Dustin Keller

Last updated

Dustin Keller
Dustin Keller.JPG
Keller with the New York Jets in 2011
No. 81
Position: Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1984-09-25) September 25, 1984 (age 39)
Lafayette, Indiana, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school: Lafayette (IN) Jefferson
College: Purdue (2003–2007)
NFL draft: 2008  / Round: 1 / Pick: 30
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:241
Receiving yards:2,876
Receiving average:11.9
Receiving touchdowns:17
Player stats at PFR

Dustin Kendall Keller (born September 25, 1984) is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers.

Contents

Keller was also a member of the Miami Dolphins.

Early life

Dustin played high school football at Jefferson High School in Lafayette, Indiana. While at Jefferson, Dustin was a three-sport standout in football, basketball, and track. During his senior year at Lafayette Jefferson High School he was the state's leading wide receiver in football with 114 receptions in 2002, was second-team All-State as a small forward in basketball, and he was the high jump state champion in Indiana, clearing 6 ft 9 in in a steady rain after coming second to the Philadelphia 76ers' Rodney Carney with a jump of 6'10". Keller was named one of top 50 receivers in nation by Street & Smith's and first-team all-state as senior after setting state records with 113 receptions and 1,804 yards (16.0 average) with 22 touchdowns. He was a finalist for Mr. Football. [1]

Keller was expected to sign with the University of Toledo and had actually verbally committed. Purdue's then-head coach Joe Tiller went to Keller's high school to attain Keller's cell phone number. Tiller called Keller shortly after and scheduled a meeting in Tiller's office. Tiller offered Purdue's last scholarship. Being Dustin's hometown school, Keller chose Purdue over Toledo.[ citation needed ]

During his freshman year at Purdue, Keller red-shirted and switched from wide receiver to tight end. After a year of watching, learning, and getting stronger, Dustin began to display his strength and athleticism. After two touchdowns in his redshirt freshman year, including a game-winning touchdown against powerhouse Ohio State, Keller earned the full-time starting job in his redshirt sophomore year. Keller's production increased each season, so much so, that his senior season at Purdue he was voted Most Valuable Offensive Player in the Motor City Bowl. In addition, his teammates voted him Purdue's Most Valuable Player that same season.

Professional career

Pre-draft

Keller was nothing short of electrifying at the 2008 NFL Combine. He placed first in four out of the seven events and second in two of the seven. This performance dramatically improved his draft position.

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeight 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2 in
(1.88 m)		242 lb
(110 kg)		4.53 s1.62 s2.65 s4.14 s6.88 s38.5 in
(0.98 m)		10 ft 11 in
(3.33 m)		26 reps
Source: [2]

[3]

New York Jets

Keller was drafted by the New York Jets in the first round with the 30th overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft. [4] On July 18, 2008, he signed a 5-year 12 million dollar contract with the Jets. Keller was slowly phased into the offense alongside the veteran quarterback Brett Favre. Keller finished a strong rookie season with 48 receptions, 535 yards and 3 touchdowns.

In his second season, 2009, Keller finished with 2 touchdowns and 522 yards on 45 receptions.

Keller led the Jets in receptions (55) in 2010. In 2011, he again led the Jets in receptions (65) for 815 yards and 5 touchdowns.

After not missing a game or a practice in his first four years in the NFL, a pulled groin and high ankle sprain hindered Keller's production in the 2012 regular season, limiting him to 28 receptions for 317 yards and two touchdowns in only 8 games.

Miami Dolphins

Keller signed with the Miami Dolphins on March 15, 2013. [5] On August 17, 2013, Keller suffered a career-ending knee injury in a preseason game against the Texans, tearing his ACL, MCL, and PCL, and also dislocating his knee. [6] On August 20, 2013, the Dolphins placed Keller on injured reserve. [7]

Professional statistics

YearTeamGGSRecYardsAVGLngTD
2008NYJ1664853511.1543
2009NYJ16124552211.6402
2010NYJ16135568712.5415
2011NYJ16126581512.5415
2012NYJ852831711.3322
Total 7248241287611.95417

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Chambers</span> American football player (born 1978)

Christopher J. Chambers is a former American football wide receiver who played 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Wisconsin. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2001 NFL draft, and also played for the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs. He served in 2021 as the first-ever University of Fort Lauderdale head football coach, and now is the Wide Receivers coach at Keiser University.

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

Derrick Jabar Gaffney is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2001. He was selected by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft, and also played in the NFL for the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins, and Miami Dolphins.

Taylor Evans Stubblefield is an American football coach and former player who is the wide receivers coach for the Air Force Falcons. He played professionally as a wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers and St. Louis Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He left Purdue University owning the most receptions in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) history. Stubblefield was most recently the wide receivers coach with the Toronto Argonauts. A three-sport athlete at A.C. Davis High School, Stubblefield committed to the Purdue University to play football for the Boilermakers. In his collegiate debut in 2001, he had five receptions for 65 yards. He led the team in receptions and was named to the All-Freshman Big Ten team by Sporting News. During his sophomore season, he finished with 77 receptions for 789 yards, but didn't record a touchdown catch. As a junior in 2003, Stubblefield earned second-team All-Big Ten honors at the conclusion of the season. In the 2001 Sun Bowl, he had nine catches for a Sun Bowl-record 196 yards. During the 2004 season, Stubblefield was a Biletnikoff Award finalist, earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and was named a consensus All-American.He concluded his college career with an NCAA record of 325 receptions, which he held for seven years, 3,629 yards, and 27 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Purdue Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015 and was also named to the 75th Anniversary Sun Bowl Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Phipps</span> American football player (born 1947)

Michael Elston Phipps is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1970s and 1980s. Phipps played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers, and was recognized as an All-American. He was the third overall pick in the 1970 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears of the NFL.

Kory Gerren Sheets is a former American football running back. He played college football at Purdue and he was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2009. Sheets was also a member of the Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers and Oakland Raiders of the NFL and the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Purdue Boilermakers football team</span> American college football season

The 2006 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Joe Tiller and played its home games at Ross–Ade Stadium. Purdue played thirteen games in the 2006 season, finishing with an 8–6 record and a loss in the 2006 Champs Sports Bowl to Maryland.

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

Curtis Jeffrey Painter is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL draft.

Vincent Joseph Sutherland is a former professional American 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.

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Hartline</span> American football player and coach (born 1986)

Brian Jack Hartline is an American football coach and former wide receiver who is the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Ohio State. He played college football at Ohio State, and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He was also a member of the Cleveland Browns.

Brian Wayne Alford is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers, earning first-team All-American honors in 1997. He was selected by the Giants in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft.

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

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rishard Matthews</span> American football player (born 1989)

Rishard Andre Matthews is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football for the University of Nevada, and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He also played for the Tennessee Titans and New York Jets.

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

DeVante Parker is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft with the 14th overall pick. He played with the New England Patriots in 2022 and 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jalin Marshall</span> American football player (born 1995)

Jalin Delane Marshall is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is a free agent. He signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent following the 2016 NFL draft. He played college football at Ohio State. He has also played for the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

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

Robbie Chosen, known briefly as Robbie Anderson and Chosen Anderson, is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Temple and was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He has also played for the Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, and Miami Dolphins.

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

DeAngelo L. Yancey is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue.

Braxton Berrios is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Miami (FL). He was a star athlete at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh, North Carolina where he played quarterback and wide receiver. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2018 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 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. In 2022, he was named as an All-American.

References

  1. ↑ "Purdue Player Bio: Dustin Keller".{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  2. ↑ "2008 TE Draft Prospects", CBSSports.com, CBS Sports, 2008, archived from the original on October 14, 2012, retrieved November 6, 2010
  3. ↑ "2008 NFL Combine Top Performers". NFL.com . Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  4. ↑ "2008 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  5. ↑ Miami Dolphins sign Dustin Keller
  6. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 18, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ↑ Wilkening, Mike (August 20, 2013). "Dolphins place Dustin Keller on injured reserve". NBCSports.com. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
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.