Jaylon Ferguson
{{Short description|American football player (1995–2022)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jaylon Ferguson
| image = 2018-0718-CUSAMD-JaylonFerguson.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Ferguson at 2018 C-USA Kickoff
| number = 45
| position = Outside linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date|1995|12|14}}
| birth_place = Zachary, Louisiana, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|6|21|1995|12|14}}
| death_place = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 270
| high_school = West Feliciana
(Bains, Louisiana)
| college = Louisiana Tech (2014–2018)
| draftyear = 2019
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 85
| pastteams =
- Baltimore Ravens ({{NFL Year|2019|2021}})
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 67
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 4.5
| statlabel3 = Pass deflections
| statvalue3 = 2
| statlabel4 = Fumble Recoveries
| statvalue4 = 2
| pfr = F/FergJa02
}}
Jaylon O'Neal Ferguson (December 14, 1995 – June 21, 2022) was an American football outside linebacker. He played college football at Louisiana Tech before being drafted 85th overall by the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL) in the 2019 NFL draft. He played three seasons with the Ravens.
Early years
Ferguson attended West Feliciana High School in St. Francisville, Louisiana, where he played football and basketball for four years.{{cite news |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/article_1a2e18b6-3078-11e9-9dc0-87186520aa2a.html |title=After West Feliciana's Jaylon Ferguson uninvited to NFL combine, agent releases statement |work=The Advocate |date=February 14, 2019 |access-date=June 22, 2022}}
College career
Ferguson redshirted his first year at Louisiana Tech in 2014. In 2015, he played in 12 games with five starts and recorded 35 tackles and six sacks. As a sophomore in 2016, he set the school record for sacks in a season with 14.5.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/article_075c9cb0-c411-11e6-add5-a7280c1f79f7.html|title=The sacks kept stacking up for Louisiana Tech's Jaylon Ferguson|last=Weathers|first=William|date=December 17, 2016|website=The Advocate|language=en|access-date=December 22, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/sports/college/la-tech/2017/08/21/la-techs-jaylon-ferguson-aims-big-season/104832692/|title=La. Tech's Jaylon Ferguson aims high|last=USA Today Network|date=August 21, 2017|website=Shreveporttimes.com|language=en|access-date=December 22, 2019}} As a junior in 2017, Ferguson had 38 tackles and seven sacks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/article_3f2b4c04-e51c-11e7-abf7-d7a33ae6ab9e.html|title=Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech look to sack SMU in Frisco Bowl|last=Weathers|first=William|date=December 19, 2017|website=The Advocate|language=en|access-date=December 22, 2019}} He returned to Louisiana Tech for his senior year in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/sports/college/la-tech/2018/08/09/louisiana-techs-jaylon-ferguson-returns-right-reasons/952887002/|title=Louisiana Tech's Jaylon Ferguson returns for the 'right reasons'|last=Diaz|first=Cory|date=August 9, 2018|website=Shreveporttimes.com|language=en|access-date=December 22, 2019}} During the season he broke the school record for career sacks and broke his own school record for sacks in a single-season with 17.5.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/sports/college/louisiana-tech/2018/11/01/how-louisiana-techs-jaylon-ferguson-become-known-sack-daddy/1851329002/|title=Origin of #SackDaddy: How LA Tech's Ferguson got the nickname that's catching on|last=Diaz|first=Cory|date=November 1, 2018|website=Thenewsstar.com|language=en|access-date=December 22, 2019}} Ferguson became the Football Bowl Subdivision career sack leader during the 2018 Hawaii Bowl, and was also named winning-team MVP of that game.{{cite web |url=https://www.thehawaiibowl.com/smith-leads-louisiana-tech-past-hawaii-31-14-in-hawaii-bowl/ |title=Smith Leads Louisiana Tech Past Hawaii 31-14 in Hawaii Bowl |website=thehawaiibowl.com |date=December 23, 2018 |access-date=December 26, 2018 |archive-date=June 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623105935/https://www.thehawaiibowl.com/smith-leads-louisiana-tech-past-hawaii-31-14-in-hawaii-bowl/ |url-status=dead }}
In February 2019, the National Football League (NFL) rescinded their invitation to Ferguson to attend the NFL Scouting Combine after discovering his misdemeanor simple battery conviction from 2015.
=College statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||
| colspan="3"| Jaylon Ferguson
! colspan="6"| Defense | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GP | Cmb | TfL | Sck | Int | PD | FF |
| 2015 | Louisiana Tech
| 12 || 35 || 15.0 || 6.0 || 0 || 1 || 2 | |||||||
| 2016 | Louisiana Tech
| 14 || 49 || 14.0 || 14.5 || 0 || 2 || 3 | |||||||
| 2017 | Louisiana Tech
| 11 || 38 || 12.5 || 7.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||
| 2018 | Louisiana Tech
| 13 || 65 || 26.0 || 17.5 || 0 || 3 || 2 | |||||||
| colspan="2"| Totals | 50 | 187 | 67.5 | 45.0 | 0 | 6 | 7 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4 3/4
| weight = 271
| dash = 4.82
| ten split = 1.69
| twenty split = 2.78
| shuttle = 5.12
| cone drill = 8.08
| vertical = 32.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 9
| bench = 24
| arm span = 34 1/2
| hand span = 9 1/8
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jaylon-ferguson/32004645-5216-8492-efe9-dfa1a1176b99 |title=Jaylon Ferguson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=February 2, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1007230&DraftYear=2019 |title=Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech, DE, 2019 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=February 2, 2022}}
}}
Ferguson was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round (85th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft.{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Clifton |title=Ravens Draft Edge Rusher Jaylon Ferguson|url=https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/ravens-take-edge-rusher-jaylon-ferguson-with-first-third-round-pick|website=BaltimoreRavens.com|date=April 26, 2019|access-date=May 18, 2019}} On July 19, 2019, Ferguson was placed on the reserve/NFI list with a hamstring injury.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/ravens/baltimore-ravens-roundup-ravens-place-marquise-brown-jaylon-ferguson-reservenfi-list|title=Ravens Roundup: Ravens place Brown, Ferguson on reserve/NFI list|last=Brandt|first=Caroline|date=July 19, 2019|website=NBC Sports Washington|access-date=December 22, 2019}} He was removed two days later.{{Cite web|url=https://1057thefan.radio.com/articles/michael-pierce-daylon-mack-and-jaylon-ferguson-pass-physicals-ahead-training-camp|title=Michael Pierce, Daylon Mack and Jaylon Ferguson Pass Physicals Ahead of Training Camp|last=Schiller|first=Joe|date=July 22, 2019|website=105.7 The Fan|language=en|access-date=December 22, 2019|archive-date=December 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222211837/https://1057thefan.radio.com/articles/michael-pierce-daylon-mack-and-jaylon-ferguson-pass-physicals-ahead-training-camp|url-status=dead}} On September 22, 2019, Ferguson made his NFL debut, recording 18 snaps against the Kansas City Chiefs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201909220kan.htm|title=Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs - September 22nd, 2019|website=Pro Football Reference|language=en|access-date=December 22, 2019}} He recorded his first-career tackle two weeks later against the Pittsburgh Steelers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201910060pit.htm|title=Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers - October 6th, 2019|website=Pro Football Reference|language=en|access-date=December 22, 2019}} He made his first NFL start on November 3 against the New England Patriots.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201911030rav.htm|title=New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens - November 3rd, 2019|website=Pro Football Reference|language=en|access-date=December 22, 2019}} On November 17, Ferguson recorded his first-career sack against the Houston Texans, bringing down Deshaun Watson in the second quarter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/ravens-jaylon-ferguson-notches-first-career-sack/|title=Ravens' Jaylon Ferguson: Notches first career sack|last=RotoWire Staff|date=November 18, 2019|website=CBSSports.com|language=en|access-date=December 22, 2019}} Three weeks later, he recorded his second sack against the Buffalo Bills, sacking Josh Allen.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/ravens-pass-rush-is-a-problem-for-opponents?campaign=sf:fanshare:facebook|title=Ravens Pass Rush Is a Problem – For Opponents|last=Brown|first=Clifton|date=December 9, 2019|website=Baltimoreravens.com|language=en-US|access-date=December 22, 2019}}
In Week 4 of the 2020 season against the Washington Football Team, Ferguson recorded his first sack of the season on Dwayne Haskins during the 31–17 win.{{cite web |title= Ravens vs. Washington score: Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews rebound to defeat Washington with ease |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ravens-vs-washington-score-lamar-jackson-mark-andrews-rebound-to-defeat-washington-with-ease/live/amp/ |website=CBSSports.com |access-date=October 6, 2020 |language=en}} Ferguson was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Ravens on November 28, 2020,{{cite news |author=Brown, Clifton |title=Six Ravens Added to Reserve/COVID-19 List |url=https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/six-ravens-added-to-reserve-covid-19-list |website=BaltimoreRavens.com |date=November 28, 2020 |access-date=January 7, 2021}} and activated two days later.{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Clifton |last2=Mink |first2=Ryan |title=Four More Ravens Added to Reserve/COVID-19 List, Four Return |url=https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/four-more-ravens-added-to-reserve-covid-19-list-four-return |website=BaltimoreRavens.com |date=November 30, 2020 |access-date=January 7, 2021}} In the 2020 season, Ferguson started in one game and appeared in 14 total, finishing the season with 2.0 sacks and 30 tackles.{{Cite web |title=Jaylon Ferguson Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FergJa02.htm |access-date=June 22, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In 2021, Ferguson appeared in 10 games, recording six tackles but no sacks.
Personal life and death
Ferguson had a son and two daughters with his fiancée.{{Cite news |date=November 29, 2019 |title=The two sides of Baltimore Ravens rookie Jaylon Ferguson |url=https://www.pennlive.com/baltimore-ravens/2019/11/the-two-sides-of-baltimore-ravens-rookie-jaylon-ferguson.html |access-date=June 22, 2022 |website=pennlive |language=en}}
Ferguson died in Baltimore on June 21, 2022, at the age of 26.{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34129833/baltimore-ravens-lb-jaylon-ferguson-dies-age-26 |work=ESPN |title=Baltimore Ravens LB Jaylon Ferguson dies at age 26 |first=Jamison |last=Hensley |date=June 22, 2022 |access-date=June 22, 2022}} Police indicated that while the death was "questionable", there were initially no signs of foul play or trauma.{{cite news |last1=Prudente |first1=Tim |date=June 22, 2022 |title=Baltimore Police investigating 'questionable' death of Ravens linebacker Jaylon Ferguson |work=Baltimore Banner |url=https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/sports/ravens-nfl/baltimore-police-investigating-questionable-death-of-ravens-linebacker-jaylon-ferguson-2GYGJ3KTWRBUPJ3W6JRRSV3BUU/ |access-date=June 22, 2022}} The next day, the Ravens released a statement stating: "We are profoundly saddened by the tragic passing of Jaylon Ferguson. He was a kind, respectful young man with a big smile and infectious personality. We express our heartfelt condolences to Jaylon's family and friends as we mourn a life lost much too soon." His death was later declared to be caused by the combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine, and it was ruled that the death was accidental.{{cite news |last1=Costello |first1=Darcy |title=Ravens player Jaylon Ferguson died of fentanyl and cocaine, medical examiner office says |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-jaylon-ferguson-ravens-20220701-nii2vx7mofestog2cwdool5pbq-story.html |access-date=July 1, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=July 1, 2022}}
Ferguson's brother, Jazz Ferguson, formerly played for the DC Defenders of the XFL.{{Cite web |title=Jazz Ferguson - Demon Football |url=https://nsudemons.com/sports/football/roster/jazz-ferguson/4818 |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=Northwestern State University Athletics |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/players-roster/jaylon-ferguson/ Baltimore Ravens bio]
- [https://latechsports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2839 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs bio]
{{Ravens2019DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferguson, Jaylon}}
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:American football outside linebackers
Category:Baltimore Ravens players
Category:Cocaine-related deaths in Maryland
Category:Drug-related deaths in Maryland
Category:Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football players
Category:Sportspeople from Zachary, Louisiana