1961 American Football League draft

AFL logo on 1960 Fleer football card No. 1

AFL logo on 1960 Fleer football card No. 1

Because another league was in competition for the class of 1961 college stars, the American Football League draft for 1961 graduates was actually held in 1960, with a six-round telephone draft on November 23, that saw the Buffalo Bills select Auburn's Ken Rice as the overall first draft pick. The draft was completed on December 5 and 6th, with rounds seven through thirty.

Boston Patriots draft picks

Round	Player	Position	College
1	Tommy MasonTommy Mason	Half back	Tulane
2	Rip HawkinsRip Hawkins	Center	North Carolina
3	Danny LaRoseDanny LaRose	Offensive end	Missouri
4	Mike ZenoMike Zeno	Guard	Virginia Tech
5	Fran TarkentonFran Tarkenton	Quarterback	Georgia
6	Larry EisenhauerLarry Eisenhauer	Tackle	Boston College
7	Paul TerhesPaul Terhes	Quarterback	Bucknell
8	Charles LongCharles Long	Guard	Tennessee-Chattanooga
9	Roland LakesRoland Lakes	Center	Wichita
10	Richard MuellerRichard Mueller	Offensive end	Kentucky
11	Mel WestMel West	Center	Missouri
12	Wayne HarrisWayne Harris	Center	Arkansas
13	Dan UnderwoodDan Underwood	Tackle	McNeese State
14	James WrightJames Wright	Quarterback	Memphis State
16	George BalthazarGeorge Balthazar	Tackle	Tennessee A&I
17	Ray RatkowskiRay Ratkowski	Halfback	Notre Dame
18	Tom RodgersTom Rodgers	Halfback	Kentucky
19	Joe BellinoJoe Bellino	Halfback	Navy
20	Clarence ChildsClarence Childs	Halfback	Florida A&M
21	Dan OakesDan Oakes	Guard	Virginia Tech
22	Bob JohnsonBob Johnson	Offensive end	Michigan
23	Darrell DeDeckerDarrell DeDecker	Center	Illinois
24	Don WebbDon Webb	Halfback	Iowa State
25	Robert MinihaneRobert Minihane	Tackle	Boston
26	Charles GrangerCharles Granger	Tackle	Southern
27	Terry HuxholdTerry Huxhold	Tackle	Wisconsin
28	Bryant HarvardBryant Harvard	Quarterback	Auburn
29	Ernie McMillanErnie McMillan	Tackle	Illinois
30	George HultzGeorge Hultz	Tackle	Mississippi Southern

Buffalo Bills draft picks

Round	Player	Position	College
1	Ken RiceKen Rice	Tackle	Auburn
2	Billy ShawBilly Shaw	Tackle	Georgia Tech
3	Art BakerArt Baker	Fullback	Syracuse (from New York)
3	Tom GilburgTom Gilburg	Tackle	Syracuse
4	Stew BarberStew Barber	Tackle	Penn State
5	Norm SneadNorm Snead	Quarterback	Wake Forest
6	Fred BrownFred Brown	Halfback	Georgia
7	Albert BemillerAlbert Bemiller	Center	Syracuse
8	Charles LinningCharles Linning	Tackle	Miami
9	William MajorsWilliam Majors	Halfback	Tennessee
10	Don KernDon Kern	Halfback	VMI
11	Roy WallRoy Wall	Halfback	North Carolina
12	Floyd PowersFloyd Powers	Guard	Mississippi State
13	Tom CauseyTom Causey	Offensive end	Louisiana Tech
14	Ron KostelnikRon Kostelnik	Tackle	Cincinnati
15	Jerry FryeJerry Frye	Offensive end	South Carolina
16	Vincent ScottVincent Scott	Offensive end	Maryland
17	Wayne WolffWayne Wolff	Tackle	Wake Forest
18	John BodkinJohn Bodkin	Guard	South Carolina
19	Charles BarnesCharles Barnes	Offensive end	NE Louisiana State
20	Everett CloudEverett Cloud	Halfback	Maryland
21	Larry VargoLarry Vargo	Offensive end	Detroit
22	Charles BakerCharles Baker	Tackle	Tennessee
23	William MackWilliam Mack	Halfback	Notre Dame
24	Frank JackunasFrank Jackunas	Center	Detroit
25	Jack HarbaughJack Harbaugh	Halfback	Bowling Green
26	Lorenzo StanfordLorenzo Stanford	Tackle	North Carolina A & I
27	Bob AllenBob Allen	Offensive end	Wake Forest
28	Jason HarnessJason Harness	Offensive end	Michigan State
29	Mike StockMike Stock	Halfback	Northwestern
30	William MartinWilliam Martin	Halfback	Minnesota

Dallas Texans draft picks

Round	Player	Position	College
1	Ken RiceE.J. Holub	Center	Texas Tech
2	Bob LillyBob Lilly	Tackle	TCU
3	Jim TyrerJim Tyrer	Tackle	Ohio State
4	Claude MoormanClaude Moorman	Offensive End	Duke
5	Jerry MaysJerry Mays	Tackle	Southern Methodist
7	Fred ArbanasFred Arbanas	Offensive End	Michigan State
8	John O'DayJohn O'Day	Tackle	Miami
9	Dick MillsDick Mills	Tackle	Pittsburgh
10	Jerry DanielsJerry Daniels	Tackle	Mississippi
11	Marvin TibbetsMarvin Tibbets	Halfback	Georgia Tech
12	Paul HynesPaul Hynes	Halfback	Louisiana Tech
13	Glynn GregoryGlynn Gregory	Halfback	Southern Methodist
14	Curtis McClintonCurtis McClinton	Halfback	Kansas
15	Ed NuttingEd Nutting	Tackle	Georgia Tech
15	Roy Lee RamboRoy Lee Rambo	Guard	TCU
16	Aaron ThomasAaron Thomas	Offensive End	Oregon State
17	Jarrell WilliamsJarrell Williams	Halfback	Arkansas
18	Ron HartlineRon Hartline	Fullback	Oklahoma
19	Frank JacksonFrank Jackson	Halfback	Southern Methodist
20	Bob LaneBob Lane	Offensive End	Baylor
21	Dick ThorntonDick Thornton	Quarterback	Northwestern
22	Ed SharockmanEd Sharockman	Halfback	Pittsburgh
23	Lou ZivkovichLou Zivkovich	Tackle	New Mexico State
24	Pat DyePat Dye	Guard	Georgia
25	Ray RamseyRay Ramsey	Quarterback	Adams State
26	Danny HouseDanny House	Halfback	Davidson
27	Bob SchloredtBob Schloredt	Quarterback	Washington
28	Bill StineBill Stine	Guard	Michigan
29	Lonnie CaddellLonnie Caddell	Fullback	Rice
30	Cedric PriceCedric Price	Offensive End	Kansas State

Denver Broncos draft picks

Round	Player	Position	College
1	Bob GaitersBob Gaiters	Halfback	New Mexico State
2	Jerry HillJerry Hill	Halfback	Wyoming
3	Charles StrangeCharles Strange	Center	LSU
4	Roland McDoleRoland McDole	Tackle	Nebraska
4	Sonny DavisSonny Davis	Offensive End	Baylor
5	Charles CowanCharles Cowan	Offensive End	Highlands
6	Dale EvansDale Evans	Halfback	Kansas State
7	Pat PatchenPat Patchen	Offensive End	Florida
9	Phil NugentPhil Nugent	Quarterback	Tulane
10	Charles SturgeonCharles Sturgeon	Halfback	Kentucky
11	John SimkoJohn Simko	Offensive End	Augustana
12	Jerry MillerJerry Miller	Offensive End	Howard Payne
13	Ron GreeneRon Greene	Guard	Washington State
14	Bill CooperBill Cooper	Fullback	Muskingum
15	Willie CraftsWillie Crafts	Guard	Texas A&I
16	Jim LarkinJim Larkin	Tackle	Hillsdale
17	Chuck WeissChuck Weiss	-	Colorado
18	Chick GraningChick Graning	Halfback	Georgia Tech
19	John HobbsJohn Hobbs	Guard	Maryland State
20	Buck McLeodBuck McLeod	Tackle	Baylor
21	Jim MorganJim Morgan	Halfback	Iowa State Tech
22	Tom HacklerTom Hackler	Offensive End	Tennessee Tech
23	Tom JewellTom Jewell	Tackle	Idaho State
24	E.A. SimmsE.A. Simms	Offensive End	New Mexico State
25	Pete SammsPete Samms	Tackle	Central Oklahoma
26	Sam SmithSam Smith	Halfback	Florence State
27	Donald OlsonDonald Olson	Halfback	Nebraska
28	Wayne LeeWayne Lee	Guard	Colorado State
29	Archie CobbArchie Cobb	Tackle	Nebraska
30	Dave MillsDave Mills	Halfback	Northeast Missouri Tech

Houston Oilers draft picks

Round	Player	Position	College
1	Tommy MasonMike Ditka	Offensive End	Pittsburgh
2	Tom GoodeTom Goode	Center	Mississippi State
3	Walter SuggsWalter Suggs	Tackle	Mississippi State
4	Bobby WaldenBobby Walden	Halfback	Georgia
5	Monte LeeMonte Lee	Linebacker	Texas
6	Jake GibbsJake Gibbs	Quarterback	Mississippi
7	Dick ReynoldsDick Reynolds	Tackle	North Carolina State
8	Houston AntwineHouston Antwine	Guard	Southern Illinois
9	Ralph WhiteRalph White	Tackle	Bowling Green
10	Charles LeeCharles Lee	Center	Iowa
11	Robert BirdRobert Bird	Guard	Bowling Green
12	Bob McLeodBob McLeod	Offensive End	Abilene Christian
13	Gerald HintonGerald Hinton	Guard	Louisiana Tech
14	Jimmy KingJimmy King	Tackle	Clemson
15	Dennis FerriterDennis Ferriter	Center	Marquette
16	Larry WoodLarry Wood	Halfback	Northwestern
17	Sam FewellSam Fewell	Tackle	South Carolina
18	Mike GrimsleyMike Grimsley	Halfback	Michigan State
19	Myron PearsonMyron Pearson	Halfback	Colorado
20	Lewis JohnsonLewis Johnson	Halfback	Florida A&M
21	Ron MillerRon Miller	Quarterback	Wisconsin
22	Bob KellyBob Kelly	Offensive End	New Mexico State
23	James AndersonJames Anderson	Fullback	Mississippi
24	Ken GregoryKen Gregory	Offensive End	Whittier
25	Jack KreiderJack Kreider	Halfback	Tulsa
26	Don FuellDon Fuell	Quarterback	Mississippi Southern
27	Boyd KingBoyd King	Center	Rice
28	John FrongilloJohn Frongillo	Center	Baylor
29	Tom LewisJohn Frongillo	Offensive End	Lake Forest
29	Tom LewisErrol Linden	Defensive End	Houston
30	Tom LewisJim Stroud	Tackle	Rice

New York Titans draft picks

Round	Player	Position	College
1	Tom BrownTom Brown	Guard	Minnesota
2	Herb AdderleyHerb Adderley	Halfback	Michigan State
5	Tom MatteTom Matte	Quarterback	Ohio State
6	Bill BrownBill Brown	Fullback	Illinois
7	Fred MautinoFred Mautino	Offensive end	Syracuse
8	Harold BeatyHarold Beaty	Tackle	Oklahoma State
9	Bernie CaseyBernie Casey	Fullback	Bowling Green
10	Bernie CaseyJoe Scibelli	Tackle	Notre Dame
11	Bernie CaseyArt Gilmore	Halfback	Oregon State
12	Bernie CaseyNorris Stevenson	Halfback	Missouri
13	Bernie CaseyJoe Wendryhoski	Tackle	Illinois
14	Bernie CaseyJim Cunningham	Fullback	Pittsburgh

   

New York Titans

11) Art Gilmore, HB, Oregon State 12) Norris Stevenson, HB, Missouri 13) Joe Wendryhoski, T, Illinois 14) Jim Cunningham, FB, Pittsburgh 15) Irv Cross, E, Northwestern 16) Jerry Steffen, HB, Colorado 17) Mike Plye, T, Yale 18) Alfred Bentley, E, Arkansas State 19) Jim Kerr, HB, Penn State 20) Neil Plumley, T, Oregon State 21) Bob Brooks, FB, Ohio 22) *Wayne Fontes, HB, Michigan State 23) Mickey Walker, HB, Michigan State 24) Howard Dyer, QB, VMI 25) Andy Griffith, HB, American International 26) *Bob Smith, HB, UCLA 27) Moses Gray, T, Indiana 28) *Fred Cox, HB, Pittsburgh 29) CHOICE TRADED TO HOUSTON 30) William Mimerly, HB, Connecticut

Oakland Raiders draft picks

Round	Player	Position	College

   

Oakland Raiders

San Diego Chargers

1) Joe Rutgens, T, Illinois 2) George Fleming, HB, Washington 3) Myron Pottios, LB, Notre Dame 4) Elbert Kimbrough DB, Northwestern 5) Dick Norman, QB, Stanford 6) Bobby Crespino, TE, Mississippi 7) Ray Purdin, HB, Northwestern 8) Tom Watkins, HB, Iowa State (from Denver) Dick Price G, Mississippi 9) Lowndes Shingler, QB, Clemson 10) Ken Petersen, T, Utah 11) Doug Mayberry, FB, Utah State 12) Bob Schmitz, LB, Montana State 13) Gerald Burch, E, Georgia Tech 14) *Clark Miller, DE, Utah State 15) Bob Coolbaugh, E, Richmond 16) *Chuck Lamson, DB, Wyoming 17) Joe Novsek, DE, Tulsa 18) Joe Krakoski, DB, Illinois 19) Charles Fuller, HB, Cal State-San Francisco 20) Preston Powell, FB, Grambling 21) Mike Jones, QB, San Jose State 22) Blayne Jones, G, Idaho State 23) Roger Fisher, C, Utah State 24) Jack Novak, G, Miami (Florida) 25) Paul Yanke, E, Northwestern 26) Dean Hinshaw, T, Stanford 27) Clair Appledoorn, E, San Jose State 28) Dave Grosz, QB, Oregon 29) Ed Morris, T, Indiana 30) Bill Face, HB, Stanford

1) Earl Faison, DE, Indiana 2) Keith Lincoln, HB, Washington State 3) Marlin McKeever, E, USC 4) Jimmy Johnson, HB, UCLA 5) Billy Kilmer, QB, UCLA 6) Calvin Bird, HB, Kentucky (from Dallas) Cliff Roberts, T, Illinois 7) Claude (Hoot) Gibson, DB, North Carolina State 8) Charley Johnson, QB, New Mexico State 9) Bob Scarpitto, QB, Notre Dame 10) Willie Hector, G, College of Pacific 11) Greg Larson, C, Minnesota 12) Hezekiah Braxton, FB, Virginia Union 13) Dale Messer, FB, Fresno State 14) *Billy Wilson, T, Auburn 15) Ernie Ladd, T, Grambling 16) Bud Whitehead, DB, Florida State 17) *Reg Carolan, E, Idaho 18) Ed Dyas, FB, Auburn 19) Jack Espenship, HB, Florida 20) *Mike Lucci, C, Tennessee 21) Gene Gaines, HB, UCLA 22) *John Brown, T, Syracuse 23) Glenn Bass, HB, East Carolina 24) Ben Balme, G, Yale 25) *Don Coffee, E, Memphis State 26) Bill Kinnune, G, Washington 27) Luther Hayes, E, USC 28) Chuck Allen, G, Washington 29) Dan Ficca, T, USC 30) Mike McKeever, G, USC

Note: Asterisk (*) signifies future selection.

See also

• List of American Football League players
• History of American Football League draft
• List of Professional Football Drafts

External link

• 1961 American Football League Draft list on Robert Phillips' site