Arron Sears
{{Short description|American football player (born 1984)}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL player
|name=Arron Sears
|image=
|caption=
|number=78
|position=Guard
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1984|10|25}}
|birth_place=Russellville, Alabama, U.S.
|death_date=
|death_place=
|height_ft=6
|height_in=3
|weight_lbs=319
|high_school=Russellville
|college=Tennessee
|draftyear=2007
|draftround=2
|draftpick=35
|pastteams=
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2007}}–{{NFL Year|2009}})
|highlights=
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2007)
- First-team All-American (2006)
- Jacobs Blocking Trophy (2006)
- 2× First-team All-SEC (2005, 2006)
| statlabel1= Games played
| statvalue1= 31
| statlabel2= Games started
| statvalue2= 31
| statlabel3= Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3= 1
|pfr=SearAr20
}}
Arron Eugene Sears (born October 25, 1984) is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2007 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2007/draft.htm |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
Early life
Sears attended [https://www.rcs.k12.al.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=15 Russellville High School] in Russellville, Alabama.{{Cite web |date=May 2, 2007 |title=Sears brothers set to make NFL debut |url=https://franklincountytimes.com/2007/05/02/sears-brothers-set-to-make-nfl-debut/ |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=Franklin County Times}}{{Cite web |title=Aaron Sears, 2003 Offensive Tackle, Tennessee |url=https://rivals.com/content/athletes/aaron-sears-72952?view=pv |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=Rivals.com |language=en-US}} He was considered a top high school prospect and was invited to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Sears was also named the 5A lineman of the year in Alabama by High School Sports Magazine.
College career
Sears was a starter at the University of Tennessee after taking over at the end of his freshman year against Mississippi State. He started at several positions on the offensive line but mostly at tackle. During his career, Sears received All-America and All-SEC honors. He was a team captain on the 2006 Tennessee Volunteers football team.{{Cite web |title=Arron Sears - Football |url=https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/arron-sears/12204 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=University of Tennessee Athletics |language=en}} He has an older brother (Kevin Sears) who played linebacker for Auburn University, and they faced each other twice in the 2004 season.
Professional career
Sears was named the Buccaneers' starter at left guard from Week 1 and did not disappoint, garnering a selection to the 2007 NFL All-Rookie Team for his efforts.{{Cite web |title=2007 NFL All-Rookie Team |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/nfl-all-rookie-2007.htm |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
Arron Sears started all 31 of his career games in his two seasons in the NFL.{{Cite web |title=Arron Sears Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SearAr20.htm |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On June 2, 2009, it was reported that Sears had a neurological condition sustained from a concussion. The extent of the injury was unknown, but early reports said it was possibly severe enough to be career-threatening.{{Cite web |date=June 17, 2009 |title=Sears Non-Starter |url=https://www.bucsnation.com/2009/6/17/912454/sears-non-starter |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=Bucs Nation |language=en}} He would ultimately leave the team and not return.{{Cite web |last=Katzowitz |first=Josh |date=June 28, 2012 |title=Former Bucs G Arron Sears, 27, suffering from neurological problems |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/former-bucs-g-arron-sears-27-suffering-from-neurological-problems/ |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}
Sears was waived by the Buccaneers on April 26, 2010.{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2010 |title=Bucs Release Six, Including Hovan, Sears |url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/bucs-release-six-including-hovan-sears-2262983 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=Buccaneers.com |language=en-US}}
Personal life
By age 27, Sears felt a "total loss of function" and was said to have swings of anger that could be a risk to others.{{Cite web |date=June 28, 2012 |title=At age 27, ex-Buc Arron Sears has "almost total loss of function" |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/at-age-27-ex-buc-arron-sears-has-almost-total-loss-of-function |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}} He was held for a mental health evaluation after being found wandering on the highway in 2010.{{Cite web |date=November 16, 2010 |title=NFL Roundup: Former Bucs Star Rookie Sears Arrested |url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2010/11/17/nfl-roundup-former-bucs-star-rookie-sears-arrested/26401041007/ |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=The Ledger |language=en-US}} Sears sued the NFL and the Buccaneers in 2012 because of the head trauma he experienced in his career leaving him unable to care for himself.{{Cite web |last=Hanstock |first=Bill |date=June 28, 2012 |title=Arron Sears Is 'Unable To Care for Himself', Files Concussion Lawsuit |url=https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2012/6/28/3124166/arron-sears-tampa-bay-buccaneers-concussion |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=SBNation.com |language=en}}
Honors
- 2006 Jacobs Award (SEC's top Blocker)[https://archive.today/20130121135740/http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120606aac.html]
- 2006 All-America – AFCA(1st team)[https://archive.today/20130120030422/http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/113006aaa.html], Rivals.com (3rd team) [https://web.archive.org/web/20061205073537/http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/113006aac.html]
- 2005 All-SEC – Coaches and Associated Press (1st team)
- SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week (October 3, 2005)
- 2003 Freshman All-SEC – Coaches and Knoxville News Sentinel (1st team)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{footballstats|pfr=S/SearAr20}}
- [https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/arron-sears/12204 Tennessee Volunteers bio]
{{Buccaneers2007DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sears, Arron}}
Category:People from Russellville, Alabama
Category:Players of American football from Alabama
Category:American football offensive guards