Ennis Haywood: Difference between revisions

'''Ennis Haywood''' (December 5, 1979 – May 11, 2003) was aan [[NationalAmerican Football Leaguefootball]] [[running back]] in the [[National Football League]] for the [[Dallas Cowboys]]. He played [[college football]] at [[Iowa State University]].

Haywood attended [[David W. Carter High School|Dallas Carter High School]]. As a senior, he had to overcome an injury to collect 800 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns and 85 tackles on defense. He received third-team All-area honors.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2001/10/18/its-ennis-as-in-menace-isu-back-chews-up-yards-but-must-swallow-his-pride/62126703007/ | title=It's Ennis, as in menace ISU back chews up yards, but must swallow his pride | date=October 18, 2001}}</ref>

Haywood accepted a football scholarship from [[Iowa State University]]. As a true freshman, he was the backup running back behind [[Darren Davis (Canadian football)|Darren Davis]]. He had 30 carries for 178 yards (5.9-yard avg.) and 2 touchdowns.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://cyclones.com/news/1999/9/2/885478.aspx | title=Cyclones Claim Victory in Opener | date=September 2, 1999}}</ref>

As a sophomore, he remained the backup running back behind Davis, collecting 55 carries for 278 yards (5.1-yard avg.) and 3 touchdowns. He rushed for 178 yards and one touchdown in the season opener against [[Indiana State University]], after replacing an injured Davis.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1999/09/04/cyclones-victory-is-hollow/62229874007/ | title=Cyclones' victory is hollow | date=September 4, 1999}}</ref>

As a junior, he was named the starter at running back after Davis graduated, sharing the backfield with future NFL quarterback [[Sage Rosenfels]]. He registered 229 carries for 1,237 yards (led the [[Big 12 Conference]]), a 5.4-yard average, 8 touchdowns and 25 receptions for 211 yards.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.espn.com/ncf/preview01/s/iowastate.html | title=Iowa State aims for back-to-back bowl bids | date=August 12, 2001}}</ref> He rushed for 241 yards and 2 touchdowns against [[Baylor University]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://cyclones.com/news/2000/9/30/885288.aspx | title=Cyclones Pound Baylor, 31-17 | date=September 30, 2000}}</ref> He contributed to the team having a 9-3 record and posting the school's first bowl win.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/29/sports/colleges-football-nehlen-s-last-game-a-victorious-one.html | title=COLLEGES: FOOTBALL; Nehlen's Last Game A Victorious One | date=December 29, 2000}}</ref>

As a senior, he shared the backfield with future NFL quarterback [[Seneca Wallace]]. He registered 258 carries for 1,169 yards, a 4.5-yard average, 14 touchdowns and 20 receptions for 138 yards. He led the [[Big 12 Conference]] in rushing and was ranked 10th nationally with a 123.7 rushing yards-per-game average, became the seventh Iowa State running back to reach 1,000 yards in at least 2 seasons, while contributing to the school having back to back bowl appearances.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://cyclones.com/news/2001/11/28/882080?path=general | title=Iowa State's Ennis Haywood to Play in Three All-Star Games | date=November 28, 2001}}</ref> including an Insight.com Bowl victory over Pittsburgh.

He finished his college career with 2,862 yards (fifth in school history), 27 rushing touchdowns (sixth in school history), 3,468 all-purpose yards (fourth in school history) and a 5.0 yards per carry average (second in school history). He only lost one fumble and Iowa State had a 12-0 record when Haywood rushed for 100 yards.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://cyclones.com/news/2001/11/23/882077.aspx | title=Ennis Haywood Named to All-Big 12 First Team | date=November 23, 2001}}</ref>

Haywood was signed as an [[undrafted free agent]] by the [[Dallas Cowboys]] after the [[2001 NFL Draft]]. He led the team in rushing during the pre-season with 31 carries for 120 yards.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/news/2003/0516/1555096.html | title=Haywood had unique style, smile and love for football | date=May 16, 2003}}</ref> He was waived on September 1.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/02/sports/transactions-680419.html | title=Transactions | newspaper=The New York Times | date=September 2, 2002}}</ref> He was signed to the [[practice squad]] on September 3.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/04/sports/transactions-709603.html | title=Transactions | newspaper=The New York Times | date=September 3, 2002}}</ref>

Haywood was rushed to the hospital on May 10, 2003, after he began vomiting in his sleep and ceased breathing.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/13/sports/pro-football-cause-of-death-unknown-for-cowboys-haywood.html|title=PRO FOOTBALL; Cause of Death Unknown for Cowboys' Haywood|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 13, 2003|last1=Caldwell|first1=Dave}}</ref> On May 11, he was taken off life support at his family's request. It was later found that a mixture of prescription medications (for Haywood's [[asthma]]) and alcohol played a part in his death.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/article_2b607b08-1a98-5b44-824a-21b0bf33bf83.html|title=Haywood cause of death due to drugs and alcohol, asthma contributed}}</ref> It was later found that a mixture of prescription medications (for Haywood's [[asthma]]) and alcohol played a part in his death.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/02/sports/plus-pro-football-death-of-cowboy-is-ruled-an-accident.html|title=PLUS: PRO FOOTBALL; Death of Cowboy Is Ruled an Accident|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 2, 2003}}</ref>