Charlie DeGraffenreid

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Charlie is a 1978 graduate of Elmer L. Meyers High School in Wilkes-Barre, PA. He is one of only a few to be All-State in three sports (first team All-State in football; state wrestling champ at 167; first place long jump and 220 yard dash in State track meet). In high school, he was All-Scholastic in football for 2 years, rushing for 3971 yards and scoring 358 touchdowns. His wrestling record was 67-3 and he was District wrestling champ for 2 years. He was District champ in the long jump for 3 years. He was named Pizza Hut All American; Gatorade All American; a member of the Big 33 team; one of the Chicago Sun Times Top 100 recruits in the country; Most Valuable Player in his senior year in the Wyoming Valley Conference. Charlie went on to attend Maryland University, where he graduated in 1982. He lettered 4 years there in football, starting at tailback for 32 games. He was the leading rusher in the country 9 of 12 weeks during his junior year. He was elected ACC first team in his sophomore and junior years. Unfortunately, he injured his thigh in his senior year; however, he still held several ACC records, one being most carries in one game (61 versus Clemson in 1980). He rushed for 2994 yards and scored 33 touchdowns. He was pre-season Heisman Trophy pick and traveled the country promoting college football. Charlie played in Gator, Sun and Cotton Bowl Games. He also played in the Blue/Gray Game. Charlie was with the Dallas Cowboys until the final cut. He still holds 9 Maryland rushing records and was the game’s MVP in 1982 and was named third team All American in his junior year.