Jesse Penn

Last updated

Jesse Penn
No. 59
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1962-09-06) September 6, 1962 (age 61)
Martinsville, Virginia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school: Martinsville
College: Virginia Tech
NFL draft: 1985  / Round: 2 / Pick: 44
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:42
Sacks:2.5
Player stats at PFR

Jesse Andrew Penn II (born September 6, 1962) 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.

Contents

Early years

Penn attended Martinsville High School, where he practiced football and track. He accepted a football scholarship from Virginia Tech.

As a junior, he was named a starter at standup defensive end, becoming one of the leaders on defense, while playing on the same defensive line as future hall of famer Bruce Smith. He posted 70 tackles (fourth on the team), 39 solo tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 3 interceptions, 9 passes defensed.

As a senior, he registered 65 tackles (fifth on the team), 35 solo tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 5 interceptions (second on the team), 8 passes defensed (second on the team) and 2 fumble recoveries. He also participated in the Blue–Gray Football Classic. [1] His 8 career interceptions were a school record for defensive linemen.

Professional career

Penn was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round (44th overall) of the 1985 NFL draft, to play as an outside linebacker. [2] He also was selected fifth overall in the 1985 USFL Draft. As a rookie, he was a backup behind Jeff Rohrer. [3] In the preseason against the Green Bay Packers, he returned an interception for a 77-yard touchdown. [4] He started against the Cincinnati Bengals in place of an injured Rohrer, making 5 tackles and returned a blocked punt 49 yards for a touchdown.

In 1987, he started in place of an injured Rohrer against the Detroit Lions, tallying 6 tackles, one forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries. He finished the season with 2.5 sacks.

In the 1988 offseason he was diagnosed with a degenerative spinal condition, that forced him to retire. [5]

Related Research Articles

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

Keith Howard Brooking is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 1998 NFL draft. Brooking was a five-time Pro Bowl selection with the Falcons. He also played for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.

Willie Marquis Pile is a former American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys. He also played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Toronto Argonauts. He played college football at Virginia Tech.

Kevin Lamont Hardy is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, and Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akin Ayodele</span> American football player (born 1979)

Akinola James Ayodele is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, and Buffalo Bills. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue.

Alshermond Glendale Singleton is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Temple University.

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

James Nathaniel Anderson is a former American 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.

Leon E'srom Williams is a former American football linebacker who played for the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Browns in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Williams was also a member of the New York Sentinels of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at the University of Miami.

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

Justin Ryan Durant is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hampton University.

Dixon Voldean Edwards, III is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans.

Joe Tarrod Bowden, III is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers / Tennessee Oilers / Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma.

Jeffrey Charles Rohrer 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 Yale Bulldogs and was selected in the second round of the 1982 NFL draft.

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">Dan Connor (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1985)

Daniel Murphy Connor is an American football coach and a former linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. He played college football at Penn State University, where he is currently a defensive analyst.

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

Sean Patrick Lee is an American former professional football linebacker. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. He made two Pro Bowls and the 2016 All-Pro Team.

Jesse William Solomon is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, and Miami Dolphins. He played college football at Florida State University.

Anthony Charles Dickerson was an American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills. He played college football at Southern Methodist University.

Tony Dixon is a former American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Alabama.

Martez Jerome Wilson is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League. He played college football at the University of Illinois.

Jabril Cox is an American football linebacker. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Dakota State, where he won three FCS championships and was named the MVFC defensive player of the year before playing the 2020 season with LSU. Cox has also been a member of the Washington Commanders.

Devin Harper is an American football linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma State.

References

  1. ↑ "Outland Trophy winner to play in Blue-Gray" . Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  2. ↑ "1985 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  3. ↑ "Cowboys Draft Big Defenders" . Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Late Raiders' heroics fall short to 49ers" . Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Dallas linebacker has back ailment" . Retrieved January 13, 2023.
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.