It’s the one and only — in more ways than one — Reggie Langhorne!

And he’s the focus of Part 17 of this Roy Hobbs series of Browns players who came out of nowhere to do big things.

Langhorne was a complete unknown when he was taken in the seventh round of the 1985 NFL Draft out of tiny Elizabeth City (N.C.) State. He ended up making the team, but it appeared it was only because the Browns were in desperate need of young wide receivers after the retirements of all the pass-catchers from the Kardiac Kids era, especially Reggie Rucker, Dave Logan and Ricky Feacher.

He didn’t make much of an impression in his rookie season, catching just one pass for 12 yards.

At that point, he seemed a goner. The Browns would find somebody else in 1986 to take his place. It wouldn’t be hard, right?

But it never happened, as Langhorne stuck around and teamed with Webster Slaughter, their top draft pick in 1986, and Brian Brennan, a 1984 draft choice, to give the Browns one of the best sets of wideouts in the NFL through the last half of the 1980s. Quarterback Bernie Kosar hooked up with them time and time again through to them early and often, making the passing attack, and the offense, one of the best in the league as the team made it to the playoffs five straight years, including three trips to the AFC Championship Game.

Langhorne left the Browns following the 1991 season because of a standoff with new head coach Bill Belichick. He went to the Indianapolis Colts and had two more great years before retiring.

By the time he was done, he had amassed 411 receptions, including 261 with the Browns, one of the best totals in team history.

He was one of the toughest receivers, the Browns have ever had. He was fearless going across the middle to make catches. And he got up after every single one of them, because he promised his dad he would never lie down on the football field.

NEXT: Shooting stars.

Steve King