Alex Bravo
Alexander Bravo (July 27, 1930 – September 1, 2020) is a former American football player. He played defensive back with the Los Angeles Rams and Oakland Raiders, as well as the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League.[1]
| No. 21, 47 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive back |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | July 27, 1930 Tucson, Arizona |
| Died: | September 1, 2020 (aged 90) |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Santa Barbara (CA) |
| College: | Cal Poly |
| NFL Draft: | 1954 / Round: 9 / Pick: 106 |
| Career history | |
| |
| Career NFL statistics | |
| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |
Early life
Bravo graduated from Santa Barbara High School, where he was an all-state halfback.[2]
College career
He played college football at California Polytechnic State University and is a member of their athletic hall of fame (inducted 1988).[3] For Cal Poly, Bravo collected all-conference honors in 1951, 1952 and 1953, along the way earning the nickname "Boom Boom" for his explosive running style.[4]
| Season | School | Rush. Att. | Rush. Yds. | Avg. | LG | Overall Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 (So.) | CP | 131 | 850 | 6.5 | 77 | 48 |
| 1952 (Jr.) | CP | 132 | 702 | 5.3 | 85 | 42 |
| 1953 (Sr.) | CP | 111 | 686 | 6.2 | n/a | 61 |
| Totals | 374 | 2,238 | 6.0 | 85 | 151 |
Professional career
After being selected 106th overall by the L.A. Rams in the 1954 NFL Draft, Bravo would later go on to sign with the then-AFL's Oakland Raiders.[5] Bravo was converted primarily to defensive back at the pro level.
| Year | Team | GP | GS | INT | INT Ret. Yds. | FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | LAR | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1958 | LAR | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1960 | OAK | 14 | 14 | 4 | 64 | 0 |
| 1961 | OAK | 14 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 46 | 33 | 6 | 64 | 1 |
Bravo continued his involvement in sports, working as a football official and track and field starter into his late 80s.
References
- "Alex Bravo". justsportsstats.com. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
- "Opening Colt Grid Practice Draws 67 Men". San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune. September 19, 1950. p. 5.
- "Cal Poly". gopoly.com. Retrieved 2015-09-29.
- "Bravo Claims Three Three-Year Mustang Records". San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune. November 23, 1953. p. 11.
- "Bravo Joins Raiders". El Mustang. July 1, 1960. p. 4. Retrieved October 2, 2022.