Jeff Janis
{{Short description|American football player (born 1991)}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jeff Janis
| image = Jeff Janis in 2014.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Janis with the Green Bay Packers in 2014
| current_team =
| number = 83
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|6|24}}
| birth_place = Tawas City, Michigan, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lbs = 219
| high_school = Tawas Area {{avoid wrap|(Tawas City)}}
| college = Saginaw Valley State (2009–2013)
| draftyear = 2014
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 236
| pastteams =
- Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2017}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2018}})*
| status =
| statweek =
| statseason =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 17
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 200
| statlabel3 = Return yards
| statvalue3 = 568
| statlabel4 = Total touchdowns
| statvalue4 = 2
|pfr=JaniJe00
}}
Jeffrey Ronald Janis (born June 24, 1991) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals, and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft.
Early life
A native of Tawas City, Michigan, Janis attended Tawas Area High School.{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Lee |date=January 16, 2016 |title=Green Bay Packers Hail Mary makes Tawas native Jeff Janis instant star |url=http://www.mlive.com/sports/bay-city/index.ssf/2016/01/green_bay_packers_hail_mary_ma.html |access-date=January 17, 2016 |website=MLive.com}} He was a member of both the football and basketball teams, and was an all-conference wide receiver who also played as a running back following an injury, and ended up leading his team in rushing.{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Lee |date=January 21, 2016 |title=Green Bay Packers hero honored by his Michigan hometown with Jeff Janis Week |url=http://www.mlive.com/sports/bay-city/index.ssf/2016/01/green_bay_packers_hero_honored.html |access-date=March 11, 2018 |website=MLive.com |language=en-US}}
College career
Janis attended Saginaw Valley State University from 2009 to 2013, and played for the Cardinals.{{Cite web |date=January 19, 2016 |title=National spotlight shines on SVSU alum Janis |url=https://www.svsu.edu/newsroom/news/2016/january/nationalspotlightshinesonsvsualumjanis/ |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=Saginaw Valley State University |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jeff Janis |url=https://www.svsucardinals.com/sports/fball/2013-14/bios/janis_jeff_o42i |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=Saginaw Valley State Cardinals |language=en}} After red-shirting in 2009, he caught 9 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown in 2010. In 2011, he appeared in all 11 games, starting eight and posted a team-high 968 receiving yards on 48 receptions (20.2 avg.) and 14 touchdowns. In 2012, he started all 11 games and was second in the nation with 106 receptions and led all DII players with 1,635 receiving yards, both of which set new SVSU single season marks. He caught 17 touchdown passes and was named a first-team All-GLIAC selection. In 2013, he caught 83 passes for 1,572 yards and 14 touchdowns. He earned himself first-team All-GLIAC honors, and was a first-team AFCA Div. II All-American.{{Cite web |last=Niziolek |first=Michael |date=December 17, 2013 |title=Honors keep coming for SVSU wide receiver Jeff Janis with selection to AFCA All-America Team |url=https://www.mlive.com/cardinals/2013/12/honors_keep_coming_for_svsu_wi.html |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=mlive.com |language=en}}
For his collegiate career, Janis finished second in the history of the GLIAC with 4,305 receiving yards.{{Cite web |date=January 29, 2016 |title=After Green Bay Packers Hail Mary, fans far beyond Tawas know Jeff Janis |url=http://www.mlive.com/sports/bay-city/index.ssf/2016/01/after_green_bay_packers_hail_m.html |access-date=March 11, 2018 |website=MLive.com |language=en-US}}
Janis was invited to play in the 2014 Senior Bowl.{{Cite web |last=Niziolek |first=Michael |date=December 13, 2013 |title=SVSU wide receiver Jeff Janis invited to play in 2014 Senior Bowl |url=https://www.mlive.com/cardinals/2013/12/svsu_wide_receiver_jeff_janis.html |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=mlive.com |language=en}}
=College statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | ||||||||||||||
| colspan="17" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Saginaw Valley State Cardinals|color=white}};" |Saginaw Valley State Cardinals | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="2"|Year | rowspan="2"|GP | colspan="5"|Receiving | colspan="5"|Rushing | colspan="5"|Kick Returns | ||||||||||
| Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD |
| 2010
| 10 || 9 || 130 || 14.4 || 28 || 1 || 3 || 16 || 5.3 || 15 || 0 || 2 || 40 || 20.0 || 20 || 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2011
| 11 || 48 || 968 || 20.2 || 76 || 14 || 2 || 17 || 8.5 || 14 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2012
| 11 || 106 || 1,635 || 15.4 || 73 || 17 || 1 || 15 || 15.0 || 15 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2013
| 12 || 83 || 1,572 || 18.9 || 95 || 14 || 4 || 49 || 12.3 || 25 || 2 || 5 || 71 || 14.2 || 27 || 0 | ||||||||||||||
| [http://athletics.svsu.edu/sports/fball/2012-13/bios/janis_jeff_trwg?view=career&pos=wr Total] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819184740/http://athletics.svsu.edu/sports/fball/2012-13/bios/janis_jeff_trwg?view=career&pos=wr |date=August 19, 2016 }} || 44 || 246 || 4,305 || 17.5 || 95 || 46 || 10 || 97 || 9.7 || 25 || 3 || 7 || 111 || 15.9 || 27 || 0 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2 7/8
| weight = 219
| dash = 4.42
| ten split = 1.55
| twenty split = 2.60
| shuttle = 3.98
| cone drill = 6.64
| vertical = 37.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 3
| bench = 20
| arm span = 32 1/2
| hand span = 9
| note = All values are from NFL Combine{{Cite web |title=Jeff Janis Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jeff-janis/32004a41-4e41-3854-df72-ceee2d8fa78b |website=NFL.com |accessdate=August 9, 2016}}{{Cite web |title=Jeff Janis - Saginaw Valley State, WR : 2014 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=94124&DraftYear=2014 |website=DraftScout.com |accessdate=August 9, 2016}}
}}
=Green Bay Packers=
Janis was selected in the seventh round (236th overall) by the Green Bay Packers in the 2014 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2014 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/draft.htm |access-date=March 11, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jeff Janis Draft Profile – NFL.com |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/2011/profiles/jeff-janis?id=2543750 |website=NFL.com |accessdate=August 9, 2016}}{{Cite web |last=Niziolek |first=Michael |date=May 11, 2014 |title=SVSU wide receiver Jeff Janis selected in the seventh round, 236th overall pick, by the Green Bay Packers |url=https://www.mlive.com/cardinals/2014/05/jeff_janis_selected_in_the_no.html |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=mlive.com |language=en}} Janis was the first Saginaw Valley State Cardinal drafted since offensive guard Todd Herremans in 2005, and the first wide receiver in school history to be drafted, though his early role on the team was more on the special teams rather than taking snaps at wide receiver.{{Cite web |title=Saginaw Valley St. Drafted Players/Alumni |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/saginawvalleyst/drafted.htm |access-date=March 11, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
Janis made his NFL debut on September 28, 2014, against the Chicago Bears, but he recorded no official statistics.{{Cite web |title=Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears - September 28th, 2014 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201409280chi.htm |access-date=March 11, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He appeared in one more game, which was against the Miami Dolphins, in the 2014 season.{{Cite web |title=Jeff Janis 2014 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JaniJe00/gamelog/2014/ |access-date=March 11, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
In the 2015 season, Janis appeared in all 16 games in the regular season as a kick returner and backup receiver.{{Cite web |title=Jeff Janis 2015 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JaniJe00/gamelog/2015/ |access-date=March 11, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} His two receptions for 79 yards against the San Diego Chargers were his only receiving statistics for the regular season.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at Green Bay Packers - October 18th, 2015 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201510180gnb.htm |access-date=March 11, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He had a breakout game in the NFC Divisional Round game on January 16, 2016, against the Arizona Cardinals. He caught seven passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns, including a 41-yard Hail Mary pass from Aaron Rodgers on the final play of regulation to bring the game into overtime. The Packers, however, lost 26–20 in overtime. 101 of these yards came on the game-tying drive to end regulation; he also caught a 60-yard pass on 4th and 20 from the Packers' 4-yard line to set up the tying score.{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals - January 16th, 2016 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201601160crd.htm |access-date=March 11, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On August 10, 2016, Janis fractured at least one of the bones in his right hand during a ball-security drill at Packers training camp.{{Cite web |last=Demovsky |first=Rob |date=August 13, 2016 |title=Packers WR Jeff Janis has fracture in right hand |url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17292237/green-bay-packers-wr-jeff-janis-fracture-right-hand |website=ESPN.com |accessdate=August 13, 2016}} He remained in a backup role in the 2016 season. He had a receiving touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in a 33–32 loss. Overall, in the 2016 season, he recorded 11 receptions for 93 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in addition to a 19-yard rushing touchdown, which occurred against the Seattle Seahawks.{{Cite web |title=Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers - December 11th, 2016 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201612110gnb.htm |access-date=March 11, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jeff Janis 2016 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JaniJe00/gamelog/2016/ |access-date=March 11, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In the 2017 season, he mainly had a special teams role. He recorded two receptions for 12 yards and three kick returns for 43 net yards.{{Cite web |title=Jeff Janis 2017 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JaniJe00/gamelog/2017/ |access-date=March 11, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=Cleveland Browns=
File:Jeff Janis (29350133897).jpg
On March 30, 2018, Janis signed with the Cleveland Browns.{{Cite web |date=March 30, 2018 |title=Browns sign WR Jeff Janis and QB Drew Stanton |url=http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-5/Browns-sign-WR-Jeff-Janis-and-QB-Drew-Stanton/bceb3119-066c-49cc-8cc5-3a443680ec20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331040200/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-5/Browns-sign-WR-Jeff-Janis-and-QB-Drew-Stanton/bceb3119-066c-49cc-8cc5-3a443680ec20 |archive-date=March 31, 2018 |website=ClevelandBrowns.com}} On August 31, he was released.{{Cite web |date=August 31, 2018 |title=Browns reduce roster to 72 |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-reduce-roster-to-72 |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=ClevelandBrowns.com}}
=NFL career statistics=
==Regular season==
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | |||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Year | rowspan="2"|Team | rowspan="2"|GP | rowspan="2"|GS | colspan="5"|Receiving | colspan="5"|Kick returns | colspan="2"|Fumbles | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | FUM | Lost |
| 2014 | GB
| 3 || 0 || 2 || 16 || 8.0 || 9 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||
| 2015 | GB
| 16 || 0 || 2 || 79 || 39.5 || 46 || 0 || 14 || 406 || 29.0 || 70 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||
| 2016 | GB
| 16 || 11 || 11 || 93 || 8.5 || 25 || 1 || 6 || 119 || 19.8 || 28 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||
| 2017 | GB
| 16 || 0 || 2 || 12 || 6.0 || 12 || 0 || 3 || 43 || 14.3 || 17 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||
| colspan="2"|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JaniJe00.htm Total] || 51 || 11 || 17 || 200 || 11.8 || 46 || 1 || 23 || 568 || 24.7 || 70 || 0 || 0 || 0 |
==Postseason==
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | |||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Year | rowspan="2"|Team | rowspan="2"|GP | rowspan="2"|GS | colspan="5"|Receiving | colspan="5"|Kick returns | colspan="2"|Fumbles | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | FUM | Lost |
| 2015 | GB
| 2 || 0 || 7 || 145 || 20.7 || 60 || 2 || 4 || 99 || 24.8 || 35 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||
| 2016 | GB
| 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 77 || 25.7 || 33 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||
| colspan="2"|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JaniJe00/gamelog/post/ Total] || 5 || 0 || 7 || 145 || 20.7 || 60 || 2 || 7 || 176 || 25.1 || 35 || 0 || 0 || 0 |
After-football career
In April 2019, Janis bought Timmy Tire Center in East Tawas, Michigan, where he had been employed in high school and college, and renamed it Janis Tire and Auto.{{Cite web |last=Meinert |first=Kendra |date=July 1, 2019 |title=Jordy Nelson and Jeff Janis: Just a couple of former Packers wide receivers talking tires |url=https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/fans/2019/07/01/former-packers-jordy-nelson-jeff-janis-reconnect-spare-time-over-tires/1616732001/ |access-date=July 12, 2019 |website=Green Bay Press-Gazette |publisher=Gannett}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- [http://www.svsucardinals.com/sports/fball/2013-14/bios/janis_jeff_o42i?view=bio Saginaw Valley State Cardinals bio]
{{Green Bay Packers 2014 NFL draft picks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Janis, Jeff}}
Category:Players of American football from Michigan
Category:People from Iosco County, Michigan
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Saginaw Valley State Cardinals football players