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J.R. WILBURN
Wide Receiver
1963 / 1965
Portsmouth, VA

Biography
Until his senior season Wilburn was a very unlikely candidate to excel in college football – he didn’t start as a junior. He did have a good senior season, and USC coach Marvin Bass brought him south to Columbia while recruiting his Craddock teammate, quarterback Larry Weldon. Wilburn did not play as a sophomore in 1962 and so retained his soph classification for the 1963 season. He was named “Cock of the Walk”, the team award for player of the game for his play against Tulane that season, a game in which he caught a touchdown pass from Dan Reeves on offense and had a key sack on defense. Wilburn also had a big game in a losing cause against Wake Forest, scoring on passes of 27 and 28 yards in a 1-point loss. The offense struggled in 1964, though he did have 82 yards receiving against Georgia. Wilburn earned All-ACC honors for his play in 1965, which featured strong performances against national champion Alabama (89 yards and a touchdown), LSU (5 catches for 70 yards) and Wake Forest (9 for 105). That year the Virginia Beach Sports Club named him Outstanding College Player from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Wilburn played in the Blue-Gray All-Star Game after graduation. Wilburn had a successful pro career after being drafted by the Steelers in the NFL and the Bills in the AFL. He chose to sign on with Pittsburgh and played five seasons with them, catching 123 passes with his best season being 1967 when he caught 51 passes for 767 yards and five scores. Wilburn went on to a long career with Alcoa after his retirement from the NFL. He was elected to both the USC Sports Hall of Fame and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

Biography

Until his senior season Wilburn was a very unlikely candidate to excel in college football – he didn’t start as a junior. He did have a good senior season, and USC coach Marvin Bass brought him south to Columbia while recruiting his Craddock teammate, quarterback Larry Weldon. Wilburn did not play as a sophomore in 1962 and so retained his soph classification for the 1963 season. He was named “Cock of the Walk”, the team award for player of the game for his play against Tulane that season, a game in which he caught a touchdown pass from Dan Reeves on offense and had a key sack on defense. Wilburn also had a big game in a losing cause against Wake Forest, scoring on passes of 27 and 28 yards in a 1-point loss. The offense struggled in 1964, though he did have 82 yards receiving against Georgia. Wilburn earned All-ACC honors for his play in 1965, which featured strong performances against national champion Alabama (89 yards and a touchdown), LSU (5 catches for 70 yards) and Wake Forest (9 for 105). That year the Virginia Beach Sports Club named him Outstanding College Player from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Wilburn played in the Blue-Gray All-Star Game after graduation.

Wilburn had a successful pro career after being drafted by the Steelers in the NFL and the Bills in the AFL. He chose to sign on with Pittsburgh and played five seasons with them, catching 123 passes with his best season being 1967 when he caught 51 passes for 767 yards and five scores. Wilburn went on to a long career with Alcoa after his retirement from the NFL. He was elected to both the USC Sports Hall of Fame and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

Prior Schools
School	Location
Craddock	Portsmouth, VA

Roster Listings
Year	Roster	Num	Pos	Ht	Wt	Yr	Gms	GS
1962	Game Programs	81	E	6-2	182	So	0	0
1963	Fill 1963	81	E	6-2	190	So	0	0
1964	North Carolina 1964	81	E	6-2	190	Jr	7	7
1965	1965 Media Guide	81	SE	6-2	195	Sr	4	4
9999	Gamecock Archives All-Time By #	81	WR				0	0

Depth Chart Appearances
Description	Position	Rank
1963 Media Guide	Left End	3rd String
Spring 1964	Left End	Starter
1965 Media Guide	Split End	Starter
10/23/65 vs. LSU	Split End	Starter

Honors
Award	Year
1965	All-ACC
1965	Blue-Gray Game

Receiving
Year	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Com%	1D	CDT	CD%	BP%
1963	11	153	13.9	3
1964	21	236	11.2	0
1965	38	562	14.8	1
Tot	70	951	13.6	4

Receiving by QB
Year	QB	Rec	Throws	Com%	Yds	1D	TD	Success Rate
1963
	Dan Reeves	7	10	70.0	117	5	3	70.00
	Jack McCathern	1	3	33.3	11	0	0	0.00
1964
	Dan Reeves	16	37	43.2	151	9	0	37.84
1965
	Mike Fair	29	60	48.3	462	24	0	46.67
	Jim Rogers	1	1	100.0	18	1	0	100.00

Success Rate from Official Play-By-Play Stats
Year	Pass Plays	Pass SR	Pass SPP	Rush Plays	Rush SR	Rush SPP	Recv Plays	Recv SR	Recv SPP	Recv FC%	Tot SPP	SPP/Play
1963				0			13	53.8	23.16	13	23.16	1.78
1964				0			37	37.8	6.33	13	6.33	0.17
1965				0			61	47.5	91.8	3	91.8	1.5

Games Started
Date	Opponent	Position
1964-09-26	Maryland	Left End
1964-10-03	Georgia	Left End
1964-10-10	Nebraska	Left End
1964-10-17	Florida	Left End
1964-10-24	North Carolina	Left End
1964-11-07	Citadel	Left End
1964-11-21	Clemson	Left End
1965-09-18	Citadel	Left End
1965-10-02	N.C. State	Split End
1965-10-23	LSU	Split End
1965-11-20	Clemson	Split End

Single Game Receiving Stats
Season	Game Date	Opponent	Rec	Yds	TD
1963	1963-10-05	Georgia	1	11	0
	1963-11-02	Tulane	1	8	1
	1963-11-09	Memphis	1	23	0
	1963-11-16	Wake Forest	2	55	2
	1963-11-28	Clemson	3	31	0
1964	1964-09-19	Duke	3
	1964-09-26	Maryland	2	18	0
	1964-10-03	Georgia	6	82	0
	1964-10-10	Nebraska	4	28	0
	1964-10-17	Florida	2	5	0
	1964-10-31	N.C. State	1	5	0
	1964-11-07	Citadel	1	11	0
	1964-11-21	Clemson	2	55	0
1965	1965-09-25	Duke	3	38	0
	1965-10-02	N.C. State	2	23	0
	1965-10-09	Tennessee	7	86	0
	1965-10-16	Wake Forest	9	105	0
	1965-10-23	LSU	5	70	0
	1965-10-30	Maryland	4	69	0
	1965-11-13	Alabama	5	99	1
	1965-11-20	Clemson	3	72	0

Scoring Plays
Date	Opponent	Qtr	Time	USC	Opp	Play
1963-11-02	Tulane	2		7	20	J.R. Wilburn, 8-yd pass from Dan Reeves (Jack McCathern kick)
1963-11-16	Wake Forest	2		13	7	J.R. Wilburn, 28-yd pass from Dan Reeves (kick failed)
1963-11-16	Wake Forest	2		19	7	J.R. Wilburn, 27-yd pass from Dan Reeves (pass failed)
1965-11-13	Alabama	3		7	14	J.R. Wilburn, 7-yd pass from Mike Fair (Jimmy Poole kick)

Receptions
Year	Date	Opponent	Down	To Go	Side	Ydline	Play
1963	1963-10-05	Georgia	3	14		50	J.R. Wilburn, 11-yd pass from Jack McCathern
1963	1963-11-02	Tulane	4	3	TUL	8	J.R. Wilburn, 8-yd pass from Dan Reeves, touchdown
1963	1963-11-09	Memphis	1	10	MEM	43	J.R. Wilburn, 23-yd pass from Dan Reeves
1963	1963-11-16	Wake Forest	1	10	WFU	28	J.R. Wilburn, 28-yd pass from Dan Reeves, touchdown
1963	1963-11-16	Wake Forest	1	10	WFU	27	J.R. Wilburn, 27-yd pass from Dan Reeves, touchdown
1963	1963-11-28	Clemson	2	10	USC	48	J.R. Wilburn, 15-yd pass from Dan Reeves
1963	1963-11-28	Clemson	1	10	CLM	42	J.R. Wilburn, 9-yd pass from Dan Reeves
1963	1963-11-28	Clemson	2	8	CLM	27	J.R. Wilburn, 7-yd pass from Dan Reeves
1964	1964-09-26	Maryland	2	9	USC	44	J.R. Wilburn, 8-yd pass from Dan Reeves
1964	1964-09-26	Maryland	2	10	USC	33	J.R. Wilburn, 9-yd pass from Dan Reeves
1964	1964-10-03	Georgia	1	10	UGA	38	J.R. Wilburn, 15-yd pass from Dan Reeves
1964	1964-10-03	Georgia	2	11	UGA	24	J.R. Wilburn, 8-yd pass from Dan Reeves
1964	1964-10-03	Georgia	2	10	UGA	23	J.R. Wilburn, 19-yd pass from Dan Reeves
1964	1964-10-03	Georgia	3	6	USC	24	J.R. Wilburn, 10-yd pass from Dan Reeves
1964	1964-10-03	Georgia	2	10	USC	20	J.R. Wilburn, 13-yd pass from Dan Reeves
1964	1964-10-03	Georgia	1	10	USC	49	J.R. Wilburn, 16-yd pass from Dan Reeves
1964	1964-10-10	Nebraska	2	10	NEB	48	J.R. Wilburn, 7-yd pass from Dan Reeves
1964	1964-10-10	Nebraska	1	10	USC	34	J.R. Wilburn, 6-yd pass from Dan Reeves
1964	1964-10-10	Nebraska	2	4	USC	40	J.R. Wilburn, 5-yd pass from Dan Reeves
1964	1964-10-10	Nebraska	3	8	USC	29	J.R. Wilburn, 10-yd pass from Dan Reeves
1964	1964-10-17	Florida	3	7	FLA	47	J.R. Wilburn, 9-yd pass from Dan Reeves (Russell)
1964	1964-10-17	Florida	3	9	FLA	15	J.R. Wilburn loss of 5 on pass from Dan Reeves (Card, Richbourg)
1964	1964-11-07	Citadel	1	10	USC	45	J.R. Wilburn, 11-yd pass from Dan Reeves
1964	1964-11-21	Clemson	3	11	CLM	39	J.R. Wilburn, 10-yd pass from Dan Reeves (J.Bell, Pat Crain)
1965	1965-09-25	Duke	3	21	DUK	49	J.R. Wilburn, 9-yd pass from Mike Fair
1965	1965-09-25	Duke	3	6	DUK	39	J.R. Wilburn, 15-yd pass from Mike Fair
1965	1965-09-25	Duke	3	5	USC	41	J.R. Wilburn, 14-yd pass from Mike Fair
1965	1965-10-02	N.C. State	1	10	USC	47	J.R. Wilburn, 17-yd pass from Mike Fair - SC clipping
1965	1965-10-02	N.C. State	2	8	NCS	23	J.R. Wilburn, 12-yd pass from Mike Fair
1965	1965-10-09	Tennessee	4	1	UTN	34	J.R. Wilburn, 10-yd pass from Mike Fair (Petrella)
1965	1965-10-09	Tennessee	2	4	USC	46	J.R. Wilburn, 13-yd pass from Mike Fair (Petrella)
1965	1965-10-09	Tennessee	1	10	UTN	41	J.R. Wilburn, 8-yd pass from Mike Fair (Smith)
1965	1965-10-09	Tennessee	2	7	USC	45	J.R. Wilburn, 7-yd pass from Mike Fair (Fisher)
1965	1965-10-09	Tennessee	1	10	UTN	48	J.R. Wilburn, 15-yd pass from Mike Fair (Frank Emanuel)
1965	1965-10-09	Tennessee	3	6	UTN	32	J.R. Wilburn, 18-yd pass from Jim Rogers (Cameron, Stancell)
1965	1965-10-09	Tennessee	1	10	UTN	40	J.R. Wilburn, 15-yd pass from Mike Fair (Fisher)
1965	1965-10-16	Wake Forest	2	9	WFU	47	J.R. Wilburn, 16-yd pass from Mike Fair
1965	1965-10-23	LSU	3	6	USC	22	J.R. Wilburn, 14-yd pass from Mike Fair
1965	1965-10-23	LSU	1	10	USC	17	J.R. Wilburn, 13-yd pass from Mike Fair
1965	1965-10-23	LSU	3	10	USC	39	J.R. Wilburn, 14-yd pass from Mike Fair
1965	1965-10-23	LSU	1	10	LSU	47	J.R. Wilburn, 11-yd pass from Mike Fair
1965	1965-10-23	LSU	1	5	LSU	25	J.R. Wilburn, 18-yd pass from Mike Fair
1965	1965-10-30	Maryland	2	10	USC	19	J.R. Wilburn, 16-yd pass from Mike Fair
1965	1965-10-30	Maryland	3	10		50	J.R. Wilburn, 16-yd pass from Mike Fair
1965	1965-10-30	Maryland	2	1	UMD	46	J.R. Wilburn, 13-yd pass from Mike Fair
1965	1965-10-30	Maryland	4	10	UMD	39	J.R. Wilburn, 24-yd pass from Mike Fair
1965	1965-11-13	Alabama	2	9	USC	36	J.R. Wilburn, 10-yd pass from Mike Fair (Bobby Johns)
1965	1965-11-13	Alabama	1	10	USC	44	J.R. Wilburn, 49-yd pass from Mike Fair (Bobby Johns)
1965	1965-11-13	Alabama	2	7	ALA	7	J.R. Wilburn, 7-yd pass from Mike Fair, touchdown
1965	1965-11-13	Alabama	1	10	ALA	43	J.R. Wilburn, 20-yd pass from Mike Fair (Mosley)
1965	1965-11-13	Alabama	1	10	USC	41	J.R. Wilburn, 13-yd pass from Mike Fair (Sherrill)
1965	1965-11-20	Clemson	3	12	USC	25	J.R. Wilburn, 50-yd pass from Mike Fair
1965	1965-11-20	Clemson	1	10	CLM	21	J.R. Wilburn, 7-yd pass from Mike Fair
1965	1965-11-20	Clemson	3	9	USC	46	J.R. Wilburn, 16-yd pass from Mike Fair

Defense - Sacks
Year	Date	Opponent	Down	To Go	Side	Ydline	Play
1963	1963-11-02	Tulane	1	10	USC	18	Burguieres sacked for loss of 7 (J.R. Wilburn)

Defensive Plays
Year	Date	Opponent	Down	To Go	Side	Ydline	Play
1964	1964-11-21	Clemson	2	6	CLM	22	Pat Crain rush for no gain (J.R. Wilburn)
1964	1964-11-21	Clemson	3	2	USC	27	Baldwin rush for 3 (Larry Gill, J.R. Wilburn)
1964	1964-11-21	Clemson	3	6	USC	20	Thomas Ray rush for 3 (Jon Linder, J.R. Wilburn)