Jeremy Leman

Last updated

Jeremy Leman
J leman hit.jpg
Leman (47) during his tenure with the Fighting Illini
No. 47
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1985-03-01) March 1, 1985 (age 39)
Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school: Champaign (IL) Central
College: Illinois
Undrafted: 2008
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com

Jeremy "J" Leman (born March 1, 1985) is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at the University of Illinois, and was recognized as a consensus All-American. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008, and has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, and San Diego Chargers. He is currently a football analyst for the Big Ten Network.

Contents

Early years

Leman (47) and Illinois' other captains take the field. Leman cap.jpg
Leman (47) and Illinois' other captains take the field.

Leman was born and raised in Champaign, Illinois. He played high school football at Champaign Central High School where he played middle linebacker and tight end. During his senior year, he tallied 191 tackles and was named to the prestigious Illinois High School Football Coaches Association All-State Team.[ citation needed ]

College career

Leman attended the University of Illinois, where he played for the Illinois Fighting Illini football team from 2003 to 2007. [1] He redshirted as a true freshman in 2003. Leman was a first-team All-Big Ten selection on defense in 2006 and 2007, and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American in 2007. He started over 40 games at linebacker during his college career. During the 2007 campaign, Leman led the Illini to nine wins and helped the team earn a trip to the Rose Bowl.[ citation needed ]

Leman stands at sixth place on Illinois' all time tackle list. His 152 tackles in the 2006 season ranked first in the Big Ten and is the sixth best single-season effort ever posted by an Illini gridder. He also ranks fifth on the Illinois charts in career tackles for loss.[ citation needed ]

Statistics

 Illinois Defensive Stats
SeasonGamesTacklesT/LossSacksForced FumblesInterceptions
2004115631.510
200511675.5020
20061215219420
20071313210.52.511
Total4740739.58.561

Professional career

First stint with Vikings

After going undrafted in the 2008 NFL Draft, Leman signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent. [2] He was waived by team during final cuts on August 30. [3]

Carolina Panthers

After spending the 2008 season out of football, Leman signed a future contract with the Carolina Panthers on January 13, 2009. He was waived by the team as a final cut on September 5.[ citation needed ]

Philadelphia Eagles

Leman was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad on September 7, 2009. He was released by the team on October 13.[ citation needed ]

San Diego Chargers

Leman was signed to the San Diego Chargers practice squad on November 3, 2009. He was released by the team on December 1.[ citation needed ]

Second stint with Vikings

Leman was re-signed to the Minnesota Vikings practice squad on December 9, 2009, and was promoted to the active roster on December 15, after linebacker Erin Henderson was suspended for four games.[ citation needed ]

He was released by the team with an injury settlement on October 19, 2010.[ citation needed ]

Florida Tuskers

Leman was signed by the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League on November 1, 2010.[ citation needed ]

Second stint with San Diego Chargers

Leman was signed to the San Diego Chargers practice squad on November 30, 2010. He was waived by the team on August 30, 2011.[ citation needed ]

Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders claimed Leman off of waivers on August 31.[ citation needed ]

Oakland then cut Leman on September 3, 2011, when they announced their 53-man roster for the 2011 season. However, the following day, the Raiders named Leman to their 8-man practice squad for the 2011 season. He was cut from the practice squad on 12/6/11.[ citation needed ]

Personal life

Leman graduated from the University of Illinois with a speech communication degree and a master's degree in Human Resource Education.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D'Anthony Batiste</span> American football player and coach (born 1982)

D'Anthony Batiste is an American football coach and former player who is the strength and conditioning assistant for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He is a former offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals. He also was a member of the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League and the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings in the AF2. He played college football at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Glenn Adam Pakulak, Jr. is a former American football punter. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at Kentucky.

Roderick Rogers is a former American football defensive back. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Wisconsin.

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

David Nixon is a former American football linebacker. He was an undrafted free agent signing in the 2009 NFL Draft with the Oakland Raiders. He played college football at Brigham Young University.

Kion Wilson is a former American football linebacker. He attended the University of South Florida, as a member of the 2010 graduating class. Shortly after the draft ended, Wilson joined the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League as an undrafted free agent. He was born in Jacksonville, Florida and attended William M. Raines High School before playing weak side linebacker at Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, MS. He has received multiple honors for his football career, including 2008 Rookie of the Year and 2009 CollegeFootballPerformance.com co-National Linebacker of the Week versus WVU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adrian Hamilton</span> American gridiron football player (born 1987)

Adrian Charles Hamilton is a former American football outside linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Ravens. He signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He also was a member of the Portland Thunder in the Arena Football League. He played college football at Prairie View A&M University.

Kevin Reddick is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He played college football at North Carolina. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2013.

John Leslie Cornell Jr. is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL). Cornell originally signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2012. Cornell played college football at Illinois. Cornell is currently head coach of the Quincy Notre Dame Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Gaston (American football)</span> American football player (born 1991)

Bruce Verdell Gaston, Jr. is a former American football defensive tackle. He played college football at Purdue. Gaston was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He has been a member of the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions and Ottawa Redblacks.

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

Nick Vigil is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Utah State, and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Los Angeles Chargers, the Arizona Cardinals and the Minnesota Vikings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hardy Nickerson Jr.</span> American football player (born 1994)

Hardy William Lindsay Nickerson is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He played college football for three years for the California Golden Bears and was a grad-transfer for the Illinois Fighting Illini, where he played for his father Hardy Nickerson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darnell Sankey</span> American gridiron football player (born 1994)

Darnell Sankey is an American professional football linebacker for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent after the 2016 NFL Draft. He played college football at Sacramento State.

James Onwualu is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Notre Dame.

Quentin Poling is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Ohio.

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

Chase Joseph McLaughlin is an American football placekicker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Illinois. After going undrafted in 2019, McLaughlin spent time on five different rosters during the season, three of them as injury replacements.

Del'Shawn Phillips is an American football linebacker for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Illinois.

Javin Durrell White is an American football linebacker for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at UNLV.

Blake Lynch is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Baylor.

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

Camilo Eifler is an American football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington and Illinois before signing with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2021. Eifler has also been a member of the Miami Dolphins and Washington Football Team / Commanders.

David Moa is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football at Boise State and was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020 by the Minnesota Vikings.

References

  1. Scott Reid (December 27, 2007). "Illinois linebacker keeps the faith". The Orange County Register . Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  2. John Supinie (April 28, 2008). "Ex-Illini linebacker Leman not drafted, but signs with Vikings". Rockford Register Star . Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  3. John Supinie (October 7, 2008). "BTN turns into JTV Saturday". The State Journal-Register . Retrieved April 22, 2023.