| No. 44, 83 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | December 5, 1959 Galveston, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 170 lb (77 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Galveston (TX) Ball | ||||||||||
| College: | Rice | ||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1983 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Career Arena statistics | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR · ArenaFan.com | |||||||||||
Vincent Eric Courville (born December 5, 1959) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He was also a member of the Houston Gamblers in the United States Football League (USFL) and the New York Knights in the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at Rice University.
Courville attended Ball High School, where he practiced football and track.[1] He enrolled at Ranger College.[2] After one year he transferred to Texas Southern University, where he practiced football and track. As a sophomore, he was voted the Southwest Athletic Conference Track Man of the Year.
He transferred to Rice University after his sophomore season. As a junior, he was a reserve wide receiver, making 11 receptions for 218 yards (third on the team), a 19.8-yard average (third on the team) and 5 touchdowns (second on the team). He also was the Southwest Conference 100 metres champion. As a senior, he had 6 receptions for 103 yards (fifth on the team), a 17.2-yard average (tied for third on the team) and 2 touchdowns.
In 1983, he signed with the Montreal Concordes of the Canadian Football League. He was released before the start of the season.[3]
Courville was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Raiders after the 1983 NFL Draft because he had elite speed. He was viewed more as an athlete than a football player and had trouble catching the football. He was waived before the start of the season on August 29.[4]
On October 24, 1983, he signed with the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League. The team used the run and shoot offense and had Jim Kelly as its starting quarterback.
In 1984, he was a reserve wide receiver, appearing in 8 games, while registering 4 receptions for 83 yards (ninth on the tam), a 20.8-yard average (led the team), one touchdown and 9 kickoffs for 171 yards.[1] In 1985, he appeared in 18 games with one start, making 25 receptions for 473 yards (seventh on the team), a 18.9-yard average (led the team) and 4 touchdowns (fifth on the team).
On July 8, 1986, he was signed by the New Jersey Generals, but he would never play for the team after the league folded.[5]
On December 20, 1986, he was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys.[6] He was released on August 31, 1987.
After the NFLPA strike was declared on the third week of the 1987 season, those contests were canceled (reducing the 16 game season to 15) and the NFL decided that the games would be played with replacement players. He was signed to be a part of the Dallas replacement team that was given the mock name "Rhinestone Cowboys" by the media.[7] He played in 2 games as a backup wide receiver and did not record any statistic. He was released on October 20.[8]
In 1988, he played for the New York Knights of the Arena Football League and earned second-team All-Arena honors.[9] He finished with 28 receptions for 313 yards, 3 touchdowns and 53 tackles.
On August 1, 1988, he was signed by the Buffalo Bills.[10] He was released on August 12.[11]
On May 4, 1989, he was signed by the Houston Oilers. He was released on September 4.[12]
On May 15, 1991, he signed with the New York/New Jersey Knights of the World League of American Football, where he was converted into a cornerback.[13] He was released on April 17, 1992.[14]
On May 19, 1992, he signed with the Ohio Glory of the World League of American Football.[15] He was released before the start of the season.