Christian Izien

Last updated

Christian Izien
Christian Izien (7849384) (cropped).jpg
Izien with the Buccaneers in 2023
No. 29 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position: Safety
Personal information
Born: (2000-06-08) June 8, 2000 (age 24)
Far Rockaway, New York, U.S.
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:199 lb (90 kg)
Career information
High school: Erasmus Hall
(Flatbush, New York)
College: Rutgers (2018–2022)
Undrafted: 2023
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of Week 4, 2024
Total tackles:88
Interceptions:3
Pass deflections:2
Forced fumbles:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Christian Izien (born June 8, 2000) is an American professional football safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and was signed by the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent after the 2023 NFL draft.

Contents

Early life

Izien was born on June 8, 2000. [1] He grew up in Far Rockaway, New York, and attended Erasmus Hall High School. [2] A two-way player as a cornerback and wide receiver, he earned New York City Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior. [3] Ranked a three-star recruit, he opted to be near home by committing to play college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. [4]

College career

As a true freshman at Rutgers in 2018, Izien appeared in four games as a special teams player. [2] He played all 12 games as a sophomore, totaling a secondary-leading 78 tackles while starting seven times. [4] He started all nine games in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, leading the team with four interceptions while also having 66 tackles. [4] [5] Izien started all 13 games in 2021, being named honorable mention all-conference while having 75 tackles. [2] [4] He again started every game in 2022, finishing with 41 consecutive starts while having 80 tackles on the year, earning another honorable mention all-conference selection. [2] [4] Izien declared for the 2023 NFL draft and was invited to the Hula Bowl and East–West Shrine Bowl. [6]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 8+3⁄4 in
(1.75 m)		199 lb
(90 kg)		30+7⁄8 in
(0.78 m)		9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		4.43 s1.59 s2.50 s4.25 s6.81 s41.5 in
(1.05 m)		9 ft 11 in
(3.02 m)		20 reps
All values from Pro Day [7]

After going unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft, Izien was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. [8] He impressed in the off-season and made the final roster, being named the starting nickelback as a rookie. [9] [10] [11] He had interceptions in his first two games, becoming only the fourth undrafted player in NFL history to accomplish the feat. [12] As a rookie, he appeared in all 17 regular season games and made four starts. He finished with 65 total tackles (47 solo), two interceptions, two passes defended, and one forced fumble. [13]

Related Research Articles

Lawrence Edward Foote Jr. is an American football coach and former player who currently serves as the pass game coordinator and inside linebackers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals. Foote was a college football All-American for the Michigan Wolverines, and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL draft. He also played briefly for the Detroit Lions and the Arizona Cardinals. In total, Foote played in the NFL as a linebacker for 13 seasons and earned two Super Bowl rings with the Steelers, Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIII.

Jeremy Kwasi Zuttah is an American former professional football player who was a center in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mason Foster</span> American football player (born 1989)

Mason Foster is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft. He played college football for the Washington Huskies. He was also a member of the Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Tandy</span> American football player and coach (born 1989)

Jordan Keith Tandy is a former American football safety and coach who is currently coaching with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was selected by the Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL draft. He played college football at West Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vernon Hargreaves</span> American football player (born 1995)

Vernon Hargreaves III is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators and was selected 11th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2016 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaquil Barrett</span> American football player (born 1992)

Shaquil Akeem Barrett is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks before transferring to the Colorado State Rams. Barrett was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent after the 2014 NFL draft. After five seasons with the Broncos, including winning Super Bowl 50, he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Barrett's level of play increased, making the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams in 2019 after leading the league in sacks, and in 2021 won Super Bowl LV, recording a sack in the game. He signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2024 before retiring from football shortly after.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlton Davis</span> American football player (born 1996)

Carlton Davis III is an American professional football cornerback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Auburn and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Cappa</span> American football player (born 1995)

Alex Cappa is an American professional football guard for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Humboldt State. He was selected in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Murphy-Bunting</span> American football player (born 1997)

Sean Murphy-Bunting is an American professional football cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Central Michigan Chippewas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamel Dean</span> American football player (born 1996)

Jamel Dean is an American professional football cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Auburn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Edwards (safety)</span> American football player (born 1996)

Mike Edwards is an American professional football safety for the Tennessee Titans. He played college football at Kentucky, and was selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He won Super Bowl LV with Tampa Bay in 2020 and Super Bowl LVIII with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antoine Winfield Jr.</span> American football player (born 1998)

Antoine Duane Winfield Jr. is an American professional football safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Minnesota Golden Golphers, earning unanimous All-American honors. Winfield was selected by the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.

Olakunle Fatukasi is an American professional football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Rutgers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Dwumfour</span> American football player (born 1998)

Michael Dwumfour is an American professional football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines and Rutgers Scarlet Knights. He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SirVocea Dennis</span> American football player (born 2000)

SirVocea Levitticus Dennis is an American professional football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Pittsburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raiqwon O'Neal</span> American football player (born 2000)

Raiqwon O'Neal is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He first played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and later transferred to the UCLA Bruins. O'Neal was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keenan Isaac</span> American football player (born 2000)

Keenan Isaac is an American professional football cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama State Hornets and was signed by the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2023.

J. D. DiRenzo is an American football offensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football for the Sacred Heart Pioneers and Rutgers Scarlet Knights and was signed by the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyreek Maddox-Williams</span> American football player (born 1997)

Tyreek Maddox-Williams is an American professional football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and has also been a member of the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles.

Antonio Grier Jr. is an American professional football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Florida Bulls and Arkansas Razorbacks and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Buccaneers in 2024.

References

  1. ↑ "Christian Izien". ESPN . Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "NFL Draft Profile: Christian Izien, Safety, Rutgers Scarlet Knights". Sports Illustrated . December 7, 2000. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Christian Izien". Rutgers Scarlet Knights . Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Garrett, Tommy (April 18, 2023). "Christian Izien, S, Rutgers | NFL Draft Scouting Report". Pro Football Network. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  5. ↑ Iseman, Chris (May 7, 2021). "Rutgers safety Izien hopes to build on big end to 2020". Daily Record . p. B2 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  6. ↑ Iseman, Chris (March 23, 2023). "DBs, punter Korsak impress scouts". The Central New Jersey Home News . p. B9 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  7. ↑ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Christian Izien College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  8. ↑ Lanni, Patrick; Fonseca, Brian (April 29, 2023). "Rutgers football UDFA tracker: Here's where former Scarlet Knights signed after going undrafted in 2023 NFL Draft". NJ.com . Retrieved July 3, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ Dyer, Kristian (August 13, 2023). "Rutgers in the NFL: Christian Izien has impressed Todd Bowles in Tampa Bay Buccaneers camp". USA Today . Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  10. ↑ Wells, River (August 27, 2023). "CB Christian Izien confirmed to start at nickel corner for 2023". USA Today . Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Bucs Go Heavy on Front Seven in Initial 53-Man Roster". Buccaneers.com. August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  12. ↑ Smith, Scott (September 18, 2023). "Christian Izien Accomplishes Rare NFL Feat". Buccaneers.com.
  13. ↑ "Christian Izien 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.