D. J. Dozier

D. J. Dozier

No. 42
Running back
Personal information
Date of birth: September 21, 1965 (1965-09-21) (age 46)
Place of birth: Norfolk, Virginia
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	Weight: 200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
College: Penn State
NFL Draft: 1987 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14
Debuted in 1987 for the Minnesota Vikings
Last played in 1991 for the Detroit Lions
Career history
Minnesota Vikings (1987–1990) Detroit Lions (1991)
Career highlights and awards
N/A
Career NFL statistics as of 1991
Rushing yards	691
Rushing average	4.0
Touchdowns	9
Stats at NFL.com

D.J. Dozier
Outfielder
Born: September 21, 1965 (1965-09-21) (age 46) Norfolk, Virginia
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 6, 1992 for the New York Mets
Last MLB appearance
October 4, 1992 for the New York Mets
Career statistics
Batting average	.191
Hits	9
RBIs	2
Teams
New York Mets (1992)

William Henry "D.J." Dozier Jr. is a retired American National Football League running back and Major League Baseball outfielder. He played five seasons with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions from 1987 to 1991, and played one season with the MLB's New York Mets in 1992. He currently resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Dozier was born on Tuesday, September 21, 1965 in Norfolk, Virginia. He attended Kempsville High School, and later attended Penn State University.

Football career

• Dozier scored the winning touchdown of Penn State's 1987 National Championship Fiesta Bowl victory over Miami.
• Dozier was drafted out of Penn State in the first round (#14 overall) of the 1987 NFL Draft.
• He shared the November 11, 1985 cover of Sports Illustrated with Florida's Ray McDonald.
• He had a career average of 4.0 yards per carry. In 1991—his final season—he averaged 5.3 yards per rush.
• He fumbled the ball only 4 times during his 5-year professional career.
• Dozier had a perfect 158.3 passer rating as a pro. (He was 1-for-1 for 19 yards and a touchdown)
• Dozier caught 33 career passes, averaging 9.1 yards per catch.
• As a kick returner, he averaged 19.4 yards per return.

Baseball career

Dozier, who was 6'0", 202 (or 198, according to one source) pounds and who threw and batted right-handed was originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 18th round in 1983 (459th overall). He opted not to sign and decided to go to college, where he would pursue his football career.

In 1990, the New York Mets signed him as an amateur free agent. He spent 1990 and 1991 in the minor leagues, where he showed good speed (he stole 33 bases with St. Lucie in 1990) and also good pop (in 1990, he hit 13 home runs with St. Lucie). He played for the Williamsport Bills in 1991.

After spending some time in the minors in 1992, he was called up to the Major Leagues and made his debut on May 6, 1992 at the age of 26. In 25 games, he hit .191 with 4 stolen bases and 19 strikeouts in 47 at-bats. Defensively, he committed 1 error for a fielding percentage of .971.

On October 26, 1992, Dozier was traded with catcher Raul Casanova and pitcher Wally Whitehurst for shortstop/third baseman Tony Fernández.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
• D.J. Dozier's Penn State Nittany Lions 1986 National Championship Football Pennant