Dave Roller
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| Date of birth | October 28, 1949 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Dayton, Tennessee |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Defensive tackle |
| College | Kentucky |
| NFL draft | 1971 / Round: 13 / Pick: 330 |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1971 | New York Giants |
| 1974–1975 | Southern California (WFL) |
| 1975–1978 | Green Bay Packers |
| 1979–1980 | Minnesota Vikings |
| Honors | 2x All-WFL (1974, 1975) |
| Career stats | |
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David Euell Roller (born October 28, 1949 in Dayton, Tennessee) is a former American football defensive lineman. While at Rhea Central High School in Dayton, David earned every honor including Coaches Magazine's First Team All American and had 28 individual tackles in the first TSSAA All Star game in Nashville, TN, coached by Red Etter.
Roller played college football for the University of Kentucky Wildcats. David was voted national defensive lineman of the week against Kansas State his senior year. During his performance David Roller had seventeen unassisted tackles and six assists, leaving the top-10 ranked Kansas State offense with negative 93 yards rushing. David also had sixs sacks on Kansas State Quarterback Lynn Dickey during this game. Named SEC Player of the Week vs Missouri 1968,TENNESSEE 1969 AND Kansas STATE 1970. He was named to the first team All SEC in his junior and senior year and 2nd team his sophomore year and first team on the 1967 freshman team as a Wildcat. In 2005, Mr. Roller was inducted into the University of Kentucky's inaugural Hall of Fame class along with George Blanda, Babe Parielli, Bear Bryant, Rick Pitino and many other UK athletes. David was named 2nd team All-American, by various papers including, N.E.A, A.P, and U.P.I. while playing for the University of Kentucky. David also won the "Unsung Hero" award, in 1969 and MV underclassman. Roller played in the Hulabowl, in the North- South Shrine game in Miami, and the All- American bowl in Lubbock Texas in 1971. David was Co-MVP along with Wilbur Hackett his Senior year. David was voted to the University of Kentucky's 100th Anniversary Team along with Bob Gain, Lou Michaels and many others in 1990 by various Kentucky newspapers. Roller later played professional football for 10 seasons, seven years in the National Football League, 2 years in the Canadian Football League, and 18 months with the World Football League, until the league folded. Roller played for the New York Giants (1971–1972), Green Bay Packers (1975–1978) and Minnesota Vikings (1979–1980). Nominated for lineman of the week against New Orleans having sacked Archie Manning 4 times and had 6 tackles and 3 hurries. Roller is one of only two players ever carried off the field at Lambeau field in December 1977 against the Lions. He and Gary Knafelc in 1955 were carried off the field by the fans! Ask Russ Bolinger why I was carried off the field! Roller won Humor Commercial of the Year for Wisconsin Broadcasters Award. Roller played for the [Hamilton Tiger-Cats]] of the Canadian Football League and for the Southern California Sun of the World Football League where he led the league in quarterback sacks in 1974 with 18 sacks and was twice voted all pro 1st team. Roller signed with the Arizona Wranglers of the United States Football League (USFL) in 1982 after retiring with the Minnesota Vikings in 1981. While living in California, Mr. Roller appeared in the movie "TWO MINUTE WARNING" with Charleston Heston doing the close up football shots. For coaches and players comments about Mr. Roller look for WFL Anthony Davis USC and Jack Pardee, coach Tom Fears and Earl Leggett, Pat Haden Quarterback and NFL commentator comments about David with WFL Teams in 1974 and 1975. David had his own fan clubs in California and Green Bay. Shuffled over Quarterback sacks even in the 70"s. In March 1999 David was inducted into the Chattanooga's Sports Hall of Fame along with John Hannah of the New England Patriots and others by sportswriter Sam Woolwine of the Chattanooga News Free Press and other contributors. Mr Roller was inducted into the Inaugural Velocity Sports Performance Hall of Fame Legends with Reggie White Ted Turner and others. David is most proud of his sons, Justin, PHD, in clean energy and Biomolecular engineering, Dr. Brandon Roller, Dentist and played football at ETSU and David Blake Roller, graduated recently in chemistry. David is married to the former Marion Morgan of Dayton Tennessee and she loves to show and breed Cairn Terriers. David has 4 grandchildren: Lily, Tate, Anya and Hudson Blake Roller, and three daughters-in-law Dawn, Osha and Kim.
