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Dennis Onkotz

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Dennis Onkotz
No. 35
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1948-02-06) February 6, 1948 (age 76)
Northampton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
College:Penn State
NFL draft:1970 / round: 3 / pick: 72
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference
College Football Hall of Fame

Dennis Henry Onkotz (born February 6, 1948) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, twice earning consensus All-American honors. He suffered a career ending injury during his first and only season with the Jets.

Early life

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Onkotz was born on February 6, 1948 in Northampton, Pennsylvania.[1] He attended Northampton Area High School. He graduated in 1966.[2] From 1963-66 he scored over 1,000 points on the school's basketball team.[3] In 2006, he was inducted into the Northampton Area School District Athletic Hall of Fame.[4]

College career

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Onkotz attended Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). He was named a consensus All-American at linebacker in 1968 and 1969. He was a second team All-American as a sophomore in 1967. An all-around athlete, Onkotz helped earn Penn State the nickname "Linebacker U," as the first great linebacker in the school tradition; but thanks to his speed he also held the unlikely position of punt returner, with an impressive average of over 13 yards per return.[5][6][1][7] Future NFL hall of fame linebacker, and Penn State teammate, Jack Ham[8] said "'[Linebacker U] started with Dennis Onkotz.'"[9]

Onkotz led the team in tackles in 1968 and 1969.[1] As of 2024, he ranks first in school history for interceptions by a linebacker with 11,[2] with only five defensive backs ahead of him in total interceptions.[10] Onkotz amassed 287 tackles, which at one time ranked third on the Lions' career list (but as of 2024 is just outside of the top five[10]). His 11 interceptions are tied for eighth in school history. His three interception returns for touchdowns are a career record (since tied). Onkotz made the 1969 Academic All-America team and was also selected to play in the 1970 Hula Bowl.[11] In three seasons, he helped the Lions to a 30-2-1 record and three bowl games, including two Orange Bowl wins.[2] During the two Orange Bowl seasons (1968-69), Penn State was 11–0 each year.[5] The Associated Press ranked Penn State second in the nation both years.[12][13]

In 1995, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.[5][1]

NFL career

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Onkotz was selected in the third round of the 1970 NFL draft by the New York Jets.[14] However, during a goal line stand on defense against the Los Angeles Rams in his rookie season, the Rams' fullback hit Onkotz and his leg snapped. He was in a cast for five months, with pins in his leg.[15] The severely broken leg effectively ended his professional career after just nine games played.[11][16] Onkotz was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and after a year attempted a comeback, but did not make the team. He tried another unsuccessful comeback with the Denver Broncos.[15][17]

Personal life

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After his short professional career, Onkotz attended graduate school at Penn State.[15] As an undergraduate, he had gotten a degree in biophysics.[5] Onkotz is a financial planner and affiliated with the Pennsylvania Financial Group. He lives with his wife, Diane, in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania near Penn State. He has four daughters, Dana, Gretchen, Rachel, and Carly.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Dennis Onkotz (1995) - Hall of Fame". National Football Foundation. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "At Linebacker U, Onkotz was also a punt returner - Morning Call". archive.ph. December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  3. ^ "Northampton boys basketball's Ellwood hits 1,000-point milestone". lehighvalleylive. December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  4. ^ "Northampton Area School District Athletic Hall of Fame". www.nasdschools.org. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d "Dennis Onkotz, College Football Hall of Fame". cfbhall.com.
  6. ^ "The Greatest Penn State Linebackers of All Time". Black Shoe Diaries. June 10, 2007.
  7. ^ "Penn State Football: 30 greatest players of all-time". Victory Bell Rings. September 27, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  8. ^ "Jack Ham | Pro Football Hall of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  9. ^ Pircardi, Anthony (September 11, 2015). "The origins of Penn State football's Linebacker U". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "PSU football's all-time record holders". WGAL. December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Dennis Onkotz Bio - Football - Penn State University Official Athletic Site". www.gopsusports.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
  12. ^ "1968 Final Football Polls | College Poll Archive". collegepollarchive.com. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  13. ^ "1969 Final Football Polls | College Poll Archive". collegepollarchive.com. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  14. ^ "1970 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  15. ^ a b c Iovino, Jim (September 30, 1995). "Where are they now?". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  16. ^ "Dennis Onkotz Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  17. ^ "Lehigh Valley Flashback Sept. 30: In 1971, Northampton grad Dennis Onkotz is traded from the New York Jets to the Pittsburgh Steelers". The Morning Call. September 30, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
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