Cory Schlesinger Cory Schlesinger ( born June 23 , 1972 in Columbus , Nebraska ) is a former American football fullback of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL Draft . He played college football at Nebraska . Early years . Schlesinger was a two - time all - state selection at linebacker at Columbus High School in Columbus , Nebraska , leading the team in tackles as a junior and senior . He also played fullback as a senior in 1990 , rushing for 1 , 514 yards and 23 touchdown s ( including nine 100 - yard games ) . He was named the Nebraska Defensive Player of the Year as a prep senior and played with a group of Nebraska football all - stars in the Down Under Bowl in Sydney , Australia following his senior campaign . He also won the 189 - pound wrestling state championship twice during his prep career . College career . Schlesinger was a two - year starter for the Nebraska Cornhuskers . As a junior , he was the 1993 Husker Co - Lifter - of - the - Year with linebacker Donta Jones . During that season he finished as the team ’ s fifth - leading rusher with 48 carries for 193 yards and one touchdown . He earned All - Big Eight Conference honorable mention honors in 1994 in a coaches poll and a Phillips 66 Academic All - Big Eight pick the same year with a 3 . 44 grade point average in industrial technology . Schlesinger scored two fourth - quarter touchdowns in the 1995 Orange Bowl in a 24 – 17 win over the Miami Hurricanes as a senior to secure Nebraska ' s first national title under then - head coach Tom Osborne . He would finish second on the team in rushing in 1994 with 456 yards and 4 TD including an impressive 7 . 2 YPC . Professional career . Detroit Lions . 1995 . Schlesinger was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round ( 192nd overall ) of the 1995 NFL Draft . He started two of the team ’ s first three games during his rookie season at fullback blocking for Barry Sanders , but playing time in backfield diminished soon thereafter when offense began employing three - receiver sets on almost every play from scrimmage . He finished second on the team with 15 special teams tackles . 1996 . Schlesinger was primarily used on special teams in 1996 , leading club in with 13 special teams stops on the year . He started one game at fullback — at the Chicago Bears on November 24 — but did not record a carry or reception . Also had a 89 yard touchdown for the season opener record long . 1997 . Splitting time at fullback with Tommy Vardell in 1997 , Schlesinger saw more action there than in previous years with Lions with the team moving to a predominantly two - back set . He again played role as one of the team ’ s most valuable special teams members , finishing second on team with 27 tackles . He caught career - long 33 - yard pass at the Green Bay Packers on November 2 on fourth - and - one on a misdirection route , advancing Lions to the Packers ’ one - yard line with a touchdown occurring on the next play . He also made several blocks against the Minnesota Vikings on November 16 , helping spring Vardell for three one - yard touchdown runs and a 41 - yard run . Schlesinger scored his first career touchdown ( one yard ) at the Minnesota Vikings on December 14 on play - action pass on goal line . 1998 . Schlesinger was the backup fullback to Tommy Vardell at most times during 1998 , but saw significant action in the backfield . He served as one of squad ’ s most productive special teams players for fourth consecutive season , with his 18 tackles ranking fifth on the Lions . On offense , he was part of team ’ s “ jumbo ” package at goal - line and in short - yardage with he and Vardell sharing the backfield . His daughter Natalie Rae Schlesinger was born . 1999 . In 1999 , Schlesinger became the Lions ' full - time starting fullback . In the season opener at the Seattle Seahawks , he set career highs in rushes ( 10 ) and rushing yards ( 50 ) . His third career touchdown reception ( three yards ) came on a play - action pass on fourth - and - one against the St . Louis Rams on November 7 . He also finished third on the team with 15 special teams tackles . Schlesinger was named as a member of the 1999 All - Madden team and filmed a sketch for the show in a Lincoln , Nebraska grocery store where he repeatedly crashed into other shoppers with his cart . 2000 . Schlesinger played in all 16 games for fifth time in six NFL seasons and second year as Lions ’ starting fullback . His 15 special teams tackles tied for fifth on squad as well . His daughter Leah Kate Schlesinger was born . 2001 . In 2001 , the Lions named Marty Mornhinweg head coach and the team moved away from a power rushing attack to the west coast offense . The fullback , in addition to rushing and blocking responsibilities , can also be more involved in the passing game . Schlesinger finished the 2001 season with single - season career highs in rushing attempts ( 47 ) , rushing yards ( 154 ) , rushing touchdowns ( three ) , receptions ( 60 ) and receiving yards ( 466 ) . He reeled in career highs with five receptions for 37 yards at the Cleveland Browns on September 23 . The first rushing touchdown of his career came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 11 , as he also posted then - career highs in receptions ( five ) and receiving yards ( 54 ) . Against the Green Bay Packers on November 22 , he led the team with career - high six receptions ( 41 yards ) , along with five rushes for 39 yards , including a career - long 26 - yard run off a fake punt . He set career - highs with 11 receptions for 67 yards against the Chicago Bears on December 30 . On the year Schlesinger rushed for 16 first downs — the only season of his career he has accumulated a double - digit total in the category . For his efforts during the season , he was voted the Chuck Hughes Most Improved Player by teammates and was also voted onto Howie Long ' s Tough Guy team . He was also named to the 2001 All - Pro Team by Sports Illustrated ’ s Paul Zimmerman ( ‘ Dr . Z ’ ) and to the College and Pro Football Newsweekly 2001 All - Pro Second Team squad . 2002 . In 2002 Schlesinger helped pave the way for running back James Stewart , who ran for a career - high 172 rushing yards against the Chicago Bears on October 20 . He finished the year with 139 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns along with 35 receptions for 263 yards . He was an alternate in the 2002 Pro Bowl to starter Mike Alstott . Schlesinger was the Detroit Lions recipient of the 2002 Ed Block Courage Award . 2003 . In 2003 , Schlesinger was voted by his teammates as the Bobby Layne Offensive MVP Award winner and as the Mike Utley Spirit Award winner . He was named an alternate to the 2004 Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season . Schlesinger played his best all - around game of the season against the Oakland Raiders on November 2 , highlighted by a 33 - yard touchdown reception from Joey Harrington — the longest touchdown catch of his career . He led the team with four catches for 53 yards , opened lanes for the Lions ’ second 100 - yard rushing effort of the season and made a key block on Reggie Swinton ’ s 61 - yard kickoff return . He was an alternate in the 2003 Pro Bowl to starter Mike Alstott . 2004 . Schlesinger was named as an alternate to the 2005 Pro Bowl for the third - straight season . He finished the season with a career - high three receiving touchdowns . He had a key 30 - yard reception on the Lions winning touchdown drive against the Chicago Bears on September 12 which put the Lions on the Bears ’ 4 - yard line . During Schlesinger ' s 150th NFL game at the Minnesota Vikings on November 21 , he helped running back Kevin Jones to his first 100 - yard game . He cleared the path for Jones to rush for 196 yards against the Arizona Cardinals on December 5 and 156 yards at the Green Bay Packers on December 12 . On December 26 against the Chicago Bears , Schlesinger cleared the path for Kevin Jones to record his fourth 100 - yard game of the season and become the third rookie in Lions history to surpass the 1 , 000 - yard rushing mark . Schlesinger missed three games due to a hamstring injury during the season . He was a 2004 Pro Bowl alternate to starter Fred Beasley . 2005 . Schlesinger missed the first portion of the 2005 season after suffering a fractured fibula to left leg in preseason opener at New York Jets on August 12 . He made his season debut at the Cleveland Browns on October 23 , appearing on special teams and recording two receptions for 10 yards . His lone touchdown of the season came at the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 1 , 2006 — a one - yard pass from quarterback Joey Harrington . 2006 . In 2006 , Schlesinger played in 14 games with four starts to record eight catches for 36 yards ( 4 . 5 avg ) . He made key blocks on special teams , including one to break open kick returner Eddie Drummond for a season - high 65 - yard gain at the St . Louis Rams on October 1 . He was inactive with a hamstring injury at the New York Jets on October 22 and against the Atlanta Falcons on November 5 . He returned to the lineup against the San Francisco 49ers on November 12 to play in his 174th career game , which moved him into a tie for seventh with placekicker Eddie Murray ( 1980 – 1991 ) on the team ’ s all - time games played list . 2007 . The arrival of offensive coordinator Mike Martz prior to the 2006 season inevitably spelled the end for Schlesinger ' s tenure in Detroit . With the team adopting Martz ' s wide open offensive philosophy , the Lions showed little interest in retaining Schlesinger as an unrestricted free agent during the 2007 off - season . Miami Dolphins . Schlesinger signed with the Miami Dolphins on March 11 , 2007 in anticipation he would become the lead blocker for running back Ronnie Brown . However , he was released at the end of training camp , losing out to rookie sixth - round draft pick Reagan Mauia . Personal . He and his wife , Karen , have two daughters . Schlesinger is currently a computer - aided design and drafting teacher at Allen Park High School in Allen Park , Michigan .