Jace Amaro

Born in New Fairfield, Connecticut, Amaro attended MacArthur High School in San Antonio, Texas, where he was a three-sport star in football, basketball and track. He played as a tight end for the MacArthur Brahmas football team, and was an honorable mention All-State selection, first-team All-Area and first-team District 26-5A. He suffered an Anterior cruciate ligament injury during his junior year. As a senior, he made 56 receptions for 887 yards with 11 touchdowns. He helped lead the basketball team to state quarterfinals appearance.{{cite web |url=http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/jace_amaro_763506.html |title=Jace Amaro Bio - Texas Tech Red Raiders Official Athletic Site |website=www.texastech.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404164202/http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/jace_amaro_763506.html |archive-date=2013-04-04}}

Also a standout track & field athlete, Amaro broke a 23-year-old District 26-5A shot put record with a throw of 18.88 meters (61 ft, 10 in).{{Cite web|url=http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/Athlete.aspx?AID=1849896|title = Jace Amaro}} He also won the 2010 regional track meet and earned a silver medal with a second-place finish at the state meet. He got a top-throw of 50.75 meters (166 ft, 4 in) in the discus throw at the 2010 District 26-5A, where he took second.{{Cite web |title=District 26-5A HS - Results |url=https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/165659/results |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=Athletic.net |language=en}}

Regarded as a four-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com, Amaro was ranked as the No. 3 tight end in his class and No. 52 in Rivals Top 100.{{Cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/rankings/rank-rivalste/2011 |title=Archived copy |access-date=March 8, 2015 |archive-date=April 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405104007/https://sports.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/rankings/rank-rivalste/2011 |url-status=dead }} He was named USA Today and PrepStar First-team All-America, and was ranked in the top five for tight ends in the Dave Campbell's Top 300.

Amaro attended Texas Tech University from 2011 to 2013. During his college career, he earned unanimous All-American honors and set the record for Division I (NCAA) single season receiving yards by a tight end in 2013.

In his freshman year, Amaro had 7 catches for 57 yards and 2 touchdowns.

In his sophomore year, Amaro started off his first game against Northwestern State with 4 catches for 49 yards. The next week at Texas State, he was able to pull in 3 balls for 55 yards and a touchdown. Against New Mexico, he had 4 catches for 57 yards and two more scores. Against Iowa State, he had four catches for 48 yards and zero scores. Against Oklahoma, he had 3 catches for 29 yards. His best game of the season occurred when Texas Tech upset the then #3 West Virginia; he pulled in 5 catches for 156 yards and 1 touchdown.

During the West Virginia game, Amaro received an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season after receiving a hard hit to his midsection jumping for a ball. He briefly returned to the game and made 2 receptions after halftime before being unable to continue. The injury was later revealed to be a Grade III (I-V) spleen laceration and a fractured rib. The injury caused internal bleeding, requiring hospitalization and 6.5 units of blood.{{cite news|last=Halley|first=Jim|title=Junior tight end Jace Amaro and Texas Tech proving doubters wrong|url=http://www.usatodayhss.com/amfam/article/jace-amaro-texas-tech-proving-doubters-wrong|access-date=October 21, 2013|newspaper=USA Today}} Amaro was bedridden for three weeks.{{cite news|last=Ubben|first=David|title=Amaro healthy and coming up big for Texas Tech|url=http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/collegefootball/big-12-conference/story/Amaro-healthy-and-coming-up-big-for-Texa?blockID=951791|access-date=October 24, 2013|newspaper=Fox Sports Southwest|date=October 17, 2013}}

Despite only playing 6 regular season games, Amaro was named a 1st Team All-Big 12 Conference player by ESPN. He finished his sophomore season with 25 catches for 409 yards and four touchdowns.{{cite web|title=Jace Amaro Bio|url=http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/jace_amaro_763506.html|publisher=Texas Tech University|access-date=October 21, 2013|archive-date=April 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404164202/http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/jace_amaro_763506.html|url-status=dead}}

Amaro sufficiently recovered from his injury to appear in the 2012 Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas against Minnesota, in which he was ejected for punching a defender. Due to his earlier injury, Amaro had been unable to practice until the week of the game.

Snubbed by the John Mackey Award in its pre and midseason watchlists,{{cite web|last=Ubben|first=David|title=Big 12 tight ends snubbed on Mackey list|date=July 9, 2013|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/69085/big-12-tight-ends-snubbed-on-mackey-list|publisher=ESPN|access-date=October 22, 2013}} Amaro started the 2013 season strong, leading the country at his position in receptions and reception yards through 7 games as well as leading the country in reception yardage on third down. His performance garnered a midseason 1st team All-American listing from CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, Athlon Sports, USA Today, and FOX Sports.{{cite news|title=CBSSports.com 2013 Midseason College Football All-America Team|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/24087667/cbssportscom-2013-midseason-college-football-allamerica-team|access-date=October 21, 2013|newspaper=CBS Sports|date=October 15, 2013}}{{cite magazine|title=Mariota, Barr headline SI.com's 2013 Midseason All-America Team|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20131016/midseason-all-america-team/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016163654/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20131016/midseason-all-america-team/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 16, 2013|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=November 13, 2013}} Following a 136 receiving-yard and 2-touchdown performance over West Virginia, Amaro earned Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors.{{cite web|title=Amaro, Lackey and Stewart Named Big 12 Football Players of the Week|url=http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=209288290&DB_OEM_ID=10410|publisher=Big 12 Conference|access-date=October 21, 2013}} Amaro accompanies former Texas Tech All-American wide receiver Michael Crabtree as the only Red Raiders to ever record eight or more receptions in six consecutive games.{{cite web|last=Greenspan|first=Dan|title=Jace Amaro adds to prolific pace to keep Texas Tech undefeated|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/jace-amaro-adds-to-prolific-pace-to-keep-texas-tech-undefeated-0ap2000000265549|work=NFL.com|access-date=October 22, 2013}}

Amaro broke the 1,000 receiving yards mark following a loss to Oklahoma State on November 2, 2013. Amaro exceeded his career receptions and reception yard highs with 15 and 174 respectively, and was two receptions shy of tying the NCAA single-game record for receptions by a tight end. In the following games against Kansas State and Baylor, Amaro received significant injuries. A hit during the Kansas State game forced him to be carted off the field, before later returning briefly. In the subsequent game against Baylor, Amaro received a high hit to the shoulder from safety Ahmad Dixon. The hit required Amaro to again return to the locker room with an injury.{{cite web|last=Volk|first=Pete|title=Jace Amaro injury: Texas Tech tight end helped off field after hard hit|date=November 16, 2013|url=https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2013/11/16/5112824/jace-amaro-injury-texas-tech-tight-end-helped-off-field-after-hard-hit|publisher=SBNation|access-date=November 27, 2013}}

Amaro completed the regular season 90 yards and 14 receptions short of setting NCAA FBS records for single season tight end receiving yards and receptions, with an opportunity to set the records in an appearance in the 2013 Holiday Bowl.{{cite news|last=Griffin|first=Tim|title=Jace Amaro makes two All-American teams|url=http://blog.mysanantonio.com/big12/2013/12/jace-amaro-makes-two-all-american-teams/|access-date=December 16, 2013|newspaper=San Antonio Express-News|date=December 13, 2013|archive-date=December 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214001310/http://blog.mysanantonio.com/big12/2013/12/jace-amaro-makes-two-all-american-teams/|url-status=dead}} Amaro broke the single season tight end receiving record during the game, and finished his Holiday Bowl performance with 8 receptions and 112 yards.{{cite web|title=Webb's 4 touchdown passes tie Holiday Bowl record|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=333642641|publisher=ESPN|access-date=December 31, 2013}} With the completion of the season, Amaro's 104 receiving yards per game also set an NCAA single season record for the tight end position.

Amaro was named a semi-finalist for the John Mackey and Fred Biletnikoff Awards in November, becoming the first player to be listed for both awards since Missouri's Chase Coffman in 2008.{{cite news|last=Fornelli|first=Tom|title=Biletnikoff Award announces its 10 semifinalists|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/24247489/biletnikoff-award-announces-its-10-semifinalists|access-date=November 18, 2013|newspaper=CBS Sports|date=November 18, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Tech's @J_ACER22 named semifinalist for Mackey Award & Biletnikoff. 1st since Mizzou's Chase Coffman in '08 to be semifinalist for both.|date=November 18, 2013|website=Twitter|last=Beal|first=Blayne|url=https://twitter.com/BlayneBeal/status/402481339477553152|access-date=November 19, 2013}} Amaro was also named a finalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, given to the best offensive player with Texas ties.{{cite news|title=Amaro named semifinalist for Earl Campbell Tyler Rose award|url=http://www.kcbd.com/story/24014234/amaro-named-semifinalist-for-earl-campbell-tyler-rose-award|access-date=November 20, 2013|newspaper=KCBD|date=November 19, 2013}} On November 25, 2013, it was announced that Amaro was not named a finalist for the Mackey Award, given to the best tight end in college football, leading several media personalities including CBS Sports writer Dennis Dodd to criticize the Award's validity.{{cite web|last=Greenspan|first=Dan|title=Texas Tech's Jace Amaro hints at return after Mackey snub|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/texas-tech-s-jace-amaro-hints-at-return-after-mackey-snub-0ap2000000288142|work=NFL.com|access-date=November 26, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Brock|first=Cameron|title=Amaro Named Unanimous All-American|publisher=Scout.com|url=http://texastech.scout.com/2/1358722.html|access-date=December 19, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Graham|first=Mike|title=Jace Amaro is left off the Mackey Award finalist list; Will it motivate him to come back?|url=http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/jace-amaro-is-left-off-the-mackey-award-finalist-list-will-it-motivate-him-to-come-back.html/|access-date=November 26, 2013|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|date=November 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202223729/http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/jace-amaro-is-left-off-the-mackey-award-finalist-list-will-it-motivate-him-to-come-back.html/|archive-date=December 2, 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Dodd|first=Dennis|title=Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/dennisdoddcbs/status/405099886997028864|access-date=November 26, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/dctf/status/405098405736636417|publisher=Dave Campbell's Texas Football|access-date=November 26, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Huguenin|first=Mike|title=Jace Amaro's omission is biggest awards blunder|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/jace-amaro-s-omission-is-biggest-awards-blunder-0ap2000000288550|work=NFL.com|access-date=November 27, 2013}} At the point at which the finalist list was announced, Amaro had only 16 fewer receptions than the three finalists combined.

The Associated Press (AP) and Big 12 Coaches named Amaro a unanimous 2013 All-Big 12 first-team selection on December 9, 2013.{{cite news|title=2013 AP All-Big 12 Team|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/2013-ap-big-12-team-184312484--ncaaf.html|access-date=December 9, 2013|newspaper=Associated Press|date=December 9, 2013|archive-date=December 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211163516/https://sports.yahoo.com/news/2013-ap-big-12-team-184312484--ncaaf.html|url-status=dead}} He was additionally named a 1st Team All-American at the tight end position by Bleacher Report, USA Today, CBS Sports, Sporting News, Athlon Sports, SB Nation, the AP, Sports Illustrated and the Walter Camp Foundation.{{cite news|last=Myerberg|first=Paul|title=USA TODAY Sports' All-America college football team|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2013/12/11/usa-today-sports-all-america-college-football-team/3954557/|access-date=December 11, 2013|newspaper=USA Today|date=December 11, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Chambers|first=Randy|title=Bleacher Report's 2013 College Football All-America Team|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1881412-bleacher-reports-2013-college-football-all-american-team/page/5|website=Bleacher Report|access-date=December 10, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Walter Camp Football Foundation Announces 2013 All-America Team|url=http://www.waltercamp.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2013-Walter-Camp-All-America-Team.pdf?23e1d7|publisher=Walter Camp Foundation|access-date=December 13, 2013}}{{cite magazine | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20131217/college-football-all-america-team/?eref=sihp | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219021004/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20131217/college-football-all-america-team/?eref=sihp | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 19, 2013 | title=Jameis Winston, Aaron Donald lead SI.com's 2013 All-America Team | magazine=Sports Illustrated | date=December 17, 2013 | access-date=December 17, 2013}} Amaro became a Unanimous All-American with his 1st team selection by the American Football Coaches Association and the Football Writers Association of America on December 18, 2013, the first Red Raider to earn the honor since Michael Crabtree in 2008. Only 5 Red Raiders overall have earned unanimous All-American honors: Mark Bounds in 1991, Zach Thomas in 1995, Byron Hanspard in 1996, and Michael Crabtree in 2007-08.{{cite news|title=Three repeat as AP All-Americans|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/10152755/cj-mosley-sutton-kadeem-carey-repeat-ap-all-americans|access-date=December 17, 2013|newspaper=Associated Press|date=December 17, 2013}}

Amaro announced his intention to declare for the draft following the Red Raiders upset victory over Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl.{{cite web|last=Sanchez|first=Josh|title=Texas Tech's Jace Amaro drawing comparisons to Jermichael Finley|date=November 27, 2013|url=http://fansided.com/2013/11/27/texas-techs-jace-amaro-drawing-comparisons-jermichael-finley/|publisher=Fansided.com|access-date=November 27, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Edholm|first=Eric|title=2014 NFL Draft report; TTU's Amaro could be top tight end if he leaves school early|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/2014-nfl-draft-report-ttu-amaro-could-top-200646288--nfl.html|work=Yahoo! Sports|access-date=November 27, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Pirtle|first=Krista|title=Texas Tech TE Amaro dominates in final game as Red Raider, declares for NFL draft|url=http://redraiders.com/filed-online/2013-12-31/texas-tech-te-amaro-dominates-final-game-red-raider-declares-nfl-draft|access-date=December 31, 2013|newspaper=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|date=December 31, 2013|archive-date=January 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101034019/http://redraiders.com/filed-online/2013-12-31/texas-tech-te-amaro-dominates-final-game-red-raider-declares-nfl-draft|url-status=dead}}

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 5+3/8

| weight = 265

| dash = 4.74

| ten split = 1.64

| twenty split = 2.76

| shuttle = 4.3

| cone drill = 7.42

| vertical = 33

| broad ft = 9

| broad in = 10

| bench = 28

| wonderlic =

| arm span = 34

| hand span = 9

| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/jace-amaro?id=2543481|title=Jace Amaro Stats, News and Video - TE|website=NFL.com}}

}}

Amaro lowered his 40 time to a 4.60 at his pro day.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1860917/jace-amaro |title=Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech |access-date=May 11, 2014 |archive-date=May 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511234528/http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1860917/jace-amaro |url-status=dead }}

Amaro was selected 49th overall by the New York Jets in the 2014 NFL draft and was the third tight end selected after Eric Ebron and Austin Seferian-Jenkins.{{Cite web |title=2014 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He was signed on May 16, 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/new-york-jets-sign-rookie-tight-end-jace-amaro-0ap2000000350724|title=New York Jets sign rookie tight end Jace Amaro|publisher=NFL|date=May 16, 2014|access-date=May 20, 2014}} In his 2014 rookie season, Amaro had 38 receptions for 345 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 14 games. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.{{Cite web |title=2014 NFL All-Rookie Team |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/nfl-all-rookie-2014.htm |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

On September 1, 2015, it was revealed that Amaro had a torn labrum, an injury from landing awkwardly during the first preseason game against the Lions. The injury required surgery, prematurely ending his 2015 season.{{cite web | first1=Josh | last1=Alper | url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/01/jets-place-jace-amaro-on-injured-reserve/ | title=Jets place Jace Amaro on injured reserve | publisher=NBC Sports | access-date=September 1, 2015 | website=profootballtalk.nbcsports.com| date=September 2015 }}

The Jets waived Amaro on September 3, 2016 for final roster cuts before the start of the season. He is considered to be another on a long list of disappointing draft picks for the Jets.{{cite web|work=NFL.com|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/jets-waive-jace-amaro-waive-injured-dee-milliner-0ap3000000695047|title=Jets waive Dee Milliner, Jace Amaro|first=Nick|last=Shook|date=September 3, 2016|access-date=September 3, 2016}}

Amaro was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans on September 4, 2016.{{cite web|title=Titans Claim Jets TE Jace Amaro, Release DL Mehdi Abdesmad|url=https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-claim-jets-te-jace-amaro-release-dl-mehdi-abdesmad-17622168|last=Wyatt|first=Jim|website=TitansOnline.com|date=September 4, 2016}}

He started with the Titans as their third tight end on their depth chart, behind veterans Delanie Walker and Anthony Fasano.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/188/TEN| title=Ourlads.com: Tennessee Titan's Depth Chart| access-date=December 20, 2016| website=ourlads.com}} On September 25, 2016, Amaro made his debut with the Titans and made three receptions for 59 receiving yards in a 17–10 loss to the Oakland Raiders.{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/jaceamaro/2543481/profile| title=NFL Player Profile: Jace Amaro| access-date=December 20, 2016| website=NFL.com}}

On September 2, 2017, Amaro was waived by the Titans for the final roster cuts.{{cite web|title=Titans Down to 53 Players: A Position-by-Position Look|url=http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-4/Titans-Down-to-53-Players-A-Position-by-Position-Look/d201b599-31f7-4441-8f65-948795805f04|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TitansOnline.com|date=September 2, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206112407/http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-4/Titans-Down-to-53-Players-A-Position-by-Position-Look/d201b599-31f7-4441-8f65-948795805f04|archive-date=February 6, 2018}}

On January 9, 2018, Amaro signed a reserve/future contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.{{cite web|title=Chiefs sign TE Jace Amaro to reserve/futures deal|url=http://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2018/01/10/chiefs-sign-te-jace-amaro-to-reserve-futures-deal/|website=USAToday.com|date=January 10, 2018}} He was released on September 1, 2018 for the final roster cuts.{{cite web|title=Chiefs Roster Down to NFL-Mandated 53|url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/chiefs-roster-down-to-nfl-mandated-53|website=Chiefs.com|date=September 1, 2018}}

Amaro was selected by the Seattle Dragons of the XFL in the 4th round of the 2020 XFL Draft.{{cite web|last=Bender|first=Bill|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/xfl-draft-tracker-results-picks-list-rosters-football-league/jahz8p84e4i61hb8lajqs4a22|title=XFL Draft picks 2019: Complete results, rosters, players for new football league|website=Sporting News|date=October 21, 2019|access-date=October 23, 2019}} He was on their reserve list prior to the season and was never signed.{{cite web|title=Seattle Dragons: What to know about this XFL team|url=https://foxwilmington.com/headlines/seattle-dragons-what-to-know-about-this-xfl-team/|author=Gaydos, Ryan|website=FoxWilmington.com|date=February 6, 2020|access-date=January 7, 2021}}

Source:{{cite web|title=Jace Amaro Stats|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/16792/jace-amaro|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=July 21, 2015}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Twitter}}
• [http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/jace_amaro_763506.html Texas Tech Red Raiders bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404164202/http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/jace_amaro_763506.html |date=April 4, 2013 }}

{{2013 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}

{{Jets2014DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amaro, Jace}}

Category:1992 births

Category:Living people

Category:All-American college football players

Category:American football tight ends

Category:Douglas MacArthur High School (San Antonio) alumni

Category:Kansas City Chiefs players

Category:New York Jets players

Category:Players of American football from San Antonio

Category:Tennessee Titans players

Category:Texas Tech Red Raiders football players