John "Fuzzy" Filliez (1985) - Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame

John "Fuzzy" Filliez

Induction:
1985
Class:
1976

Almost from Day 1 on the Marshall campus, John “Fuzzy” Filliez (pronounced fil-EHZ) was catching passes at a rate that few in college football history had ever managed. A West Virginia All-State wide receiver for Magnolia High School in New Martinsville, where he also won all-state honors in basketball and baseball, Filliez passed up on other college offers to become a part of rebuilding the Thundering Herd for Coach Jack Lengyel. Nicknamed “Fuzzy” because of his bushy red hair, as a freshman in 1973 Filliez caught a pass in Game 3 of the season against Xavier and then made at least one reception in every game for the rest of his career, setting an NCAA record streak of 42 consecutive games with at least one catch, breaking the previous mark held by Nebraska Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers. By the time his career was complete, Filliez had rewritten all of the Marshall career pass catching records with 168 catches, 1,954 yards and 14 touchdowns, and set single-season marks with 54 catches, 657 yards and 7 touchdowns as a junior in 1975. As a senior, Filliez served as a team captain for Coach Frank Elwood as Marshall logged a 5-4 mark, the most wins the school managed between 1966 and 1984. At the conclusion of his time at Marshall, Filliez was seventh in NCAA history in career receptions. He was named All-Independent All-America in 1975 and was the 1976 West Virginia Amateur Athlete of the Year. Filliez was inducted into the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference (high school) Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985.