Skip to Main Content

Henry Ellard

Class of 2023 Inductee
Herbert Hoover(Fresno)
Player

Accomplishments

Ellard attended Hoover High School in Fresno, California. He won the CIF California State Championships in the triple jump in 1979. 

For college, Ellard stayed in his hometown and attended Fresno State University from 1979 to 1982 where he set an NCAA record with 1,510 receiving yards in his final season. In Fresno State history, Ellard is tied for third in touchdown catches (25), fifth in receiving yards (2,947) and 11th in receptions (138). [3]

  • 1979: 9 catches for 136 yards with 3 TD
  • 1980: 28 catches for 493 yards with 3 TD.
  • 1981: 39 catches for 808 yards with 4 TD.
  • 1982: 61 catches for 1510 yards with 15 TD.

Ellard still holds the NCAA record for yards per catch in a season, 24.4, set while playing for Fresno State in 1982. 

 
Ellard was drafted in the second round (32nd overall) of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. He retired after the 1998 season with 814 receptions for 13,777 yards, which placed him third on the all-time list, and 65 touchdowns. He also gained 1,527 yards returning punts, 364 yard returning kickoffs, 50 rushing yards, and 4 punts returned for a touchdown. Overall, he gained 15,718 total yards.
 
In the 1991 cult classic Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) video game Tecmo Super Bowl, Ellard is the only player besides Jerry Rice to have a Receptions Score of 81, the highest rating for all receivers in the game set during the 1990–91 NFL season. 

Images

Quick Links
Donate