Dri Archer

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Dri Archer

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| current_team =

| number = 13

| position = {{nowrap|Running back
Return specialist}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|8|9}}

| birth_place = Tampa, Florida, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 8

| weight_lbs = 173

| high_school = Venice {{nowrap|(Venice, Florida)}}

| college = Kent State

| draftyear = 2014

| draftround = 3

| draftpick = 97

| pastteams =

Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2015}})
New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2016}})*
Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2016}})*

| status =

| highlights =

MAC Special Teams Player of the Year (2012)
Consensus All-American (2012)
First-team All-MAC (2012)

| statlabel1 = Rushing attempts

| statvalue1 = 10

| statlabel2 = Rushing yards

| statvalue2 = 40

| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns

| statvalue3 =

| statlabel4 = Receptions

| statvalue4 = 7

| statlabel5 = Receiving yards

| statvalue5 = 23

| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns

| statvalue6 =

| pfr = A/ArchDr00

}}

Adrion Dante "Dri" Archer (born August 9, 1991) is an American former professional football player who was a running back and return specialist for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kent State Golden Flashes, earning consensus All-American honors on 2012. He was selected by the Steelers in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft. He was also a member of the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.

Early life

Archer attended Venice High School, where he was a member of the basketball, football, and track teams.{{Cite web |title=Dri Archer, Venice , All Purpose Back |url=https://247sports.com/Player/Dri-Archer-35125/high-school-57826/ |access-date=June 13, 2022 |website=247Sports |language=en-US}} In track, he finished second in the 100 meters final of state track meet in his first full season of running (behind World Class sprinter Dentarius Locke and ahead of third place Denard Robinson),{{Cite web |title=Kent State University Athletics – Dri Archer – 2013–14 Football |url=http://www.kentstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5258&path=football |website=kentstatesports.com}} with a time of 10.49 seconds.{{Cite web |title=De'Anthony Thomas Vs. Dri Archer: Cut from the Same Mold? |url=http://www.football.com/en-us/de-anthony-thomas-vs-dri-archer-cut-from-the-same-mold/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225231316/http://www.football.com/en-us/de-anthony-thomas-vs-dri-archer-cut-from-the-same-mold/ |archive-date=February 25, 2014 |access-date=February 17, 2014}} He also ran the 200 meters in 21.46 seconds.

As a senior, he was named to the all-area first-team in football. He helped Venice High School win two district titles.[http://www.kentstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5258&path=football "Dri Archer"]. kentstatesports.com. Retrieved February 8, 2013.

{{College athlete recruit entry

| recruit = Dri Archer

| position = RB

| hometown = Venice, Florida

| highschool = Venice High School

| feet = 5

| inches = 7

| weight = 160

| 40 = 4.6

| commitdate = January 23, 2009

| scout stars = 2

| rivals stars = 2

| espn grade = NR

}}

{{College athlete recruit end

| 40 =

| year = 2009

| rivals ref title = Kent State Football Commitment List (23)

| scout ref title = Kent State College Football Recruiting Commits

| espn ref title = ESPN

| rivals school = kentstate

| scout s = 344

| espn schoolid = 2309

| scout overall = – (RB)

| rivals overall = – (RB), – (FL)

| espn overall = – (RB)

| accessdate = December 12, 2013

| bball =

}}

College career

Archer was offered track scholarships from both Clemson and Arkansas. Kent State was the only school to offer him a football scholarship where he elected to attend. As a freshman at Kent State University, in 2009, he played in 11 games as a wide receiver/running back and had 246 rushing yards and 231 receiving yards. The following season, he had 140 rushing yards and 75 receiving yards. Before the 2011 season, Archer was ruled ineligible for academic reasons.{{Cite web |date=March 30, 2012 |title=After sitting out last season, KSU's Dri Archer to take on dual role of running back and receiver |url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/kent-state/2012/03/30/after-sitting-out-last-season/10725344007/ |access-date=June 13, 2022 |website=Akron Beacon Journal |language=en-US}}

In 2012, Archer had 1,429 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns, 561 receiving yards, and four receiving touchdowns. His 24 total touchdowns led the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and set a single-season school record. Against Ball State, Archer had a 99-yard kick return for a touchdown and set a career-high with 350 all-purpose yards. Against Eastern Michigan, he had a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown, and a kick return touchdown. Against Army, he had 222 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown, and a passing touchdown.{{Cite web |title=Kent State at Army Box Score, October 13, 2012 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2012-10-13-army.html |access-date=June 13, 2022 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} Archer was named the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year. He made the All-MAC first-team as a running back and kick returner. He was also a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award. Archer was a consensus All-American.{{Cite web |date=December 17, 2012 |title=Kent State's Archer named consensus FBS All-American |url=https://preps.heraldtribune.com/2012/12/17/kent-states-archer-named-consensus-fbs-all-american/ |access-date=June 13, 2022 |website=HT Preps |language=en-US}}

=Statistics=

Source:{{Cite web |title=Dri Archer College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/dri-archer-1.html |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
colspan=2 style="background:#fff; border-color:#fff #fff #aaa #fff" \| ! rowspan=99 style="background:#fff; border-color:#fff #aaa" \| ! colspan=7 \| Rushing ! rowspan=99 style="background:#fff; border-color:#fff #aaa" \| ! colspan=3 \| Receiving ! rowspan=99 style="background:#fff; border-color:#fff #aaa" \| ! colspan=5 \| Kickoff Returns ! rowspan=99 style="background:#fff; border-color:#fff #aaa" \| ! colspan=5 \| Punt Returns
Season ! Team ! {{tooltip\|GS\|Games started}} ! {{tooltip\|GP\|Games played}} ! align="center \| Att ! {{tooltip\|Yds\|Yards}} ! Avg ! {{tooltip\|TD\|Touchdowns}} ! Long ! align="center \| {{tooltip\|Rec\|Receptions}} ! Yds ! TD ! align="center \| Att ! Yds ! Avg ! TD ! Long ! align="center \| Att ! Yds ! Avg ! TD ! Long
2009 \| Kent State \| 0 \| 11 \| 58 \| 246 \| 4.2 \| 1 \| 28 \| 19 \| 231 \| 3 \| 11 \| 266 \| 24.2 \| 0 \| 77 \| 0 \| 0 \| – \| 0 \| 0
2010 \| Kent State \| 0 \| 10 \| 40 \| 140 \| 3.5 \| 1 \| 17 \| 16 \| 75 \| 1 \| 22 \| 451 \| 20.5 \| 0 \| 39 \| 5 \| 12 \| 2.4 \| 0 \| 16
2012 \| Kent State \| 14 \| 14 \| 159 \| 1,429 \| 9.0 \| 16 \| 87 \| 39 \| 561 \| 4 \| 16 \| 591 \| 36.9 \| 3 \| 99 \| 1 \| −4 \| −4 \| 0 \| −4
2013 \| Kent State \| 10 \| 10 \| 68 \| 527 \| 7.8 \| 6 \| 74 \| 25 \| 327 \| 4 \| 2 \| 128 \| 64.0 \| 1 \| 100 \| 0 \| 0 \| – \| 0 \| –
style="background:#f0f0f0;" \| \| Totals \| 24 \| 45 \| 325 \| 2,342 \| 7.2 \| 24 \| 87 \| 99 \| 1,194 \| 12 \| 51 \| 1,436 \| 28.2 \| 4 \| 100 \| 6 \| 8 \| 1.3 \| 0 \| 16

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

colspan=2 style="background:#fff; border-color:#fff #fff #aaa #fff" |

! rowspan=99 style="background:#fff; border-color:#fff #aaa" |

! colspan=7 | Rushing

! rowspan=99 style="background:#fff; border-color:#fff #aaa" |

! colspan=3 | Receiving

! rowspan=99 style="background:#fff; border-color:#fff #aaa" |

! colspan=5 | Kickoff Returns

! rowspan=99 style="background:#fff; border-color:#fff #aaa" |

! colspan=5 | Punt Returns

Season

! Team

! {{tooltip|GS|Games started}}

! {{tooltip|GP|Games played}}

! align="center | Att

! {{tooltip|Yds|Yards}}

! Avg

! {{tooltip|TD|Touchdowns}}

! Long

! align="center | {{tooltip|Rec|Receptions}}

! Yds

! TD

! align="center | Att

! Yds

! Avg

! TD

! Long

! align="center | Att

! Yds

! Avg

! TD

! Long

2009

| Kent State

| 0

| 11

| 58

| 246

| 4.2

| 1

| 28

| 19

| 231

| 3

| 11

| 266

| 24.2

| 0

| 77

| 0

| –

| 0

2010

| Kent State

| 0

| 10

| 40

| 140

| 3.5

| 1

| 17

| 16

| 75

| 1

| 22

| 451

| 20.5

| 0

| 39

| 5

| 12

| 2.4

| 0

| 16

2012

| Kent State

| 14

| 159

| 1,429

| 9.0

| 16

| 87

| 39

| 561

| 4

| 16

| 591

| 36.9

| 3

| 99

| 1

| −4

| 0

| −4

2013

| Kent State

| 10

| 68

| 527

| 7.8

| 6

| 74

| 25

| 327

| 4

| 2

| 128

| 64.0

| 1

| 100

| 0

| –

| 0

| –

style="background:#f0f0f0;"

| Totals

| 24

| 45

| 325

| 2,342

| 7.2

| 24

| 87

| 99

| 1,194

| 12

| 51

| 1,436

| 28.2

| 4

| 100

| 6

| 8

| 1.3

| 0

| 16

Professional career

=Pre-draft=

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 5

| height in = 7+3/4

| weight = 173

| dash = 4.26

| ten split = 1.47

| twenty split = 2.34

| shuttle = 4.06

| cone drill = 6.86

| vertical = 38

| broad ft = 10

| broad in = 2

| bench = 20

| wonderlic = 19

| arm span = 31

| hand span = 8+7/8

| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |title=NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles – Dri Archer |url=http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/dri-archer?id=2543596 |website=NFL.com}}

}}

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Archer ran the 40-yard dash in 4.26 seconds, which is the fifth-fastest time ever recorded since the NFL began electronic timing.{{Cite web |last=Cimini |first=Rich |date=February 3, 2016 |title=Jets sign former Steelers KR Dri Archer, who ran second-fastest 40 in combine history |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/58284/jets-sign-former-steelers-kr-dri-archer-who-runs-very-fast |access-date=February 5, 2016 |website=ESPN.com}}

=Pittsburgh Steelers=

He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 3rd round with the 97th overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Coppinger |first=Mike |date=May 10, 2014 |title=Pittsburgh Steelers draft Dri Archer, combine's fastest |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/pittsburgh-steelers-draft-dri-archer-combine-s-fastest-0ap2000000349136 |access-date=November 8, 2015 |publisher=National Football League}}

On September 7, 2014, Archer made his NFL debut against the Cleveland Browns.{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers - September 7th, 2014 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201409070pit.htm |access-date=June 13, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In his rookie season, Archer totaled ten carries for 40 yards and seven receptions for 23 yards to go along with occasional kickoff return duties in 12 games.{{Cite web |title=Dri Archer 2014 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/ArchDr00/gamelog/2014/ |access-date=June 13, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

In 2015, Archer saw more action in the kick return game but did not factor into the offense. He finished with 14 kickoff returns for 324 net yards for a 25.29 average.{{Cite web |title=Dri Archer 2015 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/ArchDr00/gamelog/2015/ |access-date=June 13, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

On November 5, 2015, Archer was waived by the Steelers.{{Cite web |last=Bouchette |first=Ed |date=November 5, 2015 |title=Steelers replace Archer with ex-Raven Jacoby Jones |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2015/11/05/Steelers-release-Dri-Archer-pick-up-Jacoby-Jones/stories/201511050206 |access-date=November 8, 2015 |website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}

=New York Jets=

On February 3, 2016, Archer signed a reserve/future contract with the New York Jets. On May 9, 2016, Archer was waived by the Jets.{{Cite web |last=Slater |first=Darryl |date=May 9, 2016 |title=Jets claim ex-Giants TE Jerome Cunningham, waive RB/KR Dri Archer |url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/05/jets_claim_ex-giants_te_jerome_cunningham_waive_rb.html |access-date=May 9, 2016 |website=NJ.com}}

=Buffalo Bills=

Archer was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills on May 10, 2016.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Chris |date=May 10, 2016 |title=Bills awarded claim for RB Dri Archer |url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-awarded-claim-for-RB-Dri-Archer/4b80ae53-8f8d-4cb5-8429-d9f8e10a96df |access-date=November 4, 2016 |website=BuffaloBills.com}} When he failed to report to the team, he was placed on the reserve/did not report list on May 18, 2016.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Chris |date=May 18, 2016 |title=Bills place RB Dri Archer on Reserve/Did Not Report list |url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-place-RB-Dri-Archer-on-ReserveDid-Not-Report-list/c18e4665-44b3-407c-981e-057c74e365c7 |access-date=November 4, 2016 |website=BuffaloBills.com}}

References

External links

[http://www.kentstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5258&path=football Kent State Golden Flashes bio]
[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/ArchDr00.htm Career statistics at Pro-Football-Reference.com]

{{2012 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}

Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:All-American college football players

Category:American football return specialists

Category:American football running backs

Category:Buffalo Bills players

Category:Kent State Golden Flashes football players

Category:New York Jets players

Category:Sportspeople from Sarasota County, Florida

Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players

Category:Players of American football from Florida