Rufus French

In this article we are going to explore Rufus French and its impact on different aspects of everyday life. Rufus French has been the subject of interest and debate for a long time, and its influence extends to multiple areas, from politics to popular culture. We'll dive into the different aspects that make Rufus French a relevant and interesting topic, and analyze how it has evolved over time. From its origin to its current relevance, we will dive into a complete analysis of Rufus French and its importance in our society.

Rufus French
No. 9
Position:Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1978-03-15) March 15, 1978 (age 47)
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:256 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school:Amory (Amory, Mississippi)
College:Ole Miss
Undrafted:1999
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards

Joel Rufus French (born March 15, 1978) is an American former college football player who was a tight end for the Ole Miss Rebels. He was a two-time All-American, earning unanimous honors in 1998.[1] He was also a member of the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL).

Early life

Joel Rufus French played football and baseball at Amory High School in Amory, Mississippi.[2][3] He was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 30th round of the 1996 MLB June Amateur Draft.[4][5][6]

College career

French chose to play football for the Ole Miss Rebels. He was a unanimous All-American in 1998. French was a first-team All-SEC selection in 1997 and 1998.[7][8][9] He was a finalist for the Conerly Trophy in 1998. French finished his college career with 84 receptions, 814 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.[10] He chose to forgo his senior season and enter the 1999 NFL draft.[11][12]

Professional career

French signed with the Seattle Seahawks after going undrafted in the 1999 NFL draft.[13] He missed the 2000 season while recovering from a knee injury. He was released by the Seahawks on August 5, 2001.[14]

French was signed by the Green Bay Packers on March 26, 2002.[14] He was released by the Packers on July 23, 2002.[14]

In April 2024, French was charged for his alleged involvement in an over $70 million fraud case.[15][3] French, who managed several durable medical equipment companies, and his co-conspirators used illegally obtained doctors orders to bill Medicare for medically unneccesary medical equipment.[15]

References

  1. ^ "2014 NCAA Football Records: Consensus All-America Selections" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2014. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 26, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  2. ^ "Rufus French". olemiss.rivals.com. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Ford, Craig (April 15, 2024). "Former Ole Miss football player accused of defrauding Medicare". WTVA. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  4. ^ "Rufus French". baseball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  5. ^ "RUFUS FRENCH". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  6. ^ Elkins, Ashley (May 2, 1996). "Amory's Rufus French may be trying to do it like Bo. Or more a". djournal.com. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  7. ^ Hinton, Matt (April 28, 2011). "Tight End: Rufus French, Ole Miss". yahoo.com. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  8. ^ Newberry, Paul (December 8, 1998). "No surprises on All-SEC team". thecabin.net. Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  9. ^ "French Named Pre-Season Football All-America". olemisssports.com. July 9, 1998. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  10. ^ "Rufus French". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  11. ^ "Weekend update". thecabin.net. January 4, 1999. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  12. ^ "Rebs' French will bypass senior season". thecabin.net. Associated Press. January 3, 1999. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  13. ^ Allen, Percy (June 16, 1999). "Seahawk Notebook -- Undrafted French Has A Lot To Prove". community.seattletimes.nwsource.com. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  14. ^ a b c "Rufus French". kffl.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  15. ^ a b "Man Charged for Over $70M Medicare Fraud Scheme". United States Department of Justice. April 15, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2025.