1977 Profile: Ray Rhodes

Wide Receiver-Cornerback
No. 82
Tulsa
"Rhodes was the 10th round draft pick of the Giants and proved to be a valuable utility man with versatility. The swift youngster was a reserve wide receiver, catching nine passes for 138 yards and a 15.3 average, and also led the club in punt returns with 10 for 124 yards, including a 40-yarder which set up a touchdown against Kansas City. Ray also had a kickoff return for 27 yards and blocked a punt against the Eagles on special team duty in 1975.
That year, Ray won a starting job at wide receiver in competition against vets Bob Grim and Don Herrmann and proved to be as dangerous as any wide receiver in the division. All told, he had 26 catches for 537 yards, and his 20.7 yards-per-catch average was the best in the entire NFL. His six touchdown catches led the Giants in that department.
Ray specializes in circus catches, making any number of near-impossible receptions, and he also becomes a threat after he catches the ball, with wicked moves and good speed and running ability.
Last season, playing 13 games, Ray suffered minor injuries which hampered him and ended the year with 16 catches for 305 yards and a touchdown, a 63-yarder against the Redskins in the season opener.
He began his collegiate career at TCU as a running back, showing 786 yards on 176 carries for a 4.9 average, then transferred to Tulsa where he was a wide receiver and a teammate of Drew Pearson of the Cowboys. Rhodes had 43 catches in two seasons for five touchdowns and averaged 26.1 on kickoff returns. He also earned two letters in track.
Raymond Rhodes was born in Mexia, Texas and played football, basketball and ran track at Mexia High School. He now lives in Dallas."

-1977 New York Giants Media Guide

1977 Profile: Clyde Powers

Strong Safety
No. 29
Oklahoma
"The No. 5 draft choice of the Giants in 1974, Powers won himself a spot on the club with fine work during the preseason. He played in all 14 regular season games as a strong safety and special team man and showed versatility and potential. Clyde started at strong safety in seven games and proved to be a fine hitter.
In 1975, he moved into the starting job at strong safety and had himself a big season. Clyde was among the league leaders in tackles, covered extremely well and had three interceptions, including a big one in the win over Buffalo on Monday Night. Last year, he again came up with a solid season's work, playing all 14 games, getting a pass interception and leading the secondary with 108 tackles.
A three-year letterman at Oklahoma, Powers was an All-Big Eight selection in his senior year and was picked to play in both the Senior Bowl and the Blue-Grey postseason games. He had eight interceptions in his collegiate career, including two touchdown returns against Kansas and Clemson.
Clyde Powers was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi. He grew up in Lawton, Oklahoma, where his father was stationed in the Army, and was a three-sport standout at Lawton High School. He lists fishing and bowling as his favorite hobbies."

-1977 New York Giants Media Guide