Cullen Gillaspia
{{Short description|American football player (born 1995)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Cullen Gillaspia
| image = Cullen Gillaspia (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Gillaspia with the New York Giants in 2021
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Fullback
Linebacker
Special teamer
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|5|12}}
| birth_place = Katy, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 235
| high_school = Taylor (Katy, Texas)
| college = Texas A&M (2014–2018)
| draftyear = 2019
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 220
| pastteams = * Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2019}}–{{NFL Year|2020}})
- New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2021}})
- Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2022}})
| status =
| statleague = NFL
| statweek =
| statseason =
| statlabel1 = Rushing attempts
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 = Rushing yards
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Receptions
| statvalue3 = 1
| statlabel4 = Receiving yards
| statvalue4 = 6
| statlabel5 = Total touchdowns
| statvalue5 =
| highlights =
| pfr = GillCu00
}}
Cullen Gillaspia (born May 12, 1995) is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football at Texas A&M.
Early life
Gillaspia attended and played high school football at James E. Taylor High School.{{Cite web |last=Patterson |first=Brian K. |date=2019-04-27 |title=Houston Texans: Cullen Gillaspia is a versatile ball hawk for special teams |url=https://houseofhouston.com/2019/04/27/houston-texans-cullen-gillaspia-nfl-draft-versatile-ball-hawk-special-teams/ |access-date=2019-05-24 |website=House of Houston |language=en-US}}
College career
Gillaspia walked on to the Texas A&M team as a linebacker. He tied Texas A&M's record for most games played as the 12th man. Coming into his senior season, Gillaspia moved from linebacker to fullback as Jimbo Fisher shifted to a pro-style offense. He started at fullback in every game and rushed for 33 yards on five carries and caught five passes for 52 yards. Gillaspia recorded six tackles on special teams in 2018. In his final play, Gillaspia scored a 13-yard rushing touchdown in A&M's 52–13 win over NC State in the Gator Bowl, the first touchdown by a 12th man in program history{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Alex |title=Former Texas A&M 12th Man Cullen Gillaspia selected No. 220 overall by the Houston Texans in NFL draft |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/2019/04/27/former-texas-am-12th-man-cullen-gillaspia-selected-no-220-overall-by-the-houston-texans-in-nfl-draft/ |accessdate=January 12, 2020 |work=Dallas Morning News |date=April 27, 2019}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 1 1/4
| weight = 234
| dash = 4.54
| ten split = 1.65
| twenty split = 2.65
| shuttle = 4.28
| cone drill = 6.95
| vertical = 32.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 4
| bench = 20
| arm span = 30 3/4
| hand span = 9 1/8
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=2019 NFL Draft Scout Cullen Gillaspia College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1020347&DraftYear=2019 |access-date=August 19, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=Houston Texans=
Gillaspia was drafted by the Houston Texans in the seventh round, 220th overall, of the 2019 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Weston |first=Matt |date=April 27, 2019 |title=2019 NFL Draft Results: Houston Texans Select Cullen Gillaspia With The 220nd Overall Pick |url=https://www.battleredblog.com/2019/4/27/18519943/2019-nfl-draft-results-houston-texans-select-cullen-gillaspia-with-the-220nd-overall-pick |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=Battle Red Blog |publisher=SB Nation}} He played 12 snaps on offense during the regular season. In the American Football Conference wild card game, Gillaspia made a crucial block on two Bills defenders to set up Deshaun Watson for a touchdown run in a 22–19 overtime victory.{{cite news |last1=Zwerneman |first1=Brent |title=Cullen Gillaspia delivers when called on for Texans |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texans/article/Cullen-Gillaspia-delivers-when-called-on-for-14966587.php |accessdate=January 12, 2020 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=January 10, 2020}} In Week 3 of the 2020 regular season, Cullen Gillaspia caught his first career reception, against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It went for 6 yards.
On December 5, 2020, Gillaspia was placed on injured reserve.{{cite web|title=Houston Texans Transactions (12-5-20)|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-12-5-20|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=December 5, 2020}} He was waived with a "failed physical" designation on March 9, 2021.{{cite news |title=Houston Texans Transactions (3-9-2021) |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-3-9-2021 |website=HoustonTexans.com |date=March 9, 2021 |access-date=March 9, 2021}}{{cite news |title=Cullen Gillaspia: Cut with failed physical tag |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/cullen-gillaspia-cut-with-failed-physical-tag/ |website=CBSSports.com |date=March 9, 2021 |access-date=March 9, 2021}}
=New York Giants=
Gillaspia signed with the New York Giants on March 16, 2021.{{cite news |author=Eisen, Michael |title=Giants sign former Texans fullback Cullen Gillaspia |url=https://www.giants.com/news/cullen-gillaspia-nfl-free-agency-2021-houston-texans-texas-a-m-aggies |website=Giants.com |date=March 16, 2021 |access-date=March 17, 2021}} He played in 15 of the 17 games, recording four tackles (two solo).{{cite web |title=Cullen Gillaspia Career Stats |url=https://www.nfl.com/players/cullen-gillaspia/stats/career |website=nfl.com |publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC. |access-date=20 March 2022}}
=Seattle Seahawks=
On September 28, 2022, Gillaspia was signed to the practice squad of the Seattle Seahawks.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=John |date=September 28, 2022 |title=Seahawks Place Travis Homer On IR, Sign CB Xavier Crawford To 53-Man Roster |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-place-travis-homer-on-ir-sign-cb-xavier-crawford-to-53-man-roster |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=Seahawks.com}} He was promoted to the active roster on October 12.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=John |date=October 12, 2022 |title=Seahawks Sign Bruce Irvin To Practice Squad, Sign Cullen Gillaspia To 53-Man Roster |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-bruce-irvin-to-practice-squad-sign-cullen-gillaspia-to-53-man-rost |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=Seahawks.com}} He was placed on injured reserve on November 12 after suffering a knee injury that would require surgery.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=John |date=November 12, 2022 |title=Seahawks Elevate LB Vi Jones From Practice Squad; Place LB Cullen Gillaspia On IR |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-elevate-lb-vi-jones-from-practice-squad-place-lb-cullen-gillaspia-on-ir |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=Seahawks.com}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://12thman.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6436 Texas A&M Aggies bio]
{{Texans2019DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gillaspia, Cullen}}
Category:Players of American football from Katy, Texas
Category:American football fullbacks
Category:Houston Texans players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:Texas A&M Aggies football players