Antrel Rolle

My blog this week is on Antrel Rolle. Antrel attended South Dade High School in Homestead, Florida. Antrel started playing football in grade school because he thought it was fun, and he got to be with his friends. But when High school came he started to get a love for the game, and he set out to become number one, Antrel got his first varsity time as a junior, he was the starting corneback. He finished his junior season with three picks and 85 tackles. AS a returing starter he knew what he had to do to become the best. He finished his seaon with 90 tackles, three picks, ans two touchdowns,

    As a top high school prospect, Antrel decided to play at the University of Miami. Rolle was one of the four freshmen who lettered. Antrel had a very good freshmen season, shutting down some top recevires, such as Larry Fitzgerald, and Calvin Johnson.

   As a sophmore Rolle earned All-Big East first-team honors. Rolle totaled a career-high 66 tackles with two sacks, six tackles for a loss, seven pass deflections, and an interception for the season.

    Rolle had an outstanding junior season, he was better than the previous years. His stats were threw the roof.

     Rolle set out to have the best year he could when he was a senior, he gave it all he had. Rolle  Rolle was a consensus All-American, with 58 tackles, six pass deflections, and an interception. He was hurt late in the '04 season and missed the game because of a foot sprain.

    Rolle entered the NFL daft and was selected eigth overall by the Arizona Cardinals. His first couple years were not the best, because of injuries. He lost his starting postion in the 2007 preseason, but after having three picks on Carson Palmer, he earned his spot back.

   In 2010 Rolle was traded to the New York Giants, and he still remains with them.

Malcolm Jenkins

   My blog this week is on Malcolm Jenkins.Jenkins played high school football at Piscataway Township High School in New Jersey, where he helped lead his team to three consecutive state championships. He played both wide receiver and defensive back. He also excelled at track, winning the state title in the 400 meters as a junior. Jenkins was a top college prospect and received a scholar ship from The Ohio State University.
  
 As a freshmen Jenkins spent his season playing nickel back, and finished the season with 35 tackles. In 2006 Jenkins started all thirteen games as a corner, and was first team All- Big ten. As a junior he knew what he wanted, he knew what he had to do in order to make a name for himself on the field. As a junior in 2007 Jenkins recorded 47 tackles and four interceptions and was named a first team All-American by Pro Football Weekly, and a first team All-Big Ten for the second consecutive year. Entering his senior season Malcolm was more than ready, he knew it was his most important year, and gave it all he had. All his hard work payed off in the end, Jenkins received the the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to the nation's best defensive back, after recording 57 tackles and three interceptions.
   Jenkins was predicted to be one of the top corners in the NFL Draft. Malcolm was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round. Jenkins got playing time his first year because of injuries, he had to step up ans play like a Pro. He recorded seven tackles and one interception his first game.

   In 2010 Jenkins was moved to free safety and has held that position since. Jenkins is currently still on the Saints and is playing with lots of intensity and enthusiasm.

Nick Collins

My blog this week is on the one and only Nick Collins, who was born on August 16, 1983. Collins Collins was a diverse athlete during his high school career. He attended Dixie County High School in Cross city Florida, and lettered twice as a QB, running back, and a defensive back. Collins was named first team all conference and was named MVP as a senior. As one of the top players in High school, Collins decided to attend Bethune-Cookman University.

    Collins spent his first year playing a reserve linebacker. He played in all thirteen games of the season, starting in the last two at strong safety. Collins became a full time starter in 2003 at free safety. He started in every game but one, because of sickness. Collins had a breakout year in 2003, leading the conference in interceptions, and runner up for pass deflections.
    As a senior in 2004, Collins was an Associated Press third-team Division 1-AA All-America selection and first-team All-MEAC honors at the free safety position. Collins once again lead the league in interceptions, and pass deflections.As a big name in college, Collins entered the NFL Draft. He was selected in the second round by the Green Bay Packers Collins was listed as a corner, but fought for the starting free safety position.

    Collins had his first start against the Cincinnati Bangles in 2005. Collins had four total tackles and two passes defended, including a crushing blow to star wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, and forced a dropped pass from  Carson Palmer and a near interception of Palmer that Collins could have returned for a game-changing touchdown. Collins had a great season with, 80 tackles (65 solo), 15 assists, 3 interceptions and 2 forces fumbles. In Supper Bowl XLV, Collins had an interception return for 37 yard touchdown. Collins is currently still on the packers and he is making many huge plays, hoping to go to the Super Bowl for the second year in a row.

Eric Berry

   I usually blog about a safety who has been in the league for a long time, but this week I'm going to blog about Eric Berry, who has only been in the league since 2010. Eric played at Creekside High School, in Fairburn Georgia.
   Eric played corner and quarterback in high school. After a stellar high school career, Eric was invited to the 2007 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Berry was considered the top player in Georgia and the top cornerback prospect by every recruiting service, and Rivals.com ranked him at the third best player in the nation. Coming out of High school, Eric could really go just about anywhere for college, so he decided to attend Tennessee.

   As a freshman, Berry replaced fifth year senior Jarod Parrish at strong safety. Berry turned in several big plays during his freshman season, with his 222 return yards on five interceptions, and broke the 37 year-old Tennessee record by 43 yards. Berry led all SEC freshmen in tackles with 86. He was named SEC Freshman of the Week twice, for his play over the regular season’s final three games. After the season, he was also named 1st team Freshman All-American by Rivals. After having such a great freshmen season, Berry knew he had to keep it going.
   Eric was named captain as a sophomore, he knew he had to step things up so he did. Eric tied for the national lead in interceptions with 7 and returned them for 265 yards and 2 touchdowns, breaking the record he set the year earlier. Combined with the yards he had as a Freshman, Berry set the all-time career SEC record for interception return yards with 487 yards, only 14 yards short of the NCAA record for interception return yards.
   As junior Eric's skills were unstoppable, and had another outstanding season. Eric decided to not play his senior season, but to enter the 2010 NFL Draft. Berry was predicted to get drafted no later than the seventh pick of the first round. Well the predictions were right, Eric Berry was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs, in the fifth overall pick. Berry selected number 29 as his jersey number in honor of former Tennessee defensive back standout Inky Johnson, whose career was cut short due to an injury.
   In his first season, Berry started all 16 games and became the first Chiefs rookie to be selected to the Pro Bowl. Berry had a big impact on the team's defense, helping them improve from 29th best unit in 2009 in terms of points allowed to 11th in 2010. Eric wasn't just a defensive player, he is on the field for more than half the special teams.
   Berry is still playing with the Chiefs, and his record breaking ways, are not stopping soon. This is why I choose Eric Berry, I know he still has a lot to learn in the NFL, but just in his first year he is already making a huge impact.

Donovin Darius

   In 2004, Darius led the secondary in tackles for a seventh straight season and posted career highs in forced fumbles and interceptions. His season ending injury in 2005 stopped his consecutive start streak at 37.My blog this week is on Donovin Darius, also known as "Double D". Darius played for two years at Highland Regional High School in Blackwood, New Jersey. Before transferring in his junior year to Woodrow Wilson in Camden, New Jersey. Darius played at Syracuse University, setting the team record for tackles by a defensive back with 379. He was a Big East All-Conference player in 1995 and 1996, and also lettered in indoor and outdoor hurdles. Donovin graduated in 1997 with a degree in exercise science and a minor in coaching.


    But he wouldn't become the one coaching, he would be the getting coached in the NFL by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Darius was selected 25th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, the highest pick ever by the team for a defensive back.

   He was named to the All-Rookie team and led Jaguar defensive backs with 108 tackles in 14 games. In 1999 he switched to strong safety and continued to sharpen his skills as a defensive force. In 2004, Darius led the secondary in tackles for a seventh straight season and posted career highs in forced fumbles and interceptions. His season ending injury in 2005 stopped his consecutive start streak at 37. In 2006, Donovin broke his leg, the Jags decided to rlease him that season.
Donovin was picked up by the Raiders, but he was released in the final roster cuts. He was signed by the Dolphins, but was released again in October.
Donovin decided to sign a one day contract with to Jaguars, so he could retire with them. So i chose Donovin because I think he is one of the best safeties that ever played, and he has an old school attitude, which made him who he is.

Ed Reed

My blog this week is about Ed Reed. Reed attended the Destrehan High school, in Destrehan Louisiana. During high school he was an All-state defensive back and kick returner. His speed and field awareness put him above most of his competition.
    He totaled 83 tackles, seven interceptions, three forced fumbles and 12 passes deflected his senior year while also seeing action at running back and quarterback. He also returned three punts for touchdowns. As a great player in High school, Reed was a top college prospect.
    Reed decided to to attend the University of Miami, where he was a stand out defensive player, right away. At the University of Miami, Reed was a three-time All-American in 2000 and 2001. In 2001, he led the nation with 9 interceptions for 209 yards, which was a school record, and had 3 touchdowns. In 2001 Reed was one of the reasons why Miami won the National Championship. Reed graduated in 2001, and was inducted into the sports Hall of Fame. After having an amazing college career, Reed had his sights on the NFL.
    Reed was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round (24th overall pick) of the 2002 NFL draft.  Reed started in all 16 games and finished his season with 85 tackles and five interceptions. The following year he finished the season with 71 tackles and seven interceptions and was voted to his first Pro Bowl.
In 2004, Reed was named the NFL defensive player of the year by the Associated Press. In addition to his record return, in 2004 Reed set an NFL record for most interception return yardage in a season, he had 358 return yards on 9 interceptions. Also in 2004, Reed became the only player in Pro Bowl history to block a punt and return it for a touchdown.
In 2005, Reed only played in ten games due to an ankle injury and finished the season with 37 tackles and one interception. In 2006, Reed had 60 tackles and five interceptions and was voted to his third Pro Bowl. In 2007, he made 39 tackles and seven interceptions. Reed is still playing with his aggressiveness and allusiveness today, he is still on the Ravens and is making many big plays for them. This is why I choose the one and only ED REED!!

T.J. Ward

 My blog this week is on one of my favorite safeties in the NFL, T.J Ward.  Ward is a very aggressive and versatile player which makes up for his small size.
 Ward played high school football at  De La Salle, during their 151 game winning streak an injury early in his senior year pushed many scouts away, Ward decided to walk-on with the Oregon Ducks. After redshirting in 2005, Ward earned not only a scholarship, but the starting cornerback position.
 Unfortunately, another knee injury robbed him of most of the 2006 season and depth in the Oregon secondary kept him mostly on special teams in 2007. In an attempt to get their four best athletes on the field, Ward was moved to free safety, resulting in a breakout 2008 season. He lead the Ducks with 101 tackles, chipping in 5.5 tackles for loss and eight pass breakups to earn honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors.
  In the 2009 season Ward had another ankle injury, which took him out of five games. Even though he missed a chunk of the season, Ward was drafted 38th overall by the Cleveland Browns. He started all 16 games of his rookie season, recording 123 combined tackles and 2 interceptions. Ward is currently still on the Browns, and is tearing it up on the field. The thing I like most about Ward is that he never backs down from a challenge just because of his small size. This is why I choose T.J. Ward as this weeks top NFL safety.