Deon Yelder

Last updated

Deon Yelder
Deon Yelder 2021.jpg
Yelder with the Washington Football Team in 2021
Personal information
Born: (1995-03-06) March 6, 1995 (age 29)
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school: Southern (Louisville)
College: Western Kentucky
Position: Tight end
Undrafted: 2018
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:11
Receiving yards:86
Player stats at PFR

Deon Yelder (born March 6, 1995) is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at Western Kentucky and signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Yelder won a Super Bowl title as part of the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.

Contents

Early life and high school

Yelder was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky and attended Southern High School. He originally only played basketball at Southern and did not play football until his junior year. [1]

College career

Yelder began his career at Western Kentucky as a walk-on and redshirted his freshman season. He saw his first collegiate action during his redshirt sophomore season, playing special teams, and did not catch his first career pass until his redshirt junior season. He earned a scholarship going into his redshirt senior season and finished the season with 52 receptions for 688 yards and eight total touchdowns and was named third-team All-Conference USA. [2] [3] Yelder's performance earned him an invitation to the 2017 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and a late invitation to the 2017 Senior Bowl, where he scored a touchdown on a one-yard reception from quarterback Kyle Lauletta. [1] [4]

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
6 ft 3+14 in
(1.91 m)
255 lb
(116 kg)
33 in
(0.84 m)
10+18 in
(0.26 m)
4.78 s1.62 s2.72 s4.64 s7.32 s33.0 in
(0.84 m)
10 ft 0 in
(3.05 m)
18 reps
All values from Pro Day [5]

New Orleans Saints

Yelder was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2018, and received a signing bonus of $90,000. [6] [1] He was cut at the end of training camp and subsequently re-signed to the team's practice squad on September 2, 2018. [7] Yelder was released by the Saints on October 3, 2018. [8]

Kansas City Chiefs

Yelder was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad on October 4, 2018. [9] He was promoted by the Chiefs to the active roster on October 23, 2018. [10] Yelder made NFL debut on October 28, 2018, in a 30–23 win against the Denver Broncos, appearing on special teams. [11] He appeared in three games on special teams during his rookie season. [12]

Yelder caught his first career pass, a 24-yard reception from Patrick Mahomes, in a 34–30 win over the Detroit Lions in 2019. [13] He played in all three of the Chiefs playoff games, catching a pass for 11 yards in the team's Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans and playing in the Chiefs' victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. [14]

Yelder signed a one-year exclusive-rights free agent tender with the Chiefs on April 20, 2020. [15] He was placed on injured reserve on January 16, 2021. [16] On February 6, 2021, Yelder was activated off of injured reserve ahead of Super Bowl LV against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. [17]

Washington Football Team

Yelder signed with the Washington Football Team on May 5, 2021, but was waived prior to the season on July 27, 2021. [18] [19]

Tennessee Titans

Yelder signed with the Tennessee Titans on August 15, 2021, [20] but was waived the next day. [21]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On September 1, 2021, Yelder signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad. [22] He was released on November 10. [23]

New York Giants

On November 25, 2021, Yelder signed with the New York Giants practice squad. [24] His contract expired when the teams season ended on January 9, 2022.

Arizona Cardinals

On January 19, 2022, Yelder signed a reserve/future contract with the Arizona Cardinals. [25] He was released on August 19.

San Antonio Brahmas

The San Antonio Brahmas selected Yelder in the 13th round of the 2023 XFL Supplemental Draft on January 1, 2023. [26] He was removed from the roster on September 1, 2023. [27]

Related Research Articles

Gabrison Brig Holmes is a former American football tight end. He was originally signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He played college football at Purdue.

Harold Jones-Quartey is a former American football safety. He played college football at the University of Findlay and signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2015.

Alexander Colby Ellis is an American football tight end for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). He was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent after the 2016 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee.

Rashard Markese Davis is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is a free agent. He played college football at James Madison University. Davis has also been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Tampa Bay Bandits, and New York Jets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaydon Mickens</span> American football player (born 1994)

Jaydon Mickens is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Washington, and signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2016. Mickens won a Super Bowl title as part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV over the Kansas City Chiefs.

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

Marcus Kemp is an American football wide receiver and special teamer who is a free agent. He played college football at Hawaii before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Kemp has also been a member of the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants.

Antony Auclair is a Canadian former professional gridiron football tight end. He played university football at Université Laval, and was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2017, for whom he won Super Bowl LV with in 2020. He also played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Texans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byron Pringle</span> American football player (born 1993)

Byron Pringle is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Butler Community College and for the Kansas State Wildcats. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018, with whom he won Super Bowl LIV. Pringle has also played for the Chicago Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Stinnie</span> American football player (born 1994)

Aaron Phillip Stinnie is an American football guard for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at James Madison. He has previously played in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Wylie (American football)</span> American football player (born 1994)

Andrew Wylie is an American football offensive tackle for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Eastern Michigan Eagles and went undrafted in 2017, having short stints with the Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, and Los Angeles Chargers before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he won Super Bowl LIV and LVII.

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

Demone Harris is an American football defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). Harris played college football at Buffalo.

Jalen Tolliver is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Arkansas–Monticello, and was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent after the 2018 NFL draft and played in three games in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanner Hudson</span> American football player (born 1994)

Tanner Hudson is an American football tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Southern Arkansas.

Christopher Lamar Lammons is an American football cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyril Grayson</span> American football player (born 1993)

Cyril Ross Grayson Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Houston Roughnecks of the United Football League (UFL). He did not play college football, but was an All-American track sprinter at LSU.

Braxton Hoyett is a former American football defensive end. He played college football for Mississippi State.

Omari Cobb is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. After playing college football for Marshall, he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2020.

Emmanuel Smith is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. After playing college football for the Vanderbilt Commodores, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2018.

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

Kendall Blanton is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at Missouri. Blanton signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and started in their Super Bowl LVI win.

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

David Edward Wells is an American football tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at San Diego State.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Erickson, Joel (May 19, 2018). "Saints might have landed 'an absolute steal' in undrafted tight end Deon Yelder". The Advocate . Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  2. Goldman, Charles (October 23, 2018). "Former Western Kentucky walk-on Deon Yelder elevated to Chiefs' active roster". Chiefs Wire. USA Today . Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  3. "White headlines 6 Toppers picked on Phil Steele's All-Conference USA squad". The Daily News . December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  4. Jessie, Alec (January 29, 2018). "Former Hilltoppers participate in Senior Bowl". College Heights Herald . Retrieved December 10, 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. "Deon Yelder College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  6. Sigler, John (May 2, 2018). "New Orleans Saints 2018 Undrafted Free Agency Tracker". Canal Street Chronicles. SB Nation . Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  7. Johnson, Luke (September 2, 2018). "New Orleans Saints fill out their practice squad; Williams a late addition". The Times-Picayune . NOLA.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  8. Peloquin, Steve (October 3, 2018). "SAINTS MAKE MULTIPLE MOVES ON PRACTICE SQUAD". www.espn1420.com. KPEL . Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  9. Connor, Matt (October 5, 2018). "Kansas City Chiefs add new tight end Deon Yelder to practice squad". www.ArrowheadAddict.com. FanSided . Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  10. Pryor, Brooke (October 23, 2018). "Injury bug bites Chiefs again, with two more players moved to injured reserve". The Kansas City Star . KansasCity.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  11. Goldman, Charles (October 30, 2018). "Chiefs snap counts, Week 8: Halfway point". Chiefs Wire. USA Today . Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  12. Conner, Matt (May 6, 2019). "Deon Yelder seems more important for the Chiefs than expected". ArrowheadAddict.com. FanSided . Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  13. Goldman, Charles (September 29, 2019). "Instant analysis of Chiefs' Week 4 win over Lions". Chiefs Wire. USA Today. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  14. Weiter, Taylor (February 3, 2020). "Louisville native Deon Yelder wins Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs". WHAS11.com. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  15. "Chiefs' Deon Yelder: Staying with Chiefs". CBSSports.com. April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  16. Goldman, Charles (January 16, 2021). "Chiefs announce flurry of roster moves on Saturday". USAToday.com. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  17. Rosvoglou, Chris (February 6, 2021). "Chiefs Add 2 Players To Active Roster Before Super Bowl". The Spun. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  18. Stackpole, Kyle (May 5, 2021). "Washington Signs TE Deon Yelder, CB Linden Stephens". WashingtonFootball.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  19. Washington Football Team Public Relations (July 27, 2021). "Washington Makes Multiple Roster Moves". WashingtonFootball.com. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  20. Wyatt, Jim (August 15, 2021). "Titans Agree to Terms with TE Deon Yelder, Waive TE Gabe Holmes". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  21. Wyatt, Jim (August 16, 2021). "Titans Add Veteran Safeties Clayton Geathers and Bradley McDougald, Part Ways With Four Others, in a Flurry of Roster Moves". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  22. Smith, Scott (September 1, 2021). "Bucs Sign Ryan Griffin, Nine Others to Practice Squad". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  23. Smith, Scott (November 10, 2021). "Bucs Add Breshad Perriman, Darren Fells to Practice Squad". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  24. Traina, Patricia (November 25, 2021). "Giants Add TE Deon Yelder to Practice Squad". FanNation.com. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  25. Urban, Darren (January 19, 2022). "Cardinals Sign 15 Players To 'Futures' Contracts". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  26. "Supplemental Draft Picks 2023". XFL.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  27. "San Antonio Brahmas Roster". www.xfl.com. Retrieved September 2, 2023.