Courtney Upshaw
Courtney Tremaine Upshaw (born December 13, 1989) is a former American football defensive end. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played college football at Alabama.
Upshaw with the Baltimore Ravens in 2012 | |||||||||||||
No. 91 | |||||||||||||
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Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||
Born: | Eufaula, Alabama | December 13, 1989||||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||
Weight: | 272 lb (123 kg) | ||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||
High school: | Eufaula (Eufaula, Alabama) | ||||||||||||
College: | Alabama | ||||||||||||
NFL Draft: | 2012 / Round: 2 / Pick: 35 | ||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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Career NFL statistics as of 2017 | |||||||||||||
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Player stats at PFR |
High school career
Upshaw attended Eufaula High School, where he played for the Eufaula Tigers high school football team under head coach Dan Klages. In his junior season, Upshaw posted 96 tackles and three interceptions as he helped lead Eufaula to a 14–1 season record, including the Tigers first state championship finale appearances since 1981.[1] They lost 10–7 to Athens.[2] As a senior, Upshaw had 95 solo tackles, 65 assists, including 22 for loss and seven sacks to go with three fumble recoveries. He also had 20 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns as a tight end. He was the Alabama Class 5A Lineman of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association and ASWA Class 5A All-State selection in 2007. Upshaw was ranked as the No. 4 defensive end in 2008 by ESPN.com.[3]
College career
After playing in all 13 games of his freshman season, Upshaw saw his playing time increase in his second season at Alabama. He made one start and appeared in all 14 games for the Crimson Tide in 2009.[4] Upshaw made the most of his first career start against Kentucky, as he tallied four solo tackles, one sack and returned a fumble 45 yards for a key against the Wildcats.[4][5] In the 2010 BCS National Championship Game against the Texas Longhorns, Upshaw recovered a Garrett Gilbert fumble on an Eryk Anders quarterback sack with just 3:08 remaining in the game, that sealed the title for the Crimson Tide.[4][6]
In his junior season, Upshaw started 11 games for the Crimson Tide. He accounted for 52 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and four forced fumbles.[7] In the 2011 Capital One Bowl against Michigan State, Upshaw led the defense for the Crimson Tide, who won 49–7, with a pair of sacks, five tackles, including three for a loss as well as forcing a fumble, and was voted the game's MVP for his effort.[8]
In his senior season, Upshaw started all 13 games for the Crimson Tide. He accounted for 51 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.[9] For his on-field performance, Upshaw was named first team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America and The Sporting News.[10][11] He was also recognized as second team All-America by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the Associated Press.[12][13] In the 2012 BCS National Championship Game, Upshaw was named the defensive MVP with his seven tackle performance, which included one sack and one tackle for a loss.[14]
College statistics
Year | GP–GS | Tackles | Sacks | Pass Defense | Fumbles | Blocked | |||||||
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Solo | Ast | Total | Loss–Yards | No–Yards | Int–Yards | BU | PD | QBH | No–Yards | FF | Kick | ||
2008[15] | 13–0 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 3–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0–0 | 0 | 0 |
2009[16] | 14–1 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2–45 | 0 | 0 |
2010[7] | 13–13 | 32 | 20 | 52 | 14.5–69 | 7–40 | 0–0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1–0 | 4 | 0 |
2011[9] | 13–13 | 37 | 15 | 52 | 18-90 | 9.5–62 | 1–45 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 0–0 | 2 | 0 |
Total | 87 | 53 | 140 | 35.5–157 | 17.5–103 | 1–45 | 5 | 5 | 18 | 3–45 | 6 | 0 |
Professional career
2012 NFL Draft
Upshaw was taken by the Baltimore Ravens with the third pick of the second round (35th overall) in the 2012 NFL Draft.[17]
Height | Weight | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | ||||
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6 ft 5⁄8 in (1.84 m) |
272 lb (123 kg) |
4.74 s | 1.67 s | 2.72 s | 4.60 s | 7.32 s | 27 in (0.69 m) | 9 ft 1 in (2.77 m) | ||||
All values from Alabama Pro Day[18] |
Baltimore Ravens
On May 10, 2012, he signed a four-year, $5,296,698 contract (with $3,587,000 guaranteed) with the Ravens.[19] During his rookie year in 2012, Upshaw played 16 games with 55 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two passes defended, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.[20] In Super Bowl XLVII, Upshaw recorded his first forced fumble against San Francisco 49ers running back LaMichael James, which the Ravens recovered and scored on the ensuing possession. The Ravens won the Super Bowl by a score of 34–31, giving Upshaw his first championship title.[21]
In 2013, Upshaw played 16 games with 31 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two passes defended.[22] In 2014, he played 16 games with 46 tackles and one pass defended.[23] In 2015, he played 16 games with 51 tackles, two sacks, two passes defended, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.[24][25] After the 2015 season, he became a free agent.
Atlanta Falcons
On March 25, 2016, Upshaw signed a one-year contract with Atlanta Falcons worth $1.25 million.[26] In 13 games of 2016, Upshaw finished the year with 24 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble.[27] The Falcons finished the season with an 11-5 record, and eventually made it to Super Bowl LI, where they would lose in overtime to the New England Patriots by a score of 34–28. In the game, Upshaw had one sack and one total tackle.[28]
On March 9, 2017, the Falcons re-signed Upshaw.[29]
New York Jets
On June 14, 2018, Upshaw signed with the New York Jets.[30] On July 28, 2018, Upshaw was released by the Jets.[31]
References
- "Seniors' final game: Athens, Eufaula play for Class 5A marbles". Decatur Daily. December 8, 2006.
- "Athens edges Eufaula for Class 5A state championship". The News Courier. December 9, 2006.
- "Courtney Upshaw - Football Recruiting - Player Profiles - ESPN". ESPN.com.
- Rogers, Ken (August 15, 2010). "Courtney Upshaw now a leader for Tide linebackers". Dothan Eagle. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
- Goodbread, Chase (October 4, 2009). "Upshaw in right place, right time for fumble return". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
- Rosner, Mark (January 8, 2010). "Anders' sack of Gilbert is play of the game". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on January 15, 2010. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
- University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. "2010–11 Cumulative Season Statistics: Overall Defensive Statistics". RollTide.com. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- Deas, Tommy (January 2, 2011). "Alabama defense harassed Michigan State quarterbacks". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
- University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. "2011–12 Cumulative Season Statistics: Overall Defensive Statistics". RollTide.com. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- "FWAA names 2011 All-America Team". Football Writers Association of America. December 10, 2011. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- "Sporting News All-American team". Sporting News. aol.sportingnews.com. December 14, 2011. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- "122nd edition of the Walter Camp All-America Team announced". Walter Camp Football Foundation. December 8, 2011. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- Gould, Izzy (December 14, 2011). "Alabama places six on Associated Press All-American team". AL.com. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- Johnson, Jon (January 9, 2012). "Eufaula native Courtney Upshaw named BCS title game Defensive MVP". Eufaula Tribune. Media General News Service. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
- University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. "2008–09 Cumulative Season Statistics: Overall Defensive Statistics". RollTide.com. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. "2009–10 Cumulative Season Statistics: Overall Defensive Statistics". RollTide.com. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- Gribble, Andrew (April 27, 2012). "At last, Courtney Upshaw goes to the Baltimore Ravens with 3rd pick in 2nd round". AL.com. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
- "Courtney Upshaw - Alabama, DE : 2012 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile". www.nfldraftscout.com.
- Rapoport, Ian (May 10, 2012). "Courtney Upshaw, Baltimore Ravens agree to contract". NFL.com. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
- "Courtney Upshaw 2012 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- "Super Bowl XLVII - San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens - February 3rd, 2013". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
- "Courtney Upshaw 2013 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- "Courtney Upshaw 2014 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- "Courtney Upshaw 2015 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- "Courtney Upshaw Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- Wesseling, Chris (March 25, 2016). "Falcons sign former Ravens LB Courtney Upshaw". NFL.com. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- "Courtney Upshaw 2016 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- "Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons - February 5th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- Jackson, Curtis (March 9, 2017). "Falcons Agree to Terms on Extensions With Upshaw, Schaub". AtlantaFalcons.com. Archived from the original on March 9, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
- Lange, Randy (June 14, 2018). "Jets Sign DL Courtney Upshaw". NewYorkJets.com.
- "Jets Sign DL Shaneil Jenkins, Release Courtney Upshaw". NewYorkJets.com. July 28, 2018.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · ESPN · Pro Football Reference
- Alabama Crimson Tide bio
- Baltimore Ravens bio
- Atlanta Falcons bio
- New York Jets bio