J. J. Arrington

Last updated

J. J. Arrington
No. 28, 26
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1983-01-23) January 23, 1983 (age 41)
Nashville, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school: Northern Nash (Rocky Mount, North Carolina)
College: California
NFL draft: 2005  / round: 2 / pick: 44
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts:183
Rushing yards:654
Receptions:91
Receiving yards:693
Return yards:2,694
Total touchdowns:7
Player stats at PFR

Johnathan Jerone Arrington (born January 23, 1983) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears, earning consensus All-American recognition in 2004. Arrington was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2005 NFL draft. He also played for the Denver Broncos and had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Eagles and Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League (UFL). He also was the last player to win the Pop Warner Trophy.

Contents

Early life

Arrington was born in Nashville, North Carolina. He attended Northern Nash High School and was a letterman in football as a tailback. In football, he was a three-year varsity starter and a two-time All-Conference selection. He was also named his team's Most Valuable Player and the Area Offensive Player of the Year as a senior.

College career

Arrington was sent to College of the Canyons by East Carolina University with the intent that he would play for the Pirates in two years. As a sophomore at College of the Canyons, he won All-Region III honors (which is selected by the California Community College Football Coaches Association and the Junior College Athletic Bureau) and had 135 rushing attempts for 769 yards (5.7 yards per rushing attempt average), and caught 30 passes for 320 yards (10.67 yards per reception average). His 19 touchdowns that season, and 29 career touchdowns, were both school records.

Arrington transferred to the University of California, Berkeley as a junior, and played for the California Golden Bears football team in 2003 and 2004. Arrington would receive few carries for most of the 2003 season aside from his 114-yard performance against Southern Mississippi. A knee injury to then starting running back Adimchinobi Echemandu would thrust Arrington into the starting role against the Washington Huskies. This proved to be his breakout game as he mauled the Huskies defense for 185 yards and a touchdown. It took him only 14 carries to achieve this feat. In the first half managed to tally 157 yards on ten carries. He also caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers giving him a total of 215 yards on the day.

Despite his performance, he would receive limited carries for the rest of the 2003 season. He did play a pivotal role in the Insight Bowl by catching five passes for 38 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown pass that would reduce Virginia Tech's lead to only 28–21 at halftime. Cal would ultimately prevail 52–49 on a game-winning field goal.

The 2004 season would see Arrington earn the starting tailback spot after the departure of Echemandu for the NFL. Arrington played a major role in the Cal Bears' first 10-win season since 1949. He would rush for at least 100 yards in every single game that season. Arrington rushed for 169 yards or more in eight of his team's 12 games as well.

Ultimately Arrington would have one of the greatest seasons of any running back in NCAA and Pac-10 history, gaining 2,018 rushing yards that season. He became only the third Pac-10 Tailback to gain over 2,000 yards, joining USC tailbacks Marcus Allen and Charles White. His mark is also the tenth best total in NCAA history. He would receive the honor of the Pop Warner Award, deeming him the best College Football player on the west coast. He would also earn All-American and All-Pacific-10 conference honors.

Ultimately, the season would end in disappointment. Despite a 10–1 record, the Bears were bypassed for a BCS Bowl bid by The University of Texas. As a result, they played in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl against a 7–4 Texas Tech squad, where Cal was defeated by a score of 45–31, to end Arrington's college career.

In addition, Arrington was not invited to the Heisman Trophy ceremony (a distinction afforded the top three to five likely winners) despite having a better statistical year (15 TDs, 2,018 yards rushing, 6.98 yards per carry) than the number 2 vote-getter, Adrian Peterson (15 TDs, 1,925 yards rushing, 5.68 yards per carry).

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+7⁄8 in
(1.75 m)		214 lb
(97 kg)		30+1⁄2 in
(0.77 m)		8+3⁄4 in
(0.22 m)		4.46 s1.54 s2.57 s4.10 s6.81 s35.0 in
(0.89 m)		10 ft 1 in
(3.07 m)		18 reps
All values from NFL Combine [1] [2]

Arizona Cardinals

After drafting him in the second round of the 2005 NFL draft, [3] the Cardinals placed him as the starting running back on the depth chart, with the intention of having him share carries with Marcel Shipp. He started the first game against the New York Giants gaining 5 yards on 8 carries (0.625 average). After this poor showing in his first game, he didn't play a snap the second game of the season against the St. Louis Rams. By the end of the season, he had played 15 games with 5 starts, gaining 370 yards on 112 carries (3.3 average) and 2 touchdowns. That following offseason the Cardinals signed Edgerrin James.

The Cardinals' drafting of Tim Hightower in 2008 resulted in Arrington being shifted to third place on the depth chart at running back. He became the team's principal kick returner and in Super Bowl XLIII caught 2 passes for 35 yards.

Denver Broncos

Arrington signed with the Denver Broncos on March 4, 2009. He was released on May 27, 2009, after failing his physical. [4] It was determined that Arrington would need season-ending microfracture surgery on his right knee, [5] following surgery to the same knee in February. He was re-signed on March 4, 2010.

Philadelphia Eagles

Arrington was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for linebacker Joe Mays on July 30, 2010. [6] He was waived on September 3. Due to Arrington being released prior to the start of the season, the Eagles received a 2012 sixth-round draft pick from the Broncos. [7]

Las Vegas Locomotives

Before the 2011 season, Arrington signed with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Elway</span> American football player and executive (born 1960)

John Albert Elway Jr. is an American former professional football quarterback who spent his entire 16-year career with the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Following his playing career, he then spent 11 years with the Broncos in various front office positions, eventually being promoted to general manager. Elway, along with former backup quarterback and head coach Gary Kubiak, are the only individuals to be associated with all three of the Broncos' Super Bowl wins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrell Davis</span> American football player (born 1972)

Terrell Lamar Davis is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL) from 1995 to 2001. He is the Broncos all-time leading rusher and still holds the record for most postseason single-season touchdowns (eight), which he achieved in 1997. He is also credited with starting the "Mile High Salute", a celebratory tradition among Denver Broncos players after scoring a touchdown. Davis was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. Despite his short seven-year tenure, Davis is often regarded as one of the greatest running backs of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Champ Bailey</span> American football player (born 1978)

Roland "Champ" Bailey Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, where he earned consensus All-American honors, and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Morton</span> American football player (born 1943)

Larry Craig Morton is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons, primarily with the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. He played college football for the California Golden Bears, receiving All-American honors, and was selected by the Cowboys fifth overall in the 1965 NFL draft. Following nine seasons with the Cowboys, a quarterback controversy with Roger Staubach led to Morton joining the New York Giants for three seasons. He spent his final six seasons as a member of the Broncos, winning NFL Comeback Player of the Year and AFC Offensive Player of the Year in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LenDale White</span> American football player (born 1984)

LenDale Anthony White is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos. He played college football for the USC Trojans.

Leroy J. Hoard is an American former football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons for the Cleveland Browns from 1990 to 1995 and the Minnesota Vikings from 1996 to 1999. He also played briefly for the Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens during the 1996 NFL season. In a 10-year NFL career, Hoard appeared in 144 games, totaled 3,964 rushing yards and 2,430 receiving yards and scored 51 touchdowns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Robinson (fullback)</span> American football player (born 1983)

Burton Michael Robinson is an American former football fullback who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL draft. He is currently an analyst for the NFL Network and NBC.

Michael Steven Bell is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 2006 to 2010. Bell was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2006 and later played for the New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns. He played college football at Arizona. Bell had several accomplishments throughout his career, including winning Super Bowl XLIV over the Indianapolis Colts as a member of the Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Forsett</span> American football player (born 1985)

Justin Forsett is an American former football running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL draft. Forsett also played for the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, and Denver Broncos. Forsett's best season came in 2014 as a member of the Ravens, when he was selected as a Pro Bowl alternate after finishing the season with career highs in carries (235), rushing yards (1,266) and touchdowns (8).

Leeland Anthony McElroy is an American former professional football player who was a running back and kick returner in the National Football League (NFL) for two seasons during the 1990s. He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies, and was recognized as a consensus All-American kick returner. A second-round pick in the 1996 NFL draft, he played professionally for the Arizona Cardinals.

Kolby Kendrall Smith is an American former professional football running back and current coach who is an offensive assistant for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL draft after he played college football at Louisville. Smith was also a member of the Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars. After his playing career he began coaching in the college ranks and as 2020 he returned to the NFL as a coach with the Dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knowshon Moreno</span> American football player (born 1987)

Knowshon Rockwell Moreno is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, earning first-team All-American honors in 2008. He was selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos. He also played for the Miami Dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob Hester</span> American football player (born 1985)

Jacob Troy Hester is an American former professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft. He played college football for the LSU Tigers.

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

Jahvid Andre Best is an American track and field Olympian athlete, and former football running back. He was selected by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played college football for the California Golden Bears, setting several school records, including most all-purpose yards in a single season and most rushing yards in a single game. Best also led the Pac-10 in total rushing yards in 2008. Best competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics, representing Saint Lucia in track and field. He later became head football coach of the Saint Mary's College High School Panthers in Berkeley, California, for one season.

Aaron Chautezz Hayden is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers, the Green Bay Packers, and the Philadelphia Eagles. Hayden played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers and was selected in the fourth round of the 1995 NFL draft. He played four years in the NFL, and retired in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syd'Quan Thompson</span> American football player (born 1987)

Syd'Quan Thompson is a former American football cornerback. He was selected by the Denver Broncos as the 225th overall selection in the 2010 NFL draft. He played college football at California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie Hillman</span> American football player (1991–2022)

Ronald Keith Ryan Hillman Jr. was an American professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs, earning third-team All-American honors as a sophomore in 2011. He was selected by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft and was a member of their team that won Super Bowl 50. Hillman later spent time with the Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers, and Dallas Cowboys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 California Golden Bears football team</span> American college football season

The 2004 California Golden Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of California, Berkeley in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third year under head coach Jeff Tedford, the Golden Bears compiled a 10–2 record, finished in second place in the Pac-10, and outscored their opponents by a combined score of 441 to 192.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C. J. Anderson</span> American football player and coach (born 1991)

Cortrelle Javon Anderson is an American football coach and former player. He played running back in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons, primarily with the Denver Broncos. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he was signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2013, where he made one Pro Bowl selection and was part of the team that won a Super Bowl title in Super Bowl 50. Anderson also played in Super Bowl LIII with the Los Angeles Rams. Following his NFL retirement, he rejoined California's football team as a volunteer assistant in 2020 before accepting a head coaching position at Monte Vista High School in Danville in 2021.

Khalfani Amir Muhammad is a former American football running back. He played college football at California.

References

  1. ↑ "2005 Draft Scout J.J. Arrington, California NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  2. ↑ "J.J. Arrington, Combine Results, RB - California". nflcombineresults.com. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  3. ↑ "2005 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  4. ↑ Len Pasquarelli (May 28, 2009). "Arrington cut by Broncos". ESPN NFL. ESPN.com. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  5. ↑ ike Klis (May 27, 2009). "RB ranks thinned as Arrington cut". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  6. ↑ McPherson, Chris (July 30, 2010). "Eagles Acquire RB Arrington From Denver". philadelphiaeagles.com. Retrieved July 30, 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. ↑ McPherson, Chris (September 3, 2010). "Abiamiri To PUP; 10 Players Released". philadelphiaeagles.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2010. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
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.