When Curtis Deloatch, Sr., walked onto the campus of North Carolina A&T State University in two days before classes started in 1999, he did not have any classes, a place to stay and he certainly was not a college football player. By the time he left in 2003, he was an Aggie football legend with a promising NFL career ahead of him.
Born and raised in Murfreesboro, N.C., by his grandparents Sterling & Lucy Deloatch, Deloatch's grandfather Sterlin drove him to campus one day and discovered his grandson did not have any classes or a room. He drove his grandson to the bank, got the money, got him registered. Days later, an Aggie assistant coach remembered him from his days as a high school football player and asked him to be a walk-on for the Aggies football team. After a year of sitting and waiting for his time to play, that opportunity finally came when the punt returner in front of him on the depth chart was injured.
An assistant coach inserted Deloatch into the game even to the surprise of head coach Bill Hayes. To Hayes' delight, however, Deloatch returned his first collegiate punt for a touchdown that was unfortunately called back because of a penalty. Undaunted, Deloatch returned the next punt far enough for him to get the job permanently and a hall of famer was born. Â
Not only did he earn many awards and honors during his four-year career, he also earned a B.S., degree while becoming a member of Omega Psi Phi. In 2000, he won rookie of the year while earning a full scholarship. In 2001, he was a first-team consensus All-American, first-team All-MEAC, Aggie Club Award winner, Peach State Classic MVP with a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown and an interception return 61 yards for a touchdown.
He was also named defensive back of the year with four interceptions while returning two INTs for touchdowns. His 26.5 yards per punt return still stands as an NCAA FCS single-season record. That same year he set an NCAA FCS and school record with five punt returns for touchdowns in a season.
He's ranked 8th all-time in NCAA FCS history in career return yardage. In 2002, he earned second-team All-MEAC honors and in 2003 he led the Aggies to their second MEAC title in five years. During the '03 season, he blocked a field goal and returned an interception against Florida A&M to help the Aggies stay undefeated in the conference. N.C. A&T played Hampton for the MEAC title and Deloatch contributed to the win with two interceptions and four pass deflections. He finished his senior year as defensive back of the year with four INTs and one pick-6. He earned his second Aggie Club Award and was named first-team all-conference. Deloatch went on to play in the NFL for five years for the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers.
Deloatch, 36, left his mark on NFL history while a member of the Saints in 2006 during a Monday Night game against the Atlanta Falcons. The Saints were returning to the Louisiana Superdome after the famous facility was closed because of the effects of Hurricane Katrina. In an emotionally charged environment, Deloatch recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for the team's first score since the tragic storm.
Deloatch lives in Charlotte N.C., with his wife Danielle and their four children, Torry, Aliah, Sagaia and C.J.
