Jerel Worthy
{{Short description|American football player (born 1990)}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jerel Worthy
| image = Jerel Worthy.jpg
| caption = Worthy with the Green Bay Packers in 2012
| current_team =
| number = 56, 69, 94, 99
| position = Defensive tackle
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|4|26|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 298
| high_school = Wayne {{nowrap|(Huber Heights, Ohio)}}
| college = Michigan State (2008–2011)
| draftyear = 2012
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 51
| pastteams = * Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|2012}}–{{NFL Year|2013}})
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2014}})*
- Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2014|2015}})*
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2015}})*
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2015}}–{{NFL Year|2017}})
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2018}})
- Orlando Apollos ({{AAF Year|2019}})
| status =
| highlights = * Consensus All-American (2011)
- First-team All-Big Ten (2011)
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 35
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 2.5
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 1
| pfr = WortJe00
}}
Jerel Worthy (born April 26, 1990) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans, earning consensus All-American honors. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=85038&draftyear=2013&genpos=DT |title=2013 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile |website=Nfldraftscout.com |date=September 21, 2006 |access-date=October 3, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/15014424/flash-forward-top-32-picks-for-the-2012-nfl-draft |title=Flash forward: Top 32 picks for the 2012 NFL Draft |date=May 1, 2011 |work=CBSSports.com |first=Pete |last=Prisco |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928011232/http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/15014424/flash-forward-top-32-picks-for-the-2012-nfl-draft |archive-date=September 28, 2011 }}{{cite magazine |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/05/03/2012.prospects/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507015348/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/05/03/2012.prospects/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 7, 2011 |title=Stanford's Luck headlines early look at top 2012 draft prospects |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=May 3, 2011 |first=Tony |last=Pauline }}{{cite news|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/15029593/mock-draft-first-look-with-luck-and-heels |title=2012 mock draft: First look with Luck and Heels |work=CBSSports.com |date=May 4, 2011 |first=Chad |last=Reuter |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522225342/http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/15029593/mock-draft-first-look-with-luck-and-heels |archive-date=May 22, 2012 }}
Early life
Worthy was born in Dayton, Ohio. He originally attended Chaminade-Julienne High School in Dayton, Ohio but then transferred to Wayne High School in Huber Heights, where he played high school football for the Wayne Warriors. As a senior for the Warriors, Worthy recorded 50 tackles, 10.5 sacks and 12 hurries. Worthy was also responsible for seven pass breakups and two fumble recoveries {{cite web | url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/worthy_jerel00.html | title=Jerel Worthy | publisher=Michigan State University | access-date=May 7, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522215853/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/worthy_jerel00.html | archive-date=May 22, 2012 | url-status=dead }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506191237/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/worthy_jerel00.html |date=May 6, 2011 }}
Worthy's performance during his senior season earned him a spot on the Superprep and Prepstars Midwest Teams.
College career
=Recruiting=
Coming out of High School, Worthy was ranked the 53rd Best Defensive Tackle by Rivals.com, 78th by Scout.com, and 93rd by Scouts Inc. He was also invited to play June 14 Big 33 Football Classic. Worthy received scholarship offers from Michigan State, Akron, Cincinnati, Marshall, Nebraska, and Ohio.{{cite web | url=https://sports.yahoo.com/michiganstate/football/recruiting/player-Jerel-Worthy-60342 | title=Jerel Worthy Profile | publisher=Rivals.com | access-date=May 7, 2012}} He was six foot two inches, 288 pounds, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds who bench pressed a maximum of 335 pounds and squatted a maximum of 470 pounds. He had a 2.8 Grade-point average.
=Michigan State=
Worthy attended Michigan State University, where he played for the Michigan State Spartans football team from 2009 to 2011. Worthy was redshirted for his freshman year but was still named the scout team defensive player of the week versus Eastern Michigan. Coming on to the scene in 2009, he started 11 of 13 games and ranked second on the team for tackles for loss and sacks. He was named a midseason All-Big Ten and All-American by Phil Steele.{{cite web|url=http://philsteele.com/fbsinfo/FBSAllConf/2009midssnallconf/Midseason_BigTen.html |title=Phil Steele |publisher=Phil Steele |year=2009 |access-date=May 7, 2012 |author=Steele, Phil }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} At the end of the season, he was named as a freshman All-American{{cite web | url=http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2009-12-16/sporting-news-freshman-all-america-team | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713081101/http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2009-12-16/sporting-news-freshman-all-america-team | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 13, 2012 | title=2009 Freshman All-American | publisher=AOL | date=December 16, 2009 | access-date=May 7, 2012 }}
As a sophomore, Worthy started all 13 games at defensive tackle and lead the linemen with 40 tackles, eight of which went for a loss. He also had a team best four sacks. He was a collegefootballnews.com All-Sophomore second-team selection, honorable mention Big-Ten selection by the coaches and media, and was presented Michigan State's Outstanding Underclassman Award.
For what turned out to be his final season at Michigan State, Worthy had 30 tackles (10.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, and 14 hits during the regular season. He was named a consensus first-team All-American honors by the Associated Press.{{cite web | url=http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2011/12/ap_all-american_football_team.html | title=AP All-American football team | publisher=Associated Press | date=December 13, 2011 | access-date=May 7, 2012}} He was also an All-Big ten selection from the coaches and media. Worthy became the first defensive tackle since Ronald Curl in 1971 to be named an All-American at Michigan State.
On January 4, 2012, Worthy announced he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2012 NFL draft.{{cite web | url=http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2012/01/report_michigan_states_jerel_w.html | title=Report: Michigan State All-American Jerel Worthy hires agent, headed to NFL | publisher=Mlive.com | date=January 4, 2012 | access-date=May 7, 2012 | author=Slagter, Josh}}
Professional career
=Pre-draft=
Worthy was predicted to be a late first round to second round draft pick. Scouts talked about his size and called him thick and powerful.{{cite web | url=http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/jerel-worthy?id=2533052 | title=NFL Events: Combine Player- Jerel Worthy | website=NFL.com | access-date=May 8, 2012}} They also stated that he had enough speed to "shoot through the gap"{{cite web | url=http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2012jworthy.php | title=Jerel Worthy Scouting Report | publisher=Walterfootball | access-date=May 8, 2012 | author=Cambell, Charlie}} Scouts also discussed his inconsistency and that his reputation was better than his actual production. It was also stated that he struggled in space and could not translate his weight enough to make tackles on the ball carrier.
{{nfl predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2+3/8
| weight = 309
| dash = 5.08
| ten split =
| twenty split =
| shuttle = 4.56
| cone drill = 7.60
| vertical = 28+1/2
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 9
| bench =
| wonderlic =
| note = All results from NFL Combine{{cite web | url=https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/combine?id=28009&_slug_=jerel-worthy&action=login&appRedirect=http%253a%252f%252finsider.espn.go.com%252fnfl%252fdraft%252fplayer%252fcombine%253fid%253d28009%2526_slug_%253djerel-worthy | title=Jerel Worthy 2012 NFL Draft | publisher=ESPN | access-date=May 8, 2012}}}}
=Green Bay Packers=
During the second round of the 2012 NFL draft the Green Bay Packers traded the 59th overall pick and a fourth round selection to move up in the draft and select Worthy with the 51st overall pick.{{cite news | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/nfl/04/27/packers.jerel.worthy.ap/index.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501001931/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/nfl/04/27/packers.jerel.worthy.ap/index.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 1, 2012 | title=Packers trade up to take Worthy | agency=Associated Press | access-date=May 8, 2012}}{{Cite web |title=2012 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2012/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
=New England Patriots=
On August 12, 2014, Worthy was traded to the New England Patriots for a conditional late round draft choice in the 2015 NFL draft, pending a physical.{{cite web |last=Wesseling |first=Chris |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000377170/article/jerel-worth-to-be-traded-from-packers-to-patriots?campaign=Facebook_atl_wesseling |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813123927/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000377170/article/jerel-worth-to-be-traded-from-packers-to-patriots?campaign=Facebook_atl_wesseling |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 13, 2014 |title=Packers trade DL Jerel Worthy to Patriots |work=NFL.com |date=August 12, 2014 |access-date=August 12, 2014}} He was waived by the Patriots on August 30, 2014.
=Kansas City Chiefs=
On September 9, 2014, Worthy signed with the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad.{{cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/chiefs-sign-former-packer-jerel-203101631.html |title=Chiefs Sign Former Packer Jerel Worthy to Practice Squad |website=Sports.yahoo.com |date=September 9, 2014 |access-date=October 3, 2016 |archive-date=October 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006120602/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/chiefs-sign-former-packer-jerel-203101631.html |url-status=dead }} He was released on October 21, 2014,{{cite web|last1=Wilkening|first1=Mike|title=Chiefs release DE Jerel Worthy from practice squad|date=October 22, 2014|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/21/chiefs-release-de-jerel-worthy-from-practice-squad/|publisher=Pro Football Talk|access-date=October 22, 2014}} but re-signed to the practice squad 5 days later. On December 31, he signed a futures contract with the Chiefs.{{cite web|last=Martin |first=Keiana |url=http://www.chiefs.com/news/article-2/Chiefs-Sign-19-To-ReserveFutures-Contracts/3270d295-cf1e-4ac8-8eb1-6913d08d481a |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916070516/http://www.chiefs.com/news/article-2/Chiefs-Sign-19-To-ReserveFutures-Contracts/3270d295-cf1e-4ac8-8eb1-6913d08d481a |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 16, 2016 |title=Chiefs Sign 19 To Reserve/Futures Contracts |website=Kcchiefs.com |date=January 20, 2015 |access-date=October 3, 2016}} He was waived on August 3, 2015.
=Detroit Lions=
After being placed on waivers by the Chiefs, the Detroit Lions claimed Worthy on August 4, 2015. The Detroit Lions cut Worthy from the team on September 5, 2015, at the 53 man roster deadline.
=Buffalo Bills=
On November 24, 2015, Worthy was signed to the Buffalo Bills' practice squad. On December 22, 2015, Worthy was signed to the active roster. He appeared in the final two games of the 2015 season and in 13 games in 2016.
On November 14, 2017, Worthy was released by the Bills.{{cite web|title=Bills sign DT Deandre Coleman|url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-sign-DT-Deandre-Coleman/a54de275-3997-4a41-86b2-91ff302e9e0b|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325112458/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-sign-DT-Deandre-Coleman/a54de275-3997-4a41-86b2-91ff302e9e0b|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 25, 2018|author=Brown, Chris|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=November 14, 2017}}
=Tampa Bay Buccaneers=
On August 20, 2018, Worthy was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.{{cite web|title=Bucs Add Jerel Worthy to Battered Line|url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/bucs-add-jerel-worthy-to-battered-line|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=August 20, 2018}} He was released by the Buccaneers on October 1, 2018.{{cite web|title=Bucs Release DT Jerel Worthy|url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/bucs-release-dt-jerel-worthy|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=October 1, 2018}}
=Orlando Apollos=
On January 6, 2019, Worthy joined the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football.{{cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/orlando-apollos-daily-update/n-5434923|title=Orlando Apollos Daily Update|work=Our Sports Central|date=January 6, 2019|access-date=February 6, 2019}} However, he was placed on injured reserve before the start of the regular season,{{cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/orlando-apollos-set-final-roster/n-5442986|title=Orlando Apollos Set Final Roster|work=Our Sports Central|date=January 30, 2019|access-date=February 6, 2019}} and activated on March 5, 2019. The league ceased operations in April 2019.{{Cite web |last1=Rothstein |first1=Michael |last2=Wickersham |first2=Seth |date=June 13, 2019 |title=Inside the short, unhappy life of the Alliance of American Football |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26957796/inside-short-unhappy-life-alliance-american-football |access-date=January 9, 2024 |website=ESPN.com}} In 4 games played, Worthy made 9 tackles and a sack.{{Cite web|url=https://noextrapoints.com/players/jerel-worthy/|title = Jerel Worthy}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130119100045/http://www.packers.com/team/roster/Jerel-Worthy/07c33dce-b1dd-485f-8951-017b2dbb22e0 Green Bay Packers bio]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110506191237/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/worthy_jerel00.html Michigan State Spartans bio]
{{2011 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Packers2012DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Worthy, Jerel}}
Category:People from Huber Heights, Ohio
Category:Players of American football from Dayton, Ohio
Category:All-American college football players
Category:American football defensive tackles
Category:Michigan State Spartans football players
Category:Green Bay Packers players
Category:New England Patriots players
Category:Kansas City Chiefs players
Category:Detroit Lions players
Category:Buffalo Bills players