37 Facts About Butch Woolfolk

Butch Woolfolk played college football for the Michigan Wolverines before playing in the NFL for the New York Giants, Houston Oilers and Detroit Lions.

Butch Woolfolk led Michigan in rushing three straight years and set the school record with 3,850 rushing yards while playing for the Wolverines from 1978 to 1981.

Butch Woolfolk was selected in 1981 as the Most Valuable Player of both the Rose Bowl played January 1,1981, and the Bluebonnet Bowl played December 31,1981, as well as the Wolverines' team MVP for the season.

Butch Woolfolk was named an All-American in 1980 and won nine Big Ten track and field championships both as an individual and relay race team member.

Butch Woolfolk continues to hold the Michigan outdoor 200-meter record.

Butch Woolfolk was a member of relay teams that hold numerous U-M and Ferry Field all-time records.

Butch Woolfolk was fifth in the NFL in receptions in 1985.

Butch Woolfolk moved with his family to Westfield, New Jersey, where he was a multi-sport star at Westfield High School.

Butch Woolfolk excelled in track and field, winning the State All-Group and International Prep Invitational 100 meter and 200 meter races.

Butch Woolfolk ran the fastest boy's high school times in the nation in 1978.

Butch Woolfolk played college football at the University of Michigan where he led the Wolverines in rushing three straight years, 1979,1980, and 1981.

Butch Woolfolk began the 1981 season with five consecutive 100-yard games, including a 253-yard effort.

Butch Woolfolk is going to be our all-time leading ground gainer.

Butch Woolfolk was named the Most Valuable Player in both of Michigan's two bowl game appearances in 1981.

Butch Woolfolk noted at the time Schembechler is a "tough coach", and it was "not easy at all" playing for him.

Butch Woolfolk competed in the 200 meter event in the 1980 Olympic Trials.

Bruce and Butch Woolfolk are members of the Michigan team sprint medley record holding team.

Butch Woolfolk played three years in the NFL for the New York Giants, two years with the Houston Oilers, and two years with the Detroit Lions.

Butch Woolfolk told the AP in 1982 of receiving offers of representation from some 50 agents while he was still in college.

Butch Woolfolk noted that he was offered under-the-table payments by agents while he was still in school, as well as cars, and even a job for his stepfather, William Johnson, a Newark dockworker.

Butch Woolfolk turned down those offers and signed with Jerry Argovitz.

Butch Woolfolk was drafted by the Giants in the first round of the 1982 NFL draft.

In 1982, Butch Woolfolk was named the NFC's Offensive Rookie of the Year, after appearing in all nine games of the strike-shortened NFL season, in which he rushed for 439 yards, caught 23 passes for 224 yards, and scored four touchdowns.

In 1984, Butch Woolfolk was relegated to back-up status as Joe Morris took over the starting job at tailback midway through the season.

The 1984 Giants made the playoffs, but Butch Woolfolk did not touch the ball.

Butch Woolfolk rushed for 392 yards and had 1,206 yards from scrimmage.

Butch Woolfolk played three more seasons in the NFL with the Oilers and Lions from 1986 to 1988 but rushed for fewer than 100 yards in each of those years.

The Oilers drafted Alonzo Highsmith with the third selection overall in the 1987 NFL draft after trading up in the draft because their top three running backs Rozier, Ray Wallace and Butch Woolfolk had finished the season on injured reserve.

At Houston, Butch Woolfolk was reunited with former Michigan teammate Stan Edwards.

Butch Woolfolk was released by the Oilers at the beginning of training camp in 1987 and signed with the Lions.

Butch Woolfolk appeared in only three games for the Lions in 1988 and was limited to four yards rushing, four yards receiving and 99 yards on four kick returns.

Butch Woolfolk injured his knee in the season's third game, was out for the season, and did not make it back into an NFL lineup after the injury.

Butch Woolfolk worked for over 20 years in various real estate ventures.

In 1992, as co-owner of New Choice Builders, Butch Woolfolk began building affordable single-family housing in Houston's revitalized communities.

Butch Woolfolk procured the largest HUD grant given at that time by Fort Bend County for affordable housing assistance.

In June 2007, Forward Edge, Inc announced that Butch Woolfolk had joined the company as its new business developer.

Butch Woolfolk stated at the time that Woolfolk would help the company's development and implementation of steroid testing for Texas high school athletes.