Jason Snelling

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Jason Snelling
Jason Snelling 2013.jpg
Snelling with the Atlanta Falcons in 2013
No. 44
Position: Fullback
Personal information
Born: (1983-12-29) December 29, 1983 (age 41)
Toms River, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:234 lb (106 kg)
Career information
High school: Lloyd C. Bird
(Chesterfield, Virginia)
College: Virginia (2002–2006)
NFL draft: 2007: 7th round, 244th pick
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts:363
Rushing yards:1,420
Rushing touchdowns:8
Receptions:168
Receiving yards:1,249
Receiving touchdowns:9
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Jason Michael Snelling (born December 29, 1983) is an American former professional football running back. He played his entire career with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Falcons in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL draft. He played college football at Virginia.

Contents

Early life

Snelling played football at Lloyd C. Bird High School, where he was an all-district tailback and was named to the all-region team three times. He rushed for 3,300 yards during his career, including 1,444 yards and 14 touchdowns during his senior year. His jersey number was retired by the school in 2007 [1]

College career

Snelling enrolled to University of Virginia . His average of 5.3 yards per rush is the fifth on the school's all-time rushing record list, topped only by John Papit (1947–50), Terry Kirby (1989–92), Barry Word (1982–85) and Nikki Fisher (1988–91). His 325 rushing yards in 2005 were the most by a Virginia fullback in a season since Charles Way totaled 517 yards in 1994, he also led the ACC fullbacks in rushing yards in 2005. [2] Snelling was diagnosed with epilepsy, and the condition caused him to take a medical redshirt his sophomore season and later miss practices and games. His condition was eventually diagnosed and is now treated by medication. [3] He was unable to talk openly about epilepsy until his senior season at Virginia.

Professional career

Snelling (left) with Quinn Ojinnaka and Ovie Mughelli in 2009 Snelling, Ojinnaka and Mughelli.png
Snelling (left) with Quinn Ojinnaka and Ovie Mughelli in 2009

He was selected by the Falcons in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL draft (244th overall). [4] He made his National Football League debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and scored his first professional touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals. He started his first game November 22, 2009 against the New York Giants, rushing for 76 yards and 2 touchdowns on 25 carries, while also catching 3 passes for 13 yards. On January 3, 2010, he rushed 25 times for a career-high 147 yards and added three receptions for 21 yards in a victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, helping the Falcons to the first back-to-back winning seasons in the franchise's 44-year history. Snelling was re-signed by the Falcons on April 15, 2010. [5] He finished the 2009 season with 613 yards on 142 carries with 4 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 30 passes for 259 yards and 1 touchdown.

On March 4, 2014, Snelling announced his retirement from the NFL. [6]

NFL career statistics

Legend
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesRushingReceiving
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTD
2007 ATL 7013433.3171000.000
2008 ATL 16115624.113088911.1270
2009 ATL 1421426134.3314302598.6381
2010 ATL 140873243.7302443036.9283
2011 ATL 150441513.4180261796.9211
2012 ATL 16218633.5110312036.5161
2013 ATL 141441643.7171292167.4343
9663631,4203.93181681,2497.4389

Playoffs

YearTeamGamesRushingReceiving
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTD
2008 ATL 10000.000000.000
2010 ATL 10111.010263.040
2011 ATL 10273.560294.560
2012 ATL 202126.01202105.051
505204.01206254.261

References

  1. "Atlanta Falcons running back Jason Snelling honored by L.C. Bird". Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  2. "Atlanta Falcons bio". Archived from the original on December 14, 2007. Retrieved November 13, 2007.
  3. Jason Snelling - Atlanta Falcons rookie running back has epilepsy coping-with-epilepsy.comforums
  4. "2007 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  5. "NFL Transactions".
  6. "Falcons announce Jason Snelling has retired". Archived from the original on March 6, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.