| No. 56 | |||||||
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| Position | Linebacker | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | (1949-06-16)June 16, 1949 (age 76) Fremont, Ohio, U.S. | ||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| College | Ashland | ||||||
| NFL draft | 1972: 14th round, 352nd overall pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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William Lee Overmyer (born June 16, 1949) is an American former professionalfootball player who was alinebacker in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theAshland Eagles.
Overmyer played college football as adefensive end atAshland College, where he was named the school's "best defensive lineman" in 1969, 1970 and 1971.[1][2][3][4][5] In 1971 he also earned an honorable mention in the Associated Press All-America team and he was a second-team of theKodak College All-America Football Team.[6] He was inducted into Ashland's hall of fame in 2004.[5]
Overmyer was selected by thePhiladelphia Eagles in the 14th round of the1972 NFL draft with the 352nd overall pick.[1] In the preseason he competed with three others – fellow rookieWill Foster and veteransIke Kelley andBill Cody – to replaceTim Rossovich, who was holding out and was eventually traded, to be the Eagles' middle linebacker afterSteve Zabel was injured in training camp.[7] Overmyer said of the experience:
I have never played linebacker before so making the adjustments is hard. I am doing okay against the pass with out zone coverage but I'm having trouble picking up the keys...When those experienced linemen come at you a rookie is in trouble. Also, I don't get as much work as I require since we have so many linebackers here. One thing, the coaches keep talking to me so I know I have a chance...I understand that they are teaching me on defense but experience is the major difference; however, the other rookies who have played linebacker are having trouble adjusting too. I am just as well prepared as those rookies from major universities. One thing I am working hard for is making thespecialty team, which can help keep me up here...One of the scary things here is that you wake up in the morning and your roommate is not there anymore. My roomie (a rookie fromSouth Carolina University) was cut; he was gone when I woke up. I'm holding my breath...I want to get past those cuts.[7]
Because he always had to prove himself, his Eagles' teammates nicknamed him "underdog."[5] Overmyer was waived late in the preseason but was later signed to join the Eagles'taxi squad.[8][9]
He was activated for the first time in November for the Eagles' 9th game of the season against theHouston Oilers.[10][11] He then played in every game for the Eagles for the rest of the season, for a total of 6 games.[10] In the last game of the season, which proved to be his last game in theNational Football League, he was credited with akickoff return for no yards against theSt. Louis Cardinals.[10] He was cut by the Eagles during the 1973 preseason.[12]
In 1974 he signed with theHouston Texans of theWorld Football League but was not on their regular season roster.[13][14][15][5] In 1975 he signed as a free agent with theWashington Redskins but was cut during preseason.[16][5]