Xavier University Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1984
- Class:
- 1957
Steve Junker was one of the first wide receivers in Xavier history to receive national acclaim. There were more after him, but he paved the way with his 6-foot-3, 217-pound frame snagging pass after pass.
The big Musketeer target helped Xavier finish 7-3 his senior year, including a 34-14 victory over Cincinnati. He also led them to a 7-2 record the year before, which included a 37-0 victory over Cincinnati.
Junker, a member of the Legion of Honor, was selected to the All-Ohio team in his last two years at Xavier, but his big year was his final one. Junker caught 21 passes for 404 yards, including two touchdowns. One of his more memorable grabs was a 39-yard snag against Kentucky. In all, quarterback Roger Bertoia only completed 56 passes on the year, with 21 going to Junker.
The Musketeers posted two dramatic upsets of Boston College in 1954 and 1955. In 1954, XU was winless after six games and BC was unbeaten and Sugar Bowl bound. Xavier stunned Boston College 19-14 in Boston. The following year Xavier repeated history with a 19-12 victory over BC in Cincinnati.
At the end of his senior year Junker was named to The Brooklyn Tablet's All-America First Team, along with teammate Bob Konkoly. Also on that All-Catholic All-America Team was Notre Dame great Paul Hornung. Junker also received Honorable Mention All-America notice in several other publications after both his junior and senior years. Junker played in the Senior Bowl and the College All-Star Game.
The Elder High School product, a 1956 XU Co-Captain, set a couple of Musketeer receiving records that stood until the mid-1960's.
After his graduation from Xavier, the NFL's Detroit Lions selected him in the fourth round of the college draft. The big redhead also played for the Washington Redskins.
One memorable moment in Junker's pro football career came in a Lions game in 1957. Kyle Rote hit Junker with a 26-yard TD pass off a fake field goal. Detroit went on to pound the Cleveland Browns 59-14 in the NFL Championship Game.
