Gary Brightwell

Last updated

Gary Brightwell Jr.
No. 23 – New York Giants
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1999-02-28) February 28, 1999 (age 24)
Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school: St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Maryland)
College: Arizona (2017–2020)
NFL Draft: 2021  / Round: 6 / Pick: 196
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Rushing attempts:41
Rushing yards:164
Rushing touchdowns:1
Receptions:11
Receiving yards:92
Return yards:555
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Gary Brightwell Jr. (born February 28, 1999) is an American football running back for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). [1] [2] [3] [4] He played college football at Arizona.

Contents

Early years

Gary graduated in 2017 from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. His senior season he served as team captain and was First-team all-conference and first-team All-State MIAA. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry as a senior rushing for 519 yards and eight touchdowns on 78 carries. [5]

College career

In his time at Arizona, Brightwell rushed for over 1,300 yards and had nine rushing touchdowns. [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 10+3⁄4 in
(1.80 m)		218 lb
(99 kg)		31 in
(0.79 m)		9+3⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		4.58 s1.62 s2.62 s4.48 s7.51 s34.5 in
(0.88 m)		9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)		17 reps
All values from Pro Day [7] [8] [9]

Brightwell was drafted by the New York Giants in the sixth round, 196th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft. [10] On May 13, 2021, Brightwell officially signed with the Giants. [11] On December 30, 2021, Brightwell was placed on injured reserve after suffering a neck injury. [12]

Brightwell had his first career rushing touchdown in Week 5 against the Green Bay Packers in the 27–22 victory. [13] In the 2022 season, Brightwell appeared in all 17 games. He totaled 31 carries for 141 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. [14]

Brightwell entered the 2023 season third on the running back depth chart. He suffered a hamstring injury in Week 7 and was placed on injured reserve on October 28, 2023. [15]

Personal life

Brightwell's father was murdered at a gas station when Brightwell was five months old, his older sister was killed in a car crash when he was a senior in high school and his grandmother who taught him how to play football died just weeks before the NFL draft. [16]

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References

  1. ↑ Fennelly, John (May 1, 2021). "2021 NFL draft: Giants select RB Gary Brightwell in Round 6". Giants Wire. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  2. ↑ Falato, Nick (May 5, 2021). "Gary Brightwell film study: Reasons for optimism with Giants' new running back". Big Blue View. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  3. ↑ Fennelly, John (May 7, 2021). "Giants draftee Gary Brightwell can do it all, college coach says". Giants Wire. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  4. ↑ Schwartz, Paul (May 1, 2021). "Giants add physical running back Gary Brightwell late in NFL Draft". New York Post. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Gary Brightwell – Football". University of Arizona Athletics. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Gary Brightwell College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Gary Brightwell Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  8. ↑ "2021 Draft Scout Gary Brightwell, Arizona NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Gary Brightwell 2021 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Giants draft Arizona RB Gary Brightwell in Rd 6". Giants.com. May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  11. ↑ Ortenberg, Andrew (May 13, 2021). "Giants Sign Second-Round DE Azeez Ojulari". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  12. ↑ Eisen, Michael (December 30, 2021). "Notebook: Kenny Golladay looks to finish strong; Nate Solder activated". Giants.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  13. ↑ Eisen, Michael (October 10, 2022). "Giants 'don't flinch' in 4–1 start to season". Giants.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Gary Brightwell 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Giants sign WR Gunner Olszewski to active roster; RB Gary Brightwell to IR". Giants.com. October 28, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  16. ↑ Dunleavy, Ryan (May 13, 2021). "Giants rookie Gary Brightwell overcame family tragedies to achieve NFL dream". New York Post. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
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