Tra Battle

Last updated

Tra Battle
NFL Star Tra Battle (240829-F-MA641-5095) (cropped).jpg
Battle in 2024
No. 35, 36, 27
Position: Safety
Personal information
Born: (1985-01-05) January 5, 1985 (age 39)
Forsyth, Georgia, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:177 lb (80 kg)
Career information
High school: Mary Persons (GA)
College: Georgia
Undrafted: 2007
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:15
Player stats at PFR

Tra Battle (born January 5, 1985) is a former American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Georgia.

Contents

Early life

Battle attended Mary Persons High School in Forsyth, Georgia, where he was a three-sport athlete, lettering in football, basketball, and track. He started since his freshman season on the football team, as a quarterback and safety. He led his team to the state championships playoffs in four straight seasons. [1]

As a junior, he was named the team's defensive MVP. As a senior, he was named the team MVP and was named an All-Middle Georgia honoree by The Telegraph . In track, he competed in the state championships in the 110 metres hurdles, 300 metres hurdles, 4 × 100 metres relay and 4 × 400 metres relay.

College career

Arriving at the University of Georgia in 2003, Battle was considered undersized at 165 pounds.[ by whom? ] He walked-on to the football team and played a role as a reserve defensive back.

In his sophomore season, he started one game against the University of Kentucky when safety Thomas Davis was injured. His best game of the season came against LSU, where Battle recorded four solo tackles, garnered his first career sack, broke up a forward pass and forced a fumble. At the end of the year, he was a recipient of the Iron Man Award for players who do not miss a practice or summer workout during the year. He was awarded the Joe B. Maxwell Family Football Scholarship.

In his junior season of 2005, he became a regular starter in the defensive backfield. In the season opener against Boise State he recorded his first career interception and led the Bulldogs with eight tackles. He finished the season as the team's third leading tackler with 71 total tackles. As a senior, he posted 58 tackles….

His senior season featured a signature game in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry versus Auburn. Ranked #5, Auburn had hopes of playing for a National Championship after knocking of eventual champion Florida, but Georgia would have none of it due in large part to Battle. His performance tied a Georgia record that day with three interceptions, one of which he returned 30 yards for a touchdown. Battle's pick-six gave the Bulldogs a 17–0 lead, and they would eventually stretch it to 24-0 before Auburn got on the board to make it 24–7. UGA would go on to rout the Tigers 37–15, dashing their title hopes and costing Tommy Tuberville and company a shot at playing for the league crown in Atlanta. Battle would also turn in four total tackles and a pass breakup in the win. [2] His stellar play garnered a Pontiac Game Changing Performance nomination. Also in 2006 he had 154 return yards to place him fourth on the Georgia all-time season return list. [3]

Professional career

San Diego Chargers

Battle was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Chargers after the 2007 NFL draft on August 30, when he dropped because he was considered an undersized player. [4] He was waived on September 1 and signed to the practice squad the next day. [5] He appeared in one game and had one tackle. On August 30, 2008, he was cut and signed to the practice squad the next day. [6]

Dallas Cowboys

On November 26, 2008, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys from the San Diego Chargers practice squad to play on special teams, after Pat Watkins was lost for the year with a neck injury. [7] He appeared in 5 games, making 6 defensive tackles and 5 special teams tackles. In 2009, he was tried at cornerback and was released on May 26. [8]

Detroit Lions

On May 27, 2009, Battle was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions. [9] He was released on July 28.

Cleveland Browns

On August 24, 2009, he was signed by the Cleveland Browns. He was released on September 5. [10]

New York Sentinels (UFL)

In 2009, he played with the New York Sentinels of the United Football League. [11]

Hartford Colonials (UFL)

In 2010, he played with the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League.

Virginia Destroyers (UFL)

In 2011, he played with the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. [12]

Personal life

Battle is a cousin of former defensive end Peppi Zellner who also played for the Dallas Cowboys.

Related Research Articles

Leonardo Tremayne Carson is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Auburn University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Takeo Spikes</span> American football player (born 1976)

Takeo Gerard Spikes is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Auburn Tigers. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 13th overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft. A two-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time All-Pro, Spikes also played for the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and San Diego Chargers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La'Roi Glover</span> American football player and coach (born 1974)

La'Roi Damon Glover is an American professional football coach and former player who is the defensive line coach for the St. Louis BattleHawks of the United Football League (UFL). He played as a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). Glover played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs. He enjoyed a 13-year career in which he made six-consecutive Pro Bowls and was a four-time All-Pro selection. He spent five seasons with the New Orleans Saints (1997–2001), four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys (2002–2005) and finished his playing career with the St. Louis Rams (2006–2008).

The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League (NFL). Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that weekend off. This marked the first time since the 1966 NFL season and the AFL seasons of 1966 and 1967 that there were byes in week 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Novak</span> American football player (born 1981)

Nicholas Ryan Novak is an American former professional football placekicker. He played college football at Maryland and was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremiah Ratliff</span> American football player (born 1981)

Jeremiah Jerome Ratliff, formerly known as Jay Ratliff, is an American former professional football player who was a nose tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears. He played college football for the Auburn Tigers and was selected by the Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL draft.

Gordon Scott Appleton was an American football defensive tackle in the American Football League (AFL) for the Houston Oilers, San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders. He played college football at the University of Texas, which won the national championship in 1963. Appleton was a consensus 1963 All-American and won the Outland Trophy.

Kwamie Lassiter was an American football safety. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 1995. He played college football at Kansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Polk</span> American football player and coach (born 1977)

Carlos Devonn Polk is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the assistant special teams coach for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as an assistant coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Diego Chargers and Grossmont College.

Cletis Gordon is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, and Carolina Panthers. He played college football at Jackson State University.

Ronald Allan East was an American football defensive tackle in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks. He played college football at Oregon State University and Montana State University, following his completion of service to the United States Marine Corps.

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

Benjamin Richard Grubbs is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers, and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft. He also played for the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs.

Michael Antonio Brooks is a former American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Baltimore CFLers and Memphis Mad Dogs in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at North Carolina State University.

Frank Edgar Cornish IV was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Philadelphia Eagles. He was selected in the sixth round of the 1990 NFL draft. He played college football at UCLA.

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

King David Dunlap V is a former American football offensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Auburn, and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL draft. He also played for the San Diego Chargers.

Kelvin Garmon is a former American football offensive guard. He played college football at Baylor University and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL draft. Garmon was also a member of the San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, and Oakland Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarius Wynn</span> American football player (born 1986)

Jarius Jessereel Wynn is an American former professional American football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL draft and won a Super Bowl ring in Super Bowl XLV over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football at Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reuben Foster</span> American football player (born 1994)

Reuben Foster is an American football linebacker for the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League. A consensus All-American in high school, Foster was regarded as the best linebacker prospect of his class before committing to Alabama, where he played from 2013 to 2016. In his final season there he was awarded the Butkus Award, which is given to the nation's best linebacker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Ginda</span> American football player (born 1997)

Frank Ginda is an American professional football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at San Jose State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kameron Kelly</span> American gridiron football player (born 1996)

Kameron Rashad Kelly is a professional gridiron football defensive back for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at San Diego State University.

References

  1. ↑ "Hartford Colonials Player Bios" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  2. ↑ "25 Days: Tra Battle goes for the hat trick vs. AU" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  3. ↑ "The Top Ten All-Time Georgia Football Player Names (video)" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Chargers agree with 23 free agents". San Diego Chargers. August 30, 2007.
  5. ↑ "San Diego Chargers Transactions 2007" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  6. ↑ "San Diego Chargers Transactions 2008" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Torn ligament lands Jones on injured reserve; Cowboys sign Battle" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Cowboys make (small) roster cuts" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Lions Sign Tra Battle" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Cleveland Browns Transactions 2009" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  11. ↑ ""Final" UFL rosters include a Super Bowl MVP" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  12. ↑ "UFL 2011 Season Rosters Announced" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
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.