Ronald Bolton

PEABODY HIGH, PETERSBURG (1968)
FOOTBALL

Sheer determination was the key to the accomplishment of Ron Bolton’s childhood dream to be a professional football player. An undersized player who was initially cut by his Peabody High coach, Ron was allowed to practice with the team and dress for games. By his junior year, he was a starter at wide receiver and defensive back. After graduation, he enrolled at Norfolk State University. As a walk on defensive back he did not play as a freshman but was a starting cornerback his final three years. He was selected as an All-American defensive back by the Pittsburgh Courier, the top black college all American team of the time. The Sporting News rated him among the nation’s top defensive back prospects. Drafted by the New England Patriots in 1972, he played professional football for 11 seasons – four with the Patriots (1972-75) and seven with the Cleveland Browns (1976-82). He completed his career with 35 interceptions, including a career best seven in 1974. After 14 years as an entrepreneur, he began his coaching career as defensive backs coach at Liberty University in 1996. He has subsequently coached at Norfolk State, Delaware State and Howard University.