No. 91 – Arizona Cardinals | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||
Born: | Munday, Texas, U.S. | September 12, 1995||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
Weight: | 291 lb (132 kg) | ||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||
High school: | Munday (TX) | ||||||||||
College: | TCU (2014–2018) | ||||||||||
NFL draft: | 2019 / round: 1 / pick: 29 | ||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Career NFL statistics as of Week 2, 2024 | |||||||||||
|
Lawrence Edward "L. J." Collier Jr. (born September 12, 1995) is an American professional football defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at TCU, and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft.
Collier grew up in his father's hometown of Munday, Texas. He attended Munday High School, where he helped lead the Moguls to a state championship as a junior in 2012. [1] He recorded six tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a touchdown on an interception return to earn Defensive MVP honors for the game. [2]
On February 5, 2014, he signed a letter of intent to attend Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas on a football scholarship. [3]
Collier redshirted during his first season at TCU, but became a starter for the Horned Frogs as a redshirt freshman in 2015 despite appearing in just one game. He played in all 13 games for the Horned Frogs as sophomore, recording 4.5 sacks and blocking a field goal against Georgia in the 2016 Liberty Bowl. [4] He recorded 4.5 sacks again as a junior, including one in a crucial late-game situation in the Frogs' comeback win over Stanford in the 2017 Alamo Bowl. [5]
As a senior in 2018, Collier finally got the opportunity to become a starter for the Horned Frogs. He responded by tallying 6.0 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss and 4 pass break-ups to earn First-team All-Big 12 Conference honors [6] and closed out his collegiate career with a sack in TCU's Cheez-It Bowl victory over California. [7]
Following his senior season, Collier graduated from TCU and was invited to participate in the 2019 Senior Bowl, [8] in which he recorded a sack and a forced fumble. [9]
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 2+1⁄4 in (1.89 m) | 283 lb (128 kg) | 34 in (0.86 m) | 10 in (0.25 m) | 4.91 s | 1.68 s | 2.87 s | 4.78 s | 7.71 s | 30 in (0.76 m) | 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) | 25 reps | |
All values from NFL Combine [10] [11] |
Collier was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round (29th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft. [12] The Seahawks traded Frank Clark to the Kansas City Chiefs in order to obtain the selection used to select Collier. [13] After suffering multiple injuries, he finished the season with 3 tackles.
Collier started the 2020 campaign as the starting defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks after the departure of Jadeveon Clowney. He had the biggest play of his early career when he stopped New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton on the 1-yard line to secure a Week 2 35–30 victory on Sunday Night Football . In Week 5 against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football, Collier recorded his first career sack on Kirk Cousins during the 27–26 win. [14] In Week 11 against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday Night Football , Collier recorded his second career sack, taking down Kyler Murray during a 28-21 win. [15]
The Seahawks declined the fifth-year option on Collier's rookie contract making him a free agent after the 2022 season. [16] Collier was placed on injured reserve to start the 2022 season. [17] He was activated on October 26, 2022. [18]
On March 21, 2023, Collier signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals. [19] He was placed on injured reserve on September 16, 2023. [20]
On March 8, 2024, Collier signed a one-year contract extension with the Cardinals. [21]
Joshua Payne Scobey is an American former professional football running back and kick returner who played seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Kansas State and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL draft.
Cory Bartholomew Redding is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft and played college football for the Texas Longhorns. Redding also played for the Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, and Arizona Cardinals.
Daryl Lewis Washington is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the TCU Horned Frogs, and was selected by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. In May 2014, he was suspended indefinitely by the league for violating its substance abuse policies and was not reinstated until April 2017, where he was released by the Cardinals shortly after.
Chandler James Jones is an American professional football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football for the Syracuse Orange and was selected by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft. He has also played for the Arizona Cardinals and the Las Vegas Raiders.
Justin Ross "J. R." Sweezy is an American former professional football guard. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round, 225th overall, of the 2012 NFL draft. He played college football at NC State.
Paul Dawson is an American professional football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football for the TCU Horned Frogs and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft.
Josh Doctson is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the TCU Horned Frogs, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2015. Doctson was selected by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals.
Jonathan Bullard is an American professional football defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft, and has also played for the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.
Vincent Valentine is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals. He was selected by the Patriots in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft after playing college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He was also a member of the Seattle Seahawks but did not appear in any games for them.
Bishard "Budda" Baker is an American professional football safety for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies, and was selected by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft. Baker is a six-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro member.
Byron Murphy Jr. is an American professional football cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington.
Benjamin Chinomso Banogu is a Nigerian professional American football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football at Louisiana-Monroe and TCU.
Zachary William-Jacob Allen is an American professional football defensive end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Boston College.
Michael Dogbe is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football at Temple.
Lucas Balthazar Niang is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at TCU and was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft. He is a dual citizen and is both American and French.
Ross Blacklock is an American professional football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football for the TCU Horned Frogs.
Jeff Gee Gladney was an American professional football player who was a cornerback for one season in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the TCU Horned Frogs and was a two-time all-conference selection in the Big 12.
K'Von Wallace is an American professional football safety for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Vernon Keith Scott II is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at TCU. He has played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Green Bay Packers.
Joseph Blount is an American professional football safety for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Virginia.