Hall of Fame
Position: Halfback
Years: 1982-1985
Place of Birth: Boston, MA
Date of Birth: Jan 22, 1964
Jersey Number: 22
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
High School: Quincy, MA (North Quincy HS)
Joe Dudek played for Plymouth State in Division III but he earned national recognition. On Dec. 2, 1985, his picture was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. That year he finished ninth in the Heisman Trophy vote, the highest a Division III player ever attained. He made Division III All-America three times. In his career he rushed 785 times, gained 5570 yards for an average of 7.1 per play. He scored 79 touchdowns, a Division III record that lasted nine years. He scored 474 points, and that was a modern collegiate record (all divisions) that lasted nine years. (The all-time record is 730 points, by Knowlton Ames of Princeton from 1886-1889.) Dudek, 6-1 in height, 195 pounds in weight, was Division III Player of the Year three times in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference. He had 30 games in which he rushed for 100 yards or more, eight games of 200 or more. His top games were 279, 274, 265, 236, and 234 yards. His longest touchdown plays were 87, 61, 58, 57, and 53 yards. In his time the Panthers had a 37-6 record and won four New England Football Conference championships. Dudek played one year as a pro (with Denver in 1987).
