Lee Nalley

Lee "Long Gone" Nalley (March 15, 1925 – September 14, 2003) was a college football player for the Vanderbilt Commodores football team from 1947 to 1949. A prominent halfback and safety man, he broke a NCAA record with 791 punt return yards in 1948.[1][2][3] Nalley broke the record in the game against Maryland.[4] He also had the record for return yardage in a career.[5] He was chosen as the return man for an Associated Press Southeast Area All-Time football team 1920–1969 era.[6]

Lee Nalley

Vanderbilt Commodores – No. 25
Position	Halfback, safety
Career history
College	Vanderbilt (1947–1949)
High school	Central
Personal information
Born:	(1925-03-15)March 15, 1925 Nashville, Tennessee
Died:	September 14, 2003(2003-09-14) (aged 78) Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight	161 lb (73 kg)
Career highlights and awards
NCAA punt return leader (1948, 1949) AP Southeast All-Time team (1920–1969 era)

Nalley graduated from Nashville's Central High School in 1943. He then spent two years in the Navy due to World War II before entering Vanderbilt University in 1946.[7] Due to his small size, he had to make the football team as a walk-on. "I ran the 100 in 9.9 seconds, which was pretty fair for that time, and I had a good change of pace" recalled Nalley.[7]

See also

• List of NCAA major college yearly punt and kickoff return leaders

References

1. "Vanderbilt Back Ready To Crack Punt Runback Mark". Ludington Daily News. November 12, 1948.
2. "Vanderbilt Ace May Set Punt Return Record". Ellensburg Daily Record. November 11, 1948.
3. "Nally Honored by Vanderbilt". St. Petersburg Times. May 19, 1949.
4. "Vanderbilt Romps Over Maryland". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. November 21, 1948.
5. "Vanderbilt Commodores Football, Basketball, and Recruiting Front Page". scout.com.
6. "All-Time Football Team Lists Greats Of Past, Present". Gadsden Times. July 27, 1969.
7. "Nalley perfected punt returns, shattered records". vucommodores.com.