The No. 7 player on our list was one of the area's all-time breakaway threats and it carried him all the way to the NFL - where he got little chance to show off his skills.
Latin was the first transcendent back of the Bob Pellant era at East High School. Latin finished fourth in the Big Eight in rushing as a junior with 797 yards on 116 carries. His senior year, he rushed for 1,325 yards on 190 carries, winning the rushing title by nearly 500 yards.
East won the Big Eight both of Latin's seasons on the varsity and went 14-4 overall. The 1970 team featured quarterback Mitch Anderson as well. Anderson would go on to Northwestern where he would lead the Big Ten in passing. Unfortunately, Latin's E-Rabs didn't have a IHSA playoffs to show where they stood statewide.
Latin had lots of college options. Both Illinois and Wisconsin wanted him. Instead, he chose to stay closer to home to play for Northern Illinois, which had just moved to the highest level of Division I football in 1969.
Latin had an up-and-down career at NIU. He spent his freshman year working on raising his grades. He moved directly into the starting lineup in 1972, but he spent much of the next two seasons blocking for Mark Kellar. Kellar would gain 1,316 yards as a junior in 1972 and then lead the NCAA with 1,719 yards in 1973. Kellar would go on to play one year in the WFL and three in the NFL.
As a secondary option, Latin gained 617 yards as a sophomore and 884 yards as a junior. His junior year included a 221-yard game against Marshall on just 18 carries.
Latin was positioned to take over as lead back in 1974. He had 20 carries for 106 yards in the season-opener against McNeese State. The next week, against Long Beach State, he injured his shoulder on his sixth carry. It essentially ended his college career.
The shoulder never fully recovered. Latin played in just four games and finished the season with just 150 yards. He didn't even suit up for his final college game.
Instead of showcasing his skills, Latin was damaged goods going into the NFL draft. The St. Louis Cardinals grabbed him with their last pick, the 11th round.
Latin beat the odds by making the Cardinals. Unfortunately, St. Louis already was strong at running back. The team had Terry Metcalf, who was coming off a Pro Bowl season in 1974 and would make it again in 1976 and 1977.
In Latin's three years with the Cardinals, he started just three games and got 116 carries in 35 games overall. His biggest moment came at the end of his rookie season. The Cardinals had clinched a playoff birth and rested Metcalf. Latin had 112 yards rushing in the last game, including a 57-yard touchdown run.
In 1978, Latin moved from the Cardinals to the Los Angeles Rams early in the season, but he still didn't see much action. That was his last year in the NFL. He ended up with 140 carries in the NFL for 560 yards rushing with another 152 yards receiving.
Latin returned to Rockford and put in a couple more seasons with the minor league Rockford Rams before hanging up the cleats for good.
| No. 7 - Jerry Latin, East | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Level | Team | Accomplishments | Points |
| 1969 | High School | East | First Team All-Conference | 2 |
| Conference Back of the Year | 1 | |||
| Winning Team | 1 | |||
| Conference Champion | 1 | |||
| League Leader (yards/carry) | 1 | |||
| 1970 | High School | East | First Team All-Conference | 2 |
| Conference Back of Year | 1 | |||
| Winning Team | 1 | |||
| Conference Champion | 1 | |||
| League Leader (Rushing) | 1 | |||
| All-State | 1 | |||
| Sunkist All-American | 1 | |||
| Conference MVP | 1 | |||
| 1972 | College | Northern Illinois | Letter Winner on NCAA Div. 1A | 3.5 |
| Starter | 1 | |||
| Winning Team | 1 | |||
| 1973 | College | Northern Illinois | Letter Winner on NCAA Div. 1A | 3.5 |
| Starter | 1 | |||
| Winning Team | 1 | |||
| 1974 | College | Northern Illinois | Letter Winner on NCAA Div. 1A | 3.5 |
| Starter | 1 | |||
| 1975 | NFL | St. Louis | 11th Round Draft Pick | 1 |
| Played in NFL | 3 | |||
| 1976 | NFL | St. Louis | Played in NFL | 3 |
| 1977 | NFL | St. Louis | Played in NFL | 3 |
| Starter | 1 | |||
| 1978 | NFL | Los Angeles | Played in NFL | 3 |
| Totals | 43 | |||
NIC-10's 100 Greatest Football Players
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