Jeff Roth

{{Short description|American football player (born 1966)}}

{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name =

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

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| position = Defensive tackle

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|4|21}}

| birth_place = New York, New York, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lb = 260

| high_school = Seminole {{avoid wrap|(Sanford, Florida)}}

| college = Florida

| draftyear = 1989

| draftround = 5

| draftpick = 125

| pastteams =

| highlights =

| afl = Jeff_Roth-1382

}}

Jeffery Neil Roth (born April 21, 1966) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the Arena Football League (AFL) for the Orlando Predators. He also was a member of the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators.

Early life

Roth attended Seminole High School, where he was a starter at outside linebacker. As a senior, he collected 15 sacks and was named Clearwater Sun defensive player of the year.

He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Florida, where he was converted into a defensive lineman. As a redshirt freshman in 1985, he started 5 games at nose tackle in one of the nation's best defenses. He had 2 sacks against Mississippi State University, earning his first start in the fourth game against Louisiana State University.{{Cite web |title=GATORS STIFLE LSU |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1985-10-06-8502130753-story.html |access-date=June 29, 2019}} He made 10 tackles against Auburn University. He finished the season with 44 tackles, 6 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, 2 passes defensed and received second-team freshman All-American honors.{{Cite web |title=ROTH'S BACK INJURY HAS GATORS WORRIED |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1987-08-20-8703090187-story.html |access-date=June 29, 2019}}

As a sophomore, he was named a full-time starter at nose tackle. He posted 76 tackles (seventh on the team), 3 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and 2 passes defensed. He had 10 tackles in the eighth game against Auburn University. He made 11 tackles in the tenth game against the University of Kentucky.

As a junior, he was limited with back and ankle injuries, tallying 48 tackles, 6 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. In the 1987 Aloha Bowl, he had 4 tackles, one sack, 2 tackles for loss and one quarterback pressure.

As a senior, he registered 50 tackles, 2 sacks, 15 tackles for loss (led the team), 2 passes defensed and one forced fumble. He had 7 tackles, a shared sack, 2 tackles for loss and one quarterback pressure against the University of Memphis.

He finished his college career with school marks for defensive lineman, first all-time in tackles for loss (44) and third all-time in sacks (17). He also posted 218 tackles, 6 passes defensed. one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Professional career

Roth was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round (125th overall) of the 1989 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=1989 NFL Draft |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1989/draft.htm |access-date=June 29, 2019}} He was waived before the start of the season on September 4.{{Cite web |title=NFL Transactions |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/09/05/nfl-transactions/0b530f72-d775-40f7-bda0-a4b3457c1276/ |access-date=June 29, 2019}} In December, he was signed to the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad. On January 22, 1990, he was released to make room to activate linebacker Jim Fahnhorst.{{Cite web |title=Transactions |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1990-07-29-9002060419-story.html |access-date=June 29, 2019}}

On March 30, 1990, he signed as a free agent with the Miami Dolphins, where he was tried at nose tackle and defensive end.{{Cite web |title=DOLPHINS SIGN TWO OFF PLAN B |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1990-03-31-9002010518-story.html |access-date=June 29, 2019}} He was released on September 3.{{Cite web |title=Dolphins pick up nose tackle |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/09/03/Dolphins-pick-up-nose-tackle/9452652334400/ |access-date=June 29, 2019}}

In 1991, he signed with the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. He announced his retirement from football after the 1992 season.{{Cite web |title=PREDATORS GEAR UP FOR ARENA LEAGUE |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1993-05-14-9305140050-story.html |access-date=June 29, 2019}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}