Black History Month: Duval’s Finest!

AL Denson

If you polled Jacksonville residents who have followed football for a number of years, and asked them who the best Wide Receiver they’ve ever seen here in Duval County, the answer may surprise you. There have been many to come through the pipeline of talent, but AL Denson by all accounts quite possibly created the pipeline!

“He was drafted by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 1964 AFL Draft and by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 1964 NFL Draft, but chose to sign with Denver”. -Wikipedia

A two time AFL All Star, Denson played at a high level at the highest level of football. He attended Florida A&M University and New Stanton here in Jacksonville. Said Jacksonville resident DeWitt Hughes III, ” AL Denson was one of the best wide receivers I heard about growing up here in Jacksonville”.  To put a modern perspective on Denson’s talent. If fantasy football would’ve been around back then AL would’ve scored 156 points in 1967. That’s more than what Calvin Johnson, A.J Green, or DeSean Jackson scored this year in fantasy football. And the game of football was considered much more of a running and ball control game back in the 60’s.

 

About the author

Andre' Ellis, Founder/ Lead Writer DuvalSports.com Florida Times Union All-City 1998,LB, Sandalwood Florida A&M Unv, BA , MBA