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Ronnie Lee South

Ronnie Lee South (born May 8, 1945) is a former American football quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). South played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks where he was a member of their 1965, 1966 and 1967 teams.

South was taken in the fifth round of the 1968 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints.^[1] On April 16, 1968, he signed his initial contract with the Saints to play as part of their 1968 season.^[2] South played with the team through their summer training camp, but was later released in August as part of the teams' final roster cuts.^[3] After the final cuts, South was signed to the Saints' practice squad.

During their November 3 game against Dallas, Saints starting quarterback Billy Kilmer injured his ankle.^[4] As such, South was elevated to the active roster to serve as backup to Karl Sweetan.^[4][5] As South was also a punter, then punter Tom McNeill was released from the team to make room for South on the active roster.^[5] In their game against Cleveland, Sweetan injured his ankle and South entered the game in the first quarter for his first series before Sweetan returned later.^[6] Sweetan was unable to complete the game, and in the fourth quarter South threw what was his only NFL touchdown pass to Jim Hester from seven-yards out in the fourth quarter.^[6]

With both Kilmer and Sweetan injured, it was speculated South would start for the Saints in their game against the PackersatMilwaukee County Stadium.^[7] Sweetan did start the game, but was taken out and replaced with South in the first quarter due to the lingering effects of his injured ankle.^[8] South finished the game only 7 of 23 passing and with an average of 23 yards for his seven punts.^[8] South finished the season as a backup. South was later cut by New Orleans on July 29, 1969.^[9]