Graham Leigh: Difference between revisions

 

Line 1: Line 1:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1975)}}

{{Short description|American football player (born 1975)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

{{Infobox biography

| embed =

| embed =

| current_team =

| current_team =

Line 52: Line 52:

* 2x First-team All-[[Western Athletic Conference football|WAC]] (1997, 1998)

* 2x First-team All-[[Western Athletic Conference football|WAC]] (1997, 1998)

}}

}}

”’Graham Leigh”’ (born May 10, 1975) is an American former [[American football|football]] [[quarterback]] who played for the [[Birmingham Thunderbolts]] of the [[XFL (2001)|XFL]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://football.about.com/library/weekly/aa040901.htm |title=Game Summaries and Results |publisher=XFL News |year=2001 |accessdate=July 31, 2012 |archive-date=July 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712143928/http://football.about.com/library/weekly/aa040901.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

”’Graham Leigh”’ (born May 10, 1975) is an American former [[American football|football]] [[quarterback]] who played for the [[Birmingham Thunderbolts]] of the [[XFL (2001)|XFL]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://football.about.com/library/weekly/aa040901.htm |title=Game Summaries and Results |publisher=XFL News |year=2001 |=July 31, 2012 |archive-date=July 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712143928/http://football.about.com/library/weekly/aa040901.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==College career==

==College career==

===Pacific===

===Pacific===

In 1994, Leigh joined [[Pacific Tigers football|Pacific]], where he redshirted the [[1994 Pacific Tigers football team|1994 season]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Pacific Football Media Guide 1994 pg 27 |url=https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/ua-football/|website=scholarlycommons.pacific.edu.com|date=August 11, 2025}}</ref> In 1995, Leigh appeared in seven games for the Tigers during their last season in the programs history. The school struggled to a 3–8 record while Leigh completed 76-of-150 passes for 958 yards with seven touchdowns to six interceptions. Leigh then transferred to [[New Mexico Lobos football|New Mexico]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Graham Leigh overview |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/graham-leigh-1.html|website=sports-reference.com|date=August 11, 2025}}</ref>

In 1994, Leigh joined [[Pacific Tigers football|Pacific]], where he redshirted the [[1994 Pacific Tigers football team|1994 season]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Pacific Football Media Guide 1994 pg 27 |url=https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/ua-football/|website=scholarlycommons.pacific.edu.com|date=August 11, 2025}}</ref> In 1995, Leigh appeared in seven games for the Tigers during their last season in the programs history. The school struggled to a 3–8 record while Leigh completed 76-of-150 passes for 958 yards with seven touchdowns to six interceptions. Leigh then transferred to [[New Mexico Lobos football|New Mexico]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Graham Leigh overview |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/graham-leigh-1.html|website=sports-reference.com|date=August 11, 2025}}</ref>

===New Mexico===

===New Mexico===

Line 105: Line 105:

===Birmingham Thunderbolts===

===Birmingham Thunderbolts===

On October 29, 2000, Leigh was selected in the 19th round (146th overall) of the [[2001 XFL draft]] by the [[Birmingham Thunderbolts]] of the [[XFL (2001)|XFL]]. Leigh began the season as the third string quarterback to [[Casey Weldon]] and [[Jay Barker]]. Due to injuries of both Weldon and Barker, Leigh made his professional debut in week eight against [[Chicago Enforcers|Chicago]]. In his debut, Leigh completed 9-of-27 passes for 102 yards and threw three interceptions. Leigh received his first professional start the following week against [[Orlando Rage|Orlando]]. He threw his first touchdown in the first quarter to wide receiver [[Quincy Jackson]] on a 9-yard pass. The Bolts and Leigh held a eight point fourth quarter lead, but ultimately fell to the Rage 29–24.<ref>{{cite web|title=Week 9 – Orlando Rage at Birmingham Bolts |url=https://www.all-xfl.com/birminghambolts/team/boxscores/week09.html|website=all-xfl.com|date=August 11, 2025}}</ref> Leigh also started the season finale against [[New York/New Jersey Hitmen|New York/New Jersey]], but failed to find the endzone in a 22–0 defeat. On the season, Leigh appeared in three games (two starts) and threw for 499 yards and one touchdown to six interceptions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Graham Leigh #13 Quarterback |url=https://www.all-xfl.com/birminghambolts/team/roster/Graham_Leigh.html|website=all-xfl.com|date=August 11, 2025}}</ref>

On October 29, 2000, Leigh was selected in the 19th round (146th overall) of the [[2001 XFL draft]] by the [[Birmingham Thunderbolts]] of the [[XFL (2001)|XFL]]. Leigh began the season as the third string quarterback to [[Casey Weldon]] and [[Jay Barker]]. Due to injuries of both Weldon and Barker, Leigh made his professional debut in week eight against [[Chicago Enforcers|Chicago]]. In his debut, Leigh completed 9-of-27 passes for 102 yards and threw three interceptions. Leigh received his first professional start the following week against [[Orlando Rage|Orlando]]. He threw his first touchdown in the first quarter to wide receiver [[Quincy Jackson]] on a 9-yard pass. The Bolts and Leigh held eightpoint fourth quarter lead, but ultimately fell to the Rage 29–24.<ref>{{cite web|title=Week 9 – Orlando Rage at Birmingham Bolts |url=https://www.all-xfl.com/birminghambolts/team/boxscores/week09.html|website=all-xfl.com|date=August 11, 2025}}</ref> Leigh also started the season finale against [[New York/New Jersey Hitmen|New York/New Jersey]], but failed to find the endzone in a 22–0 defeat. On the season, Leigh appeared in three games (two starts) and threw for 499 yards and one touchdown to six interceptions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Graham Leigh #13 Quarterback |url=https://www.all-xfl.com/birminghambolts/team/roster/Graham_Leigh.html|website=all-xfl.com|date=August 11, 2025}}</ref>

==XFL statistics==

==XFL statistics==

Line 145: Line 145:

[[Category:Players of American football from Mesa, Arizona]]

[[Category:Players of American football from Mesa, Arizona]]

[[Category:Players of American football from Omaha, Nebraska]]

[[Category:Players of American football from Omaha, Nebraska]]

{{Quarterback-1970s-stub}}

American football player (born 1975)

Graham Leigh (born May 10, 1975) is an American former football quarterback who played for the Birmingham Thunderbolts of the XFL.^[1]

In 1994, Leigh joined Pacific, where he redshirted the 1994 season.^[2] In 1995, Leigh appeared in seven games for the Tigers during their last season in the programs history. The school struggled to a 3–8 record while Leigh completed 76-of-150 passes for 958 yards with seven touchdowns to six interceptions. Leigh then transferred to New Mexico.^[3]

Leigh was eligible to play during 1996 season because the Tigers program was eliminated. Leigh spent the season as the backup quarterback to Donald Sellers and saw limited playing time. In 1997, Leigh led the Lobos to a 9–3 record and an appearance in the WAC Championship Game. He set the program record with 24 touchdown passes and a passer efficiency rating of 153.6. For his play, he was named Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year. He also led the Lobos to its first bowl appearance since the 1961 season. In the 1997 Insight.com Bowl, Leigh threw and ran for a touchdown as the Lobos were defeated by Arizona 20–14.^[4]

In 1998, Leigh and the Lobos started off 2–0, but would drop nine of its final 10 games to finish the season 3–9. Leigh led the WAC with passes attempted (376), touchdowns thrown (18) and average passing yards per game (217.3).^[5]

Season	Team	Games			Passing								Rushing
		GP	GS	Record	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Y/A	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds	Avg	TD
1994	Pacific	Redshirted
1995	Pacific	7	?	?−?	76	150	50.7	958	6.4	7	6	111.7	41	97	2.4	1
1996	New Mexico	11	0	—	3	5	60.0	53	10.6	0	2	69.0	3	42	14.0	0
1997	New Mexico	12	12	9−3	166	276	60.1	2,318	8.4	24	8	153.6	135	528	3.9	8
1998	New Mexico	12	12	3−9	198	376	52.7	2,608	6.9	18	17	117.7	111	296	2.7	3
Career		42	?	?−?	443	807	54.9	5,937	7.4	49	33	128.6	290	963	3.3	12
Bowl games		1	1	0–1	12	32	37.5	150	4.7	1	4	62.2	17	79	4.6	1

Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002.^[6]

In 1999, Leigh was signed by the Arizona Cardinals. He was released before ever appearing in a game.^[7]

In 2000, Leigh was signed by the Rhein Fire of the NFL Europe (NFLE). He was released before ever playing in a game.^[8]

On October 29, 2000, Leigh was selected in the 19th round (146th overall) of the 2001 XFL draft by the Birmingham Thunderbolts of the XFL. Leigh began the season as the third string quarterback to Casey Weldon and Jay Barker. Due to injuries of both Weldon and Barker, Leigh made his professional debut in week eight against Chicago. In his debut, Leigh completed 9-of-27 passes for 102 yards and threw three interceptions. Leigh received his first professional start the following week against Orlando. He threw his first touchdown in the first quarter to wide receiver Quincy Jackson on a 9-yard pass. The Bolts and Leigh held an eight-point fourth quarter lead, but ultimately fell to the Rage 29–24.^[9] Leigh also started the season finale against New York/New Jersey, but failed to find the endzone in a 22–0 defeat. On the season, Leigh appeared in three games (two starts) and threw for 499 yards and one touchdown to six interceptions.^[10]

Year	Team	Games			Passing								Rushing
		GP	GS	Record	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Y/A	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds	Avg	TD
2001	BIR	3	2	0–2	44	97	45.4	499	5.1	1	6	39.0	2	14	7.0	0
Career		3	2	0–2	44	97	45.4	499	5.1	1	6	39.0	2	14	7.0	0