Willie Pile

Last updated

Willie Pile
No. 35, 20
Position: Safety / Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1980-05-25) May 25, 1980 (age 44)
New York, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:206 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school: Alexandria (VA) West Potomac
College: Virginia Tech
NFL draft: 2003  / round: 7 / pick: 252
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Player stats at PFR

Willie Marquis Pile (born May 25, 1980) is a former American football safety who played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL), and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Virginia Tech.

Contents

Early life

Pile attended West Potomac High School in Alexandria, Virginia. He didn't start playing football until his freshman year. He played at quarterback, defensive back and wide receiver.

As a senior quarterback, he registered 652 rushing yards, 560 passing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns and 4 passing touchdowns. He helped his team post an 11–2 record and reach the Division 5 Northern Region championship. As a two-way player, he also contributed at defensive back with 96 tackles, 8 interceptions (school record) and 4 fumble recoveries. He received first-team Group AAA all-state honors on defense, besides being named All-Metro by The Washington Post and Northern Region Offensive Player of the Year. [1]

He also lettered in basketball, where he received All-district and All Region Tournament honors.

College career

Pile became a starter at free safety as a sophomore, registering 56 tackles and 6 interceptions. The next year, he made 94 tackles (second on the team), 4 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries.

In 2002, in his senior season he tallied 105 tackles, 5 PKD, 4 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries. While playing against the Miami Hurricanes, Pile intercepted a halfback pass from Jarrett Payton intended for Ken Dorsey and returned it 97 yards for a touchdown. The interception would come while Tech was trailing 49-21 and sparked a rally that ultimately fell short as the Hokies lost 56–45. [2] A three-year starter at free safety for the Virginia Tech Hokies, he finished his career with 267 tackles, 14 interceptions and 276 return yards.

Professional career

Kansas City Chiefs

Pile was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round (252nd overall) of the 2003 NFL draft. [3] He was waived on August 31 and was eventually re-signed to the practice squad in week 14. In 2004, he was allocated to the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe, where he had 53 tackles (third on the team), 6 passes defensed and one interception.

In 2004, he started 5 games in place of strong safety Greg Wesley who was dealing with a hamstring injury. He appeared in 16 games, making 36 tackles, 5 special teams tackles and 2 passes defensed. He was released on August 30, 2005.

Dallas Cowboys

On September 5, 2005, he was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys. He was a backup behind Roy Williams and Keith Davis, playing mostly as a nickel safety and special teams player. He appeared in 16 games and posted 22 defensive tackles. On September 2, 2006, he was released after being passed on the depth chart by rookie Pat Watkins. [4]

Toronto Argonauts

On February 23, 2007, Pile signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and was switched to outside linebacker. He played in 17 games during the 2007 season, registering 76 tackles (third on the team) and 5 sacks. In 2008, he was named the team's top defensive player after leading the defense with 75 tackles, while also adding three interceptions, 2 sacks through 17 games.

He was re-signed by the Argonauts on February 16, 2009. [5] In 2009, he played his first full season, amassing 81 tackles, 3 interceptions and one sack. The next year, he received East All-Stars honors, after setting a career-high of 83 tackles, 4 interceptions, 2 sacks, 3 passes defensed, 4 special teams tackles, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries. [6]

On May 29, 2012, Pile announced his retirement from professional football, finishing his CFL career 445 tackles, 12 interceptions, 13 forced fumbles and 5 fumble recoveries. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeAngelo Hall</span> American football player (born 1983)

DeAngelo Eugene Hall is an American professional football coach and former player who was a defensive back for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft. Hall played half a season for the Oakland Raiders before being released and signed by the Washington Redskins in 2008, playing for them until retiring following the 2017 season. He was a cornerback for the majority of his career before playing at free safety during his last few seasons.

Singor A. Mobley is a former American football safety and linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL), for the Dallas Cowboys and Edmonton Eskimos. He played college football at Washington State University in Pullman.

Dexter Devon Reid Jr. is a former American football safety. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL draft after playing his college football at the University of North Carolina. Reid is a two-time Super Bowl champion, having won a trophy with the Patriots and Indianapolis Colts in 2005 and 2007 respectively.

John Albert Engelberger is a former American football defensive end. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2000 NFL draft. He played college football at Virginia Tech. Engelberger has also played for the Denver Broncos.

Kenneth Tyron Wheaton is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at the University of Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Anderson (American football)</span> American football player (born 1983)

James Nathaniel Anderson is an American former professional football linebacker. He played college football at Virginia Tech and was selected in the third round of the 2006 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers.

Patrick Watkins is an American former American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers. He was also a member of the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Florida State University.

Kahlil Rafiq Carter, is an American former professional gridiron football player and coach.

Jonathan Bernard Brown is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft. Brown finished his playing career in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts and BC Lions. He was formerly the head coach for his high school alma mater, Booker T. Washington High School.

Reginald Alonzo Givens is a former American football linebacker in both the Canadian Football League (CFL) and National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Stallions, Toronto Argonauts, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins. He played college football at Penn State University.

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

Victor "Macho" Harris, Jr. is a former football defensive back. He played college football at Virginia Tech and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft. Harris was also a member of the Washington Redskins and the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL and the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Worilds</span> American football player (born 1988)

Jason Adjepong Worilds is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies and was selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. He retired during the prime of his career to become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamar Wall</span> American gridiron football player (born 1988)

Jamar Wall is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He also was a member of the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas Tech.

Cody James Grimm is an American football coach and former safety. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Suber</span> American gridiron football player coach (born 1986)

Alex Suber is a gridiron football coach and former professional Canadian Football League player. He is currently the defensive backs coach for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a former defensive back who played for six seasons in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Toronto Argonauts, and Saskatchewan Roughriders. He played college football for the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.

Jalil Carter is a former professional American football cornerback. He played college football for the University of Akron Zips. He has previously played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL), where he was a member of their 100th Grey Cup winning team. Today Jalil is an established real estate agent in Cambridge, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Jefferson</span> American gridiron football player (born 1991)

Willie Hebert Jefferson III is an American professional football defensive end for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Jefferson is a three-time Grey Cup champion, winning with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2015 and twice more with the Blue Bombers in 2019 and 2021. He was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2019 with the Bombers, and is a five-time CFL All-Star and six-time CFL West All-Star. He has also been a member of the Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, and Saskatchewan Roughriders. Jefferson played college football for the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks and the Baylor Bears.

Jesse Andrew Penn II is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies. and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1985 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davon Coleman</span> American gridiron football player (born 1991)

Davon Coleman is an American gridiron football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He most recently played for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). In college, he first enrolled at Fort Scott Community College before transferring to Arizona State University. He has also been a member of four National Football League (NFL) teams and three other CFL teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woody Baron</span> American gridiron football player (born 1993)

Woody Baron is an American professional football defensive lineman for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Virginia Tech.

References

  1. ↑ Sanders, Rich (August 3, 2006). "Top 100: Willie Pile, West Potomac, Football, 1998". The Connection Newspapers.
  2. ↑ Stewart, Will (December 7, 2002). "Miami 56, Virginia Tech 45". techsideline.com. Retrieved July 8, 2007.
  3. ↑ "2003 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Petitti, Boiman, Green Among 15 Players Cut" . Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Willie Pile re-signs with Boatmen" . Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Seven Named East All-Stars" . Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Veteran safety Willie Pile announces retirement" . Retrieved February 19, 2016.
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.