidable runningback tandem, with McAllister providing power running and Bush providing big play potential both as a runner and a receiver. Their success has been attributed to new head coach Sean Payton, whose innovative ways of putting both players on the field has presented a tough challenge to opposing defenses. Under Payton, McAllister has had yet another 1,000 yard season. In his first-ever playoff start McAllister rushed for 143 yards on 21 carries with one touchdown and had 4 catches for 20 yards and another touchdown as New Orleans defeated Philadelphia, 27–24 to earn its first-ever NFC Championship Game appearance in the team's 40-year history.
[edit] Trivia
- His nickname, "Deuce," was given to him by one of his high school coaches who was a fan of former University of Alabama and NFL wide receiver David Palmer, who had the same nickname.
- He owns several new and used car dealerships in Jackson, Mississippi.
- He contributed $1 million towards the football indoor practice facility at the University of Mississippi.
