'12 Rick Upchurch
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- Title:
- Running Back
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- Year:
- 2012
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- Position:
- Running Back
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- Team:
- Football
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- IHCC Years:
- 1970-72
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- Career Highlights:
- NJCAA All-American • 2x First-Team All-Conference • 28 career TD's • University of Minnesota • Drafted by Denver Broncos • 5x NFL All-Pro
Rick Upchurch was a standout performer for the Falcons football team during the 1970 and '71 seasons. He was named first–team all–conference after both his freshman and sophomore seasons and was the first athlete in school history to be named a first–team All–American in football. As a freshman, he scored 15 TDs, ran for 1171 yards on 158 carries and was 5th in the conference in total offense, gaining 1529 yards. The next year he had 1221 yards of total offense, 13 touchdowns and was 3rd in the league in rushing yards, starring for the college's first-ever conference championship team. That season, he scored four TDs against both Waldorf and Marshalltown. After graduating from Centerville Community College, Rick attended the University of Minnesota where he was a second–team all–conference pick in the Big Ten. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 1974 and played nine seasons with the Broncos and still holds several team and league records. He was a five–time All–Pro selection and played in four Pro Bowls. Rick was selected to the NFL's All–Decade team in the 1970s and 1980s.