Vinny Sutherland

Last updated

Vinny Sutherland
No. 14, 85, 87, 25
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1978-04-22) April 22, 1978 (age 46)
West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school: West Palm Beach (FL) Lakes Community
College: Purdue
NFL draft: 2001  / round: 5 / pick: 136
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:1
Receiving yards:5
Return yards:1,336
Stats at Pro Football Reference  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Career Arena League statistics
Receptions:7
Receiving yards:82
Receiving touchdowns:2
Stats at ArenaFan.com

Vincent Joseph Sutherland (born April 22, 1978) is an American former professional football player who played wide receiver for two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears. He was a standout receiver and kick returner for Purdue University from 1997-2000. He also played for the Arena Football League (AFL)'s New York Dragons. At the time of his graduation in 2001, his 13 receiving touchdowns were a school record for one season. That record was tied in 2002 by John Standeford, and broken in 2004 by Taylor Stubblefield. He also still holds school records for punt return average in a season, punt returns for touchdowns in a season/career, and the longest reception in Purdue history.

Contents

Early life

Sutherland attended Palm Beach Lakes High School in West Palm Beach, Florida. There he participated in both football and track and field. As a senior, he averaged better than 34 yards per touch of the ball and finished with 500 yards rushing on 53 carries and 600 yards on 29 receptions. He also played as a defensive back. He scored a total of 14 touchdowns as the Rams finished 9-3, winning a district championship and advanced to quarterfinals of state playoffs. After the season, he was named to the Class 6A second-team all-state, first-team all-area and made Florida's Super 11 Team. [1] For Track & Field, Sutherland was all-state and all-county in both junior and senior years. He ran a high school career best 10.4 100m dash in senior season. [2]

College career

1997 season

Sutherland choose to play his continue both his football and track and field career by signing a letter of intent to play for new Purdue Boilermakers head coach, Joe Tiller. He played in all 12 games and started three times as a true freshman. He finished the season ranked third on team with 34 receptions for 357 yards with two touchdowns. His two best games came against Notre Dame and Ball State when he made eight catches. The Notre Dame game also was his best yardage game of the season, as he had career-high 100 receiving yards. Joe Tillers' passing attack, often called "basketball on grass, [3] " specialized in bubble screen pass. Which played well for a smaller receiver like Sutherland. He registered 13 rushing attempts (usually bubble screen that resulted in an official lateral) for 111 yards (fourth on team) with two touchdowns. He also served as the team's punt returner, finishing the season ranked sixth in Big Ten with 9.8-yard punt return average. He also had one kickoff return for 19 yards. He attempted two passes on reverse plays, completing one for 20 yards. He was named a 2nd Team Freshman All-American by The Sporting News. [1]

1998 season

Sutherland received Purdue's Most Improved Offensive Player Award for 1999 spring practice. As a sophomore, he played in all 13 games, starting one. He had 31 receptions for 301 yards with three touchdowns as well as nine rushes for 58 yards. He once again served as the team's punter returner, returning 10 punts for 82 yards. He best game of the season came against Indiana, when he caught a career-high two touchdown passes and downed two punts inside Indiana's 5-yard line. His efforts for the week earned him Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors, as well as Purdue's Pop Doan Award for special teams. [1]

1999 season

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Video of Sutherland's 99 yard touchdown reception

As a junior, Sutherland started all 12 games, and ranked second on team with 698 receiving yards and fourth with 39 receptions, to Chris Daniels, who set a school record in both categories. He also tied for team lead with seven touchdown receptions (also Chris Daniels). He ranked seventh in Big Ten with 58.2 receiving yards per game, and led Big Ten with school-record average of 16.4 yards per punt return, which still stands as the Purdue record for punt return yardage average for one season. His two punt returns for touchdowns were also a Purdue record. His 17.4 yards per punt return during regular season to rank third nationally, and had school-record two punt returns for touchdowns. He also caught a 99-yard TD pass from quarterback Drew Brees in a game against Northwestern, which is still the longest pass in NCAA history. [1] After the season, he was named an honorable mention All-Big Ten by media.

2000 season

As a senior, Sutherland started 11 games, missing one game with an injury. He was still able to lead Purdue in receptions (72), receiving yards (1,014), touchdowns (14), all-purpose yards (1,760) and scoring (84). [4] [5] His regular season numbers were enough to make him a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, the nations top receiver. [6] His play also assisted the Boilermakers to win the Big Ten conference during the regular season, which allowed them to be invited to the 2001 Rose Bowl against the Washington Huskies. [7] Purdue would go on to lose the game 34-24, but Sutherland had two touchdown receptions in the game, tying a Rose Bowl record. [8] He went on to be named first-team all-Big Ten as a wide receiver and second-team all Big Ten as a returner. At the time of his graduation, his 13 receiving touchdowns were a school record for one season. That record was tied in 2002 by John Standeford, and broken in 2004 by Taylor Stubblefield. He also holds school records for punt return average in a season, punt returns for touchdowns in a season/career, and the longest reception in Purdue history.

Statistics

Source: [9]

  Receiving Rushing Passing Kickoff Returns Punt Returns
SeasonTeamGSGPRecYdsAvgTDLongAttYdsTDAttCompYdsTDINTAttYdsAvgTDLongAttYdsAvgTDLong
1997 Purdue 3123435710.523813111221200011919019151479.8023
1998 Purdue 113313019.733095800000000--0010828.2021
1999 Purdue 12123969817.979918163011121011313.00131829616.4266
2000 Purdue 1111721,01414.1136810521215102253524.3051161599.9039
Totals27481762,37013.525995038435337202456723.60515968411.6266

Professional career

Pre-draft

Prior to the 2001 NFL draft, Sutherland was projected to be drafted in the fourth or fifth round by NFLDraftScout.com. He was rated as the eighteenth-best wide receiver in the draft. [10] He was invited to the 2001 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he posted the following numbers during his workouts:

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeight 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split Vertical jump
5 ft 8.5 in
(1.74 m)		192 lb
(87 kg)		4.48 s1.58 s2.59 s32.5 in
(0.83 m)
All values from 2001 NFL Scouting Combine [10]

Atlanta Falcons

Sutherland was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the 5th round (136th overall). [11] [12] He was expected to replace Tim Dwight, [13] who had been the team's kickoff and punt returner, but failed to make the team out of the preseason and was cut in August. [13]

San Francisco 49ers

Sutherland was quickly signed in September 2001 by the San Francisco 49ers. [14] The 49ers were also looking for return help, and used Sutherland as the primary return man for both kickoffs and punts. [15] For the season, he returned 50 kickoffs for 1,140 yards (a 49ers rookie record [16] ) and 21 punts for 147 yards with no touchdowns. He saw limited action playing as a wide receiver as he only had one catch for 5 yards, and added one carry for 16 yards. [17] Sutherland came back to camp the following fall, [18] but was released on August 27 after suffering a hamstring injury. [19]

Chicago Bears

After he was let go by the 49ers, Sutherland quickly caught on with the Chicago Bears [20] Sutherland didn't play until his 4th week with the team, when he returned 3 kickoffs in a game against the Detroit Lions, for an average of 16.3 yards a return. [21] He was released 4 days later. [22]

Return to San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers re-signed Sutherland on December 31, 2002, [23] but he did not appear in any games.

New York Dragons

In 2004, Sutherland signed with the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League. Sutherland appeared in the team's first 3 games, grabbing 7 passes for 82 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also had 2 carries for 2 yards. [24] His arena football days were short lived, as he was released on February 23. [25]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XXIII</span> 1989 Edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XXIII was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Cincinnati Bengals and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion San Francisco 49ers to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1988 season. The 49ers defeated the Bengals 20–16, winning their third Super Bowl. The game was played on January 22, 1989, at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami. This was the first Super Bowl hosted in the Miami area in 10 years, and the first in Miami not held at the Orange Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XXIV</span> 1990 Edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XXIV was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion San Francisco 49ers and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Denver Broncos to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1989 season. The game was played on January 28, 1990, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The 49ers defeated the Broncos by the score of 55–10, winning their second consecutive Super Bowl, and their fourth overall, tying the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl wins at that time. San Francisco also became the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls with two different head coaches; rookie head coach George Seifert took over after Bill Walsh retired following the previous season's Super Bowl.

John Gregory Taylor is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and kick returner with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He attended Pennsauken High School and was one of six NFL players to come from PHS during the 1980s. Taylor attended Delaware State College and was a member of their football team, the Hornets. He was a member of the 49ers teams that won Super Bowls XXIII, XXIV, and XXIX. His younger brother is former safety Keith Taylor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen Rossum</span> American football player (born 1975)

Allen Bonshaca Lamont Rossum is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desmond Howard</span> American football player (born 1970)

Desmond Kevin Howard is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, where he was a two-time All-American, including a unanimous All-American selection in 1991, winning the Heisman Trophy. He was selected fourth overall in the 1992 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins. Howard spent most of his career on special teams as a return specialist and holds the NFL single season record for punt return yardage. With the Green Bay Packers, Howard was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXXI after setting an NFL record for punt return yards and returning a kickoff for a 99-yard touchdown, the longest return in Super Bowl history at the time. To date, he is the only special teams player to receive the award. He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arnaz Battle</span> American football player (born 1980)

Arnaz Jerome Battle is a former American football wide receiver. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL draft. He played college football at Notre Dame. Battle also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is the son of former NFL tight end Ron Battle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Carter (American football)</span> American football player (born 1960)

Anthony “AC” Carter is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 13 years in the United States Football League (USFL) and National Football League (NFL). He made three-consecutive Pro Bowls for the Minnesota Vikings and was honored by Minnesota as one of the 50 Greatest Vikings of all time. Carter played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, finishing his career as a three-time All-American, and a two-time unanimous All-American selection. He is currently third all-time in receiving yards, and second all-time in receiving touchdowns for the University of Michigan.

Derrick Scott Alexander is an American college football coach and former professional player. He is the head football coach for Avila University, a position he has held since 2023. He played as a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Ginn Jr.</span> American football player (born 1985)

Theodore Ginn Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, and Chicago Bears.

Kelvin Brian Martin is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 1987 NFL draft. He won Super Bowl XXVII with the Cowboys against the Buffalo Bills, giving him his only Super Bowl title. He played college football for the Boston College Eagles before playing ten seasons in the NFL from 1987 to 1996 for the Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, and Philadelphia Eagles.

Kevin Ray Williams, Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, earning first-team All-American honors in 1991.

Dorien Lamar Bryant is an American former professional football wide receiver. He went undrafted in the 2008 NFL draft, but later signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a free agent.

The 1988 Cincinnati Bengals season was the team's 21st year in professional football and its 19th with the National Football League (NFL).

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

Dwayne Lenard Harris is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Lockett</span> American football player (born 1992)

Tyler Deron Lockett is an American professional football wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Seahawks in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft. He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats. In college, he set numerous Kansas State football records and was both a 2011 All-American and 2014 College Football All-America Team consensus All-American selection. In college, he totaled 6,586 career all-purpose yards and 35 touchdowns, including 3,710 yards and 29 touchdowns as a receiver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raheem Mostert</span> American football player (born 1992)

Dominique Raheem Mostert is an American professional football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers.

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

Christian Davon Kirk is an American professional football wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies, and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft.

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

Raymond McCloud III is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson.

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

Brandon Aiyuk is an American professional football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Sierra College and Arizona State and was selected by the 49ers in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Jones (American football, born 1998)</span> American football player (born 1998)

Charlie Jones is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Buffalo, Iowa, and Purdue. Jones was an All-American with Purdue in 2022, and was selected by the Bengals in the 2023 NFL draft.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "#14 Vinny Sutherland". Purdue University . Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Vinny Sutherland". purduesports.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Will Purdue return to 'basketball on grass?'". enquirer.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  4. ↑ "2011 Purdue Football Information Guide" (PDF). cstv.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  5. ↑ "2000 Purdue football stats". purduesports.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Sutherland Semifinalist For Biletnikoff Award". purduesports.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  7. ↑ David Wharton (January 2, 2001). "Huskies hang on to win Rose Bowl". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Rose Bowl 2001". rosebowlhistory.org. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Vinny Sutherland". sports-reference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  10. 1 2 "Vinny Sutherland, DS #18 WR, Purdue". NFLDraftScout.com. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  11. ↑ "2001 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  12. ↑ "2001 NFL Draft results". NFL.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  13. 1 2 "Vinny Sutherland". kffl.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  14. ↑ Kevin Lynch (September 6, 2001). "49ers Preview / Climbing from the Depths / Young team has solid first-stringers -- but little else". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  15. ↑ Nancy Gay (October 6, 2001). "49ers' special-teams formula potent". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Vinny Sutherland Re-Signs With 49ers". highbeam.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Vinny Sutherland". NFL.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  18. ↑ Scott Linesburgh (July 23, 2002). "49ers stick by Sutherland". San Francisco Notebook. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Rattay, 49ers impressive in victory". highbeam.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  20. ↑ John Mullin (October 4, 2002). "Bears sign returner Sutherland". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  21. ↑ Adam Caldarelli (October 21, 2002). "No easy answer to Bears' problems". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  22. ↑ John Mullin (October 26, 2002). "Starting days may be over". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  23. ↑ Kevin Lynch (January 3, 2003). "Sutherland re-signed to return kicks". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on February 2, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  24. ↑ "Vinny Sutherland". arenafan.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  25. ↑ "New York Dragons Team Transactions". arenafan.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
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.