Billy Cannon Jr.

Billy Cannon Jr.
No. 52
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	October 8, 1961 (age 62); Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	231 lb (105 kg)
Career information
High school:	Broadmoor (Baton Rouge)
College:	Texas A&M
NFL draft:	1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 25
Career history
	Dallas Cowboys (1984);
Career NFL statistics
Games played:
Games played:	8
	Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

William Abb Cannon Jr. (born October 8, 1961) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies.

Early years

Cannon attended

All-American

honors, while helping his team to an undefeated regular season.

On Halloween night in 1979, he returned a punt against Istrouma (his father's alma mater) 89 yards for a

his famous 89 yard punt return for Louisiana State University to beat Ole Miss 7–3.^[1]

As an 18-year-old senior with ability and a marquee name, he was a probable first-round draft choice in the

Cleveland Indians selected Cannon in the special draft.^[4]

College career

After the Yankees selection was voided, he committed to

flanker

, making 11 receptions for 118 yards (fourth on the team). He ranked second in the conference in kickoff returns with a 20.8-yard average.

As a sophomore, he was moved to

free safety

and led the secondary with 58 tackles.

As a junior, he played at

strong safety

, while registering 64 tackles (fifth on the team). He finished third in the conference in punt returns with a 9-yard average on 31 returns.

As a senior, he was switched to

outside linebacker

, but even then as a key member of the defense, he still returned kicks and punts. He posted 60 tackles (seventh on the team), 4 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries. He finished his college career with 86 punt returns for a 7.6-yard average, one punt return touchdown and 22 kickoff returns for a 21.1-yard average.

He also was a starter in the outfield for the baseball team. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Professional career

Cannon was selected by the

1984 USFL Territorial Draft

.

Eight games into his rookie season, he was a reserve right

outside linebacker alternating with Anthony Dickerson, when an existing congenital spinal condition was complicated after he tackled New Orleans Saints running back Wayne Wilson. He was knocked unconscious, suffered damage to two vertebrae near his neck and experienced a brief paralysis of his arms and legs. He never started and appeared in just eight games before this injury forced him to retire in order to avoid risking paralysis.^[7]^[8]