Horse Tracks: Rick Upchurch to represent the Denver Broncos at the NFL Draft

Denver Broncos Ring of Fame wide receiver/returner Rick Upchurch will announce the team’s second-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft live from Roosevelt University’s Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on Friday, May 1.

This will mark the fifth year that NFL legends from among the league’s 32 NFL franchises will take the stage to announce second-round selections.

In addition to announcing the draft pick, Upchurch will take part in pre-draft festivities by meeting with and joining other legends in signing autographs and participating in interviews.

Upchurch, who was inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame in 2014, spent his entire nine-year NFL career (1975-83) with the club, making four Pro Bowls (1976, ’78-79, ’82) and five Associated Press All-Pro teams (1976-79, ’82) as a returner. He was named a first-team 1970s NFL All-Decade choice by the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee in addition to earning second-team 1980s NFL All-Decade honors as a kick returner.

His career totals include 267 receptions for 4,369 yards (16.4 Avg.) with 24 touchdowns, 49 rushes for 349 yards (7.1 Avg.) with three scores, 248 punt returns for 3,008 yards (12.1 Avg.) with eight touchdowns as well as 95 kickoff returns for 2,355 yards (24.8 Avg.).

Upchurch’s eight career punt return scores tied Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Jack Christiansen for the most in NFL history at the time of his retirement and currently rank first in franchise annals.

Selected by the Broncos in the fourth round (95th overall) of the 1975 NFL Draft from the University of Minnesota, Upchurch was a 2003 inductee into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. He was born on May 20, 1952, in Toledo, Ohio.

Have a Mock Draft:

Andrus Peat at 28 would be a steal. I don't think Jarrett will be there at 59, but also would love it if he was there. Dismukes and Morse are perfect fits for a zone blocking scheme, and I'm a big fan of Jones. Boyle gives the Broncos a good blocking tight end. The rest is mostly depth.

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