Alex Tillman
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1991)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox Canadian Football League biography
| name = Alex Tillman
| team =
| image = Alex Tillman (140920-F-JB669-307) (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Tillman at North Dakota in 2014
| import = yes
| position1 = Defensive back
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|05|29}}
| birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| number = 28
| college = North Dakota
| high_school = Cloverleaf (TX) North Shore Senior
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lbs = 190
| playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|2015}}
| playing_team1 = BC Lions
| career_highlights =
| statlabel1 = Return yards
| statvalue1 = 120
| statlabel2 = Tackles
| statvalue2 = 2
| statlabel3 =
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 =
| statvalue4 =
| CFL = 7977
}}
Alex Tillman (born May 29, 1991) is an American former professional football defensive back and punt returner who played for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He attended the University of North Dakota and the University of Houston.
Early life
Tillman attended North Shore Senior High School, where he played high school football as a quarterback. He earned three district championships at North Shore, and was named the Offensive and Team MVP during his senior year with over 2,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards.{{cite news|title=Tillman set to play football at UND in 2014|url=http://www.undsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=13500&ATCLID=209489870|accessdate=6 July 2015|work=University of North Dakota Athletics|date=5 May 2014}}
College career
Tillman first played college football for the Houston Cougars. After redshirting in 2010, he played in 26 games on defense and the special teams from 2011 to 2013.{{cite web|title=Alex Tillman|url=http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/alex_tillman_751003.html|website=Houston Cougars|accessdate=6 July 2015}} Prior to the 2014 season, Tillman transferred to the University of North Dakota to complete his final year of eligibility. He recorded 31 solo tackles and a 92-yard interception for a touchdown in his final season, playing as a cornerback.{{cite web|title=Alex Tillman |url=http://www.bclions.com/roster/show/id/7977 |website=BC Lions |accessdate=6 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706181121/http://www.bclions.com/roster/show/id/7977 |archivedate=6 July 2015 }} He also returned 14 punts for 237 yards, including a school record 95-yard punt return for a touchdown.{{cite news|title=Alex Tillman's 95-yard punt return TD caps North Dakota's 24-16 comeback over Portland State|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/alex-tillmans-95-yard-punt-return-td-caps-north-dakotas-24-16-comeback-over-portland-state/|access-date=6 July 2015|work=Fox News|agency=Associated Press|date=11 October 2014}} Tillman was designated an all-conference punt returner in the Big Sky Conference and received an honorable mention as a cornerback.{{cite news|title=Former North Dakota standout Tillman signs with CFL team|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2015/05/28/former-north-dakota-standout-tillman-signs-with-cfl-team/28060201/|accessdate=6 July 2015|work=USA Today|agency=Associated Press|date=28 May 2015}}
Professional career
On May 27, 2015, Tillman was signed by the BC Lions as a free agent. He was among several potential candidates to replace Tim Brown as the team's kickoff returner during the preseason, and was also looked at as a potential punt returner.{{cite news|last1=Ullrich|first1=Lowell|title=It's not so easy for the Lions to replace Tim Brown|url=https://theprovince.com/sports/easy+Lions+replace+Brown/11141991/story.html|accessdate=6 July 2015|work=The Province|date=17 June 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Ullrich|first1=Lowell|title=Ullrich: Lulay made it through to the regular season safely|url=https://theprovince.com/sports/Ullrich+Lulay+made+through+regular+season+safely/11152311/story.html|accessdate=6 July 2015|work=The Province|date=20 June 2015}} After making the active roster, Tillman made his CFL debut on July 4 against the Ottawa Redblacks, recording a tackle and returning three punts for 22 yards.{{cite web|title=BC Lions vs Ottawa Redblacks (July 4, 2015)|url=https://www.cfl.ca/statistics/statsGame/id/12861|website=CFL|accessdate=6 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706020018/http://cfl.ca/statistics/statsGame/id/12861|archive-date=6 July 2015|url-status=dead}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tillman, Alex}}
Category:Canadian football defensive backs
Category:American football defensive backs
Category:American football return specialists
Category:Canadian football return specialists
Category:Houston Cougars football players
Category:North Dakota Fighting Hawks football players
Category:Players of American football from Houston
Category:Players of Canadian football from Houston
Category:North Shore Senior High School (Texas) alumni