Cedric Oglesby

Cedric Oglesby (born July 26, 1977) is an American former football placekicker who played one season in the National Football League (NFL) for the Arizona Cardinals. He played college football for the South Carolina State Bulldogs and also had stints in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers. He was one of the first African-American kickers in the NFL.

Early life and education

Oglesby was born on July 26, 1977, in

Oglesby earned his second consecutive all-conference selection as a sophomore in 1997, being named first-team All-MEAC as a punter, after recording 69 punts averaging 39.3 yards each.^[2] He also went 8-of-13 on field goals and converted all but three of his 31 extra point attempts.^[2] With 52 total points in 11 games he placed first on the team.^[2] In the annual McDonald's Heritage Bowl, a loss against the Southern Jaguars, Oglesby tied the record for best punt average, recording 43.6 yards per-punt on seven attempts.^[2]

Oglesby's coach, Willie Jeffries, described him as "just a good athlete. He can do a two-step punt, a one-step punt and a no-step punt."^[2] In the 1998 season, Oglesby set the school record for most field goals made, with 11, and also broke the team record for longest field goal, successfully attempting a 52-yarder.^[4] He spent his final season at South Carolina State in 1999.^[3]

Professional career

After going unselected in the

While a free agent in 2001, Oglesby worked as a substitute teacher.^[7] He was practicing kicking in December, near the end of the NFL season, when he got a call from the Arizona Cardinals.^[7] The Cardinals' previous kicker, Bill Gramatica, had injured himself celebrating, and so Oglesby was signed as a replacement for the final three games of the season, beating Vitaly Pisetsky for the job.^[7] He made his NFL debut in week 15 against the Dallas Cowboys, making a 34-yard field goal and two extra points, but missing a 35-yard attempt.^[8] It made him one of the first African-American kickers in league history.^[7] Oglesby performed better in his second match, making all three of his field goal attempts, each of his three extra points, and a tackle in the 30–7 win over the Carolina Panthers.^[9][10] He played his final game against the Washington Redskins in week 17, making two field goals and two extra points in the 17–20 loss.^[10] He became a free agent after the season and did not sign another NFL contract.^[11]

Personal life

Oglesby became a Christian while at South Carolina State.^[2] He operated a kicking camp after his playing career.^[12]

References