James McAlister explained

James McAlister
Position:Running back
Number:43, 37
Birth Date:5 September 1951
Birth Place:Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Death Place:Corona, California, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lbs:240
Draftyear:1974
Draftround:6
Draftpick:148
High School:Pasadena (CA) Blair
College:UCLA
Pastteams:
Highlights:
Statlabel1:Rushing yards
Statvalue1:677
Statlabel2:Average
Statvalue2:3.6
Statlabel3:Touchdowns
Statvalue3:5
Pfr:M/McAlJa00

James Edward McAlister (September 5, 1951 – March 31, 2018) was an American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1970s. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round of the 1974 NFL draft. He played college football at UCLA, where he was also a star on the track and field team. He had the best long jump in the world in 1973 set at home in Westwood.

In 1974, the World Football League gained a large measure of recognition the day before the NFL draft when the Southern California Sun announced the signing of three potential NFL first-round selections, including McAlister. McAlister was one of a trio whose agent, 22-year-old Michael L Trope, decided not to wait for competitive bidding by the NFL. "Their value was at a peak, 30% to 35% higher than it would have been later, because of the publicity the WFL could get by our signing," said Trope, who approximated the total package at close to $1 million for his three clients.[1]

McAlister also played for the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots. He was on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1971.[2]

McAlister died on March 31, 2018, in Corona, California.

Notes and References

  1. Joe Marshall, "Full Of Sound And Fury," Sports Illustrated, February 11, 1974.
  2. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/8229/index.htm James McAlister Sports Illustrated cover