Former Nova star exits NFL with big plans

The exuberant P.A. announcer at Western High football field would scream "Awwwwwwtry Den-SON!" whenever Nova's lightning-quick tailback turned the corner, because he and everyone in the bleachers knew no one would catch him.Nova has its own football field now about a punt away from Dolphins headquarters, where Autry Denson resided for two seasons (1999-2000). - NFL Football -
He's still turning corners at warp speed, having made the transformation from the NFL to successful businessman the same day he retired from the Lions in November 2002.
"I interviewed with them, and the next day I was working with Home Bank Mortgage Corporation," said Denson, a Lauderhill native living in Coconut Creek. "From my second year in the league I was doing mortgages in the offseason."The Dolphins have been taking hits recently for stockpiling players with arrest records, but how many current and former Dolphins not only avoid trouble but give back tenfold to the community?Dan Marino, Nick Buoniconti, Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas, Shawn Wooden, Jay Fiedler, Sam Madison, Nat Moore, John Offerdahl, Bryan Cox and Twan Russell are all givers, not takers.It's not likely that Autry Denson would ever be included in the real-life cast of The Longest Yard. - NFL Football -
"From the third grade on ... my mother [Janice Franklin] prepared me for life after football," said Denson, 28, husband and a recent father for the second time. "I always knew the NFL was a dream, but it would also give me a head start for whatever I would do for the rest of my life."Denson, who went on to become Notre Dame's all-time leading rusher after high school, was drafted by the Bucs in the seventh round of the 1999 draft. - NFL Football -
A training camp casualty, the hometown Dolphins signed him.Forever fighting size stereotypes, the 5-foot-10 rookie never really got a shot to strut his stuff, losing carries to underachieving higher draft picks such as J.J. Johnson, Cecil Collins and Karim Abdul-Jabbar. We all know where Cecil The Diesel ended up -- derailed and in jail.In his lone start in a Dolphins uniform in the 1999 season finale against the Redskins, Denson gained 80 yards and caught three passes for 26 yards.But in 2000, aging star Thurman Thomas was brought in and Lamar Smith enjoyed a breakout season, while Denson was relegated to kick-return specialist, where he ranked third in the AFC with a 24.8-yard average. - NFL Football -
"I had to always overcome obstacles of 'he's too small or too slow.' Whatever, I broke records at Nova and Notre Dame and it would've been the same in the NFL," Denson said. "The window of opportunity is so much smaller in the NFL. You may outplay them on the field, but you can't outplay money."Instead of hanging on, Denson hopped off, deciding to use his degree in management information systems. - NFL Football -
He also gave motivational speeches and career-day talks at Broward schools.Earlier this month, Denson was named president and CEO of Prime Time High School Sports, a subsidiary of American-Way Business Development Corporation."Young athletes want to speak with someone they identify with and who truly understands their situation and their dreams," said Donnie Platten, president of American-Way. "Autry is someone who can communicate from experience with these young athletes, their parents and with college coaches."Among Denson's duties will be targeting high school athletes (and non-athletes) and help market them to college recruiters for potential scholarships."There's free money out there being wasted," Denson said. "Not everyone can play D-I ball. I offer one-stop shopping, but the bottom line is I just want to help kids."In Denson's spare time he's a youth football coach in Coconut Creek. - NFL Football -
He'll soon be joining forces with Russell -- a St. Thomas Aquinas graduate who played linebacker in the NFL for seven years, including three seasons with the Dolphins (2000-02).Russell has been tackling literacy programs for children through his Russell Life Skills and Reading Foundation."We're opening our fourth center, in Hollywood next year, and are hoping to open No. 5 in Lauderhill and call it the Denson Reading Room," said Russell, also in the mortgage business. "Whatever A.D. touches he's successful at. It's his passion and not about ego, but about helping these kids. - NFL Football -
"Instead of touchdowns, Awwwwwwwtry Den-SON is touching lives.Ticconi departsAfter nearly a 10-year relationship, Dolphins director of operations Rhett Ticconi resigned to tackle new ventures.

Harvey Fialkov Sun-Sentinel.