Ernest Leon Pough (born May 17, 1952) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for three seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants.

Ernie Pough
No. 22, 85, 82
Position:Wide receiver / Return specialist
Personal information
Born: (1952-05-17) May 17, 1952 (age 72)
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:174 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High school:New Stanton Senior (Jacksonville)
College:Texas Southern
NFL draft:1976 / round: 3 / pick: 88
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:40
Kick returns/ yards:40/ 793
Receptions/ yards:10/ 166
Rushes/ yards:5/ 41
Touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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Pough grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and attended college at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas, a historically black college which at the time competed in Division II. He was a four-time All-America track athlete as well as a running back and wide receiver on the school's football team.[1]

Football career

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Pough was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1976 NFL draft. Although he was considered undersized for the NFL, his sprinter's speed (he ran the 100 yards in 9.3 seconds) made him a threat.[1]

He played for the Steelers for two seasons before being traded along with guard Jim Clack to the New York Giants prior to the 1978 season in exchange for offensive lineman John Hicks.[2] He played one season with the Giants and one for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League before ending his football career.

References

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  1. ^ a b Heufelder, Bill (October 27, 1976). "Pough is Making Tracks". Pittsburgh Press. p. 49. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  2. ^ Emert, Rich (April 18, 1978). "Western Pa. very familiar to new Steelers". The Beaver County Times. pp. B-1. Retrieved April 2, 2010.