John Metchie III
{{Short description| Canadian football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = John Metchie III
| image = John Metchie III 2021.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Metchie with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2021
| current_team = Houston Texans
| number = 8
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|7|18|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Taipei, Taiwan
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 195
| high_school = St. James {{nowrap|(Hagerstown, Maryland, U.S.)}}
Peddie {{nowrap|(Hightstown, New Jersey, U.S.)}}
| college = Alabama (2019–2021)
| draftyear = 2022
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 44
| cfldraftyear = 2022
| cfldraftround = 7
| cfldraftpick = 59
| pastteams =
- Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2022}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- George Halas Award (2024)
- CFP national champion (2020)
- 2× Jon Cornish Trophy (2020, 2021)
- Second-team All-SEC (2021)
| statleague = NFL
| statweek =
| statseason = 2024
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 40
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 412
| statlabel3 = Rushing yards
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Return yards
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue5 = 1
}}
John Metchie III ({{IPAc-en|m|ɛ|ˈ|tʃ|i:|eɪ}} {{respell|MET|chee|ay}};{{cite web|url=https://www.argonauts.ca/2024/05/16/hogan-whats-in-a-name/|title=Hogan: What’s in a Name?|publisher=argonauts.ca|first=Mike|last=Hogan|date=May 16, 2024|access-date=January 17, 2025}} born July 18, 2000) is a Taiwanese-Canadian professional football wide receiver for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, winning the Jon Cornish Trophy twice prior to being selected by the Texans in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft. Metchie sat out his rookie season after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia and returned to play in 2023.
Early life
Metchie was born in Taiwan to a Nigerian father and Taiwanese mother on July 18, 2000.{{Cite web |last=Brugler |first=Dane |title=The Beast: 2022 NFL Draft Guide |url=https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2022/04/07001122/2022_TheBeast_NFL_Draft_Guide.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407122241/https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2022/04/07001122/2022_TheBeast_NFL_Draft_Guide.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 7, 2022 |url-access=subscription |access-date=22 April 2022 |website=The Athletic |pages=54 |format=PDF}} His family moved to Accra, Ghana, when he was one before moving to Brampton, Ontario, Canada, with his mother and four brothers while his father remained in Ghana.{{Cite web |last=Edholm |first=Eric |date=February 23, 2022 |title=NFL draft: From Ghana to Bama, WR John Metchie has learned to thrive amid adversity |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-draft-from-ghana-to-bama-wr-john-metchie-has-learned-to-thrive-amid-adversity-222007359.html |access-date=22 April 2022 |website=Yahoo! Sports}} He then moved to the United States to attend St. James School in Hagerstown, Maryland.{{Cite web |last=Sousa |first=Stone |date=July 6, 2018 |title=Canadian John Metchie defies the odds to become top U.S. football recruit |url=https://torontosun.com/sports/football/canadian-john-metchie-defies-the-odds-to-become-top-u-s-football-recruit |access-date=February 11, 2022 |newspaper=Toronto Sun}} Metchie spent a post-graduate year at the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey,{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Todderick |date=May 22, 2018 |title=4-star WR Metchie to Peddie | Is he now N.J.'s best WR? |url=https://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/2018/05/4-star_wr_john_metchie_transfers_to_peddie_becomin.html |access-date=February 11, 2022 |website=NJ.com}} before committing to play college football at the University of Alabama.{{Cite web |last=Parasiliti |first=Bob |date=July 7, 2018 |title=Saint James grad Metchie commits to Alabama |url=https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/sports/saint-james-grad-metchie-commits-to-alabama/article_4b69ed08-8248-11e8-b8d8-97dbf0a3b877.html |access-date=February 11, 2022 |website=Herald-Mail Media}}{{Cite web |last=Casagrande |first=Michael |date=July 7, 2018 |title=Alabama gets commitment from 4-star WR |url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2018/07/alabama_gets_commitment_from_4.html |access-date=February 11, 2022 |website=AL.com}}
College career
Metchie played in all 13 games as a freshman at Alabama in 2019 and had four catches for 23 yards.{{Cite web |last=Paschall |first=David |date=October 6, 2020 |title=John Metchie already adding to Alabama's continuing run of stellar receivers |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/sports/college/story/2020/oct/06/metchie-already-adding-alabamas-continuing-ru/533614/ |access-date=February 11, 2022 |website=Chattanooga Times Free Press}} He became one of Alabama's top three receivers his sophomore year in 2020 racking up 916 yards on 55 receptions with six touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Hudson |first=Brett |date=October 4, 2020 |title=Crimson Tide's Metchie shows star potential |url=https://www.timesdaily.com/sports/alabama_football/crimson-tides-metchie-shows-star-potential/article_f2bbf537-40ee-555d-913d-b285c6423b77.html |access-date=February 11, 2022 |website=TimesDaily}}{{Cite web |last=Blackwell |first=Joey |date=October 4, 2020 |title=When Alabama Needed Its No. 3 Receiver, John Metchie Answered the Call |url=https://www.si.com/college/alabama/bamacentral/when-alabama-needed-its-no-3-receiver-john-metchie-answered-the-call-blackwell |access-date=February 11, 2022 |website=SI.com}} He was the first receiver to win the Jon Cornish Trophy as the top Canadian in NCAA football in the 2020 season.{{Cite web |last=Naylor |first=Dave |date=2021-05-24 |title=Metchie wins Cornish Trophy as outstanding Canadian in NCAA football |url=https://www.tsn.ca/dave-naylor-john-metchie-wins-cornish-trophy-as-outstanding-canadian-in-ncaa-football-1.1644541 |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=TSN.ca |language=en}} As a junior in 2021, Metchie recorded 96 receptions for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns before tearing his ACL in the 2021 SEC Championship Game.{{Cite web |last=Scarborough |first=Alex |date=December 5, 2021 |title=Alabama Crimson Tide leading pass-catcher John Metchie III out with 'significant' ACL injury |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32797944/alabama-crimson-tide-leading-pass-catcher-john-metchie-iii-significant-acl-injury |access-date=January 14, 2022 |website=ESPN.com}} Metchie was again named the recipient of the Jon Cornish Trophy, joining Nathan Rourke as the only two-time winners.{{Cite web |last=Naylor |first=Dave |date=2022-04-19 |title=Metchie wins Jon Cornish Trophy for second time |url=https://www.tsn.ca/dave-naylor-john-metchie-wins-jon-cornish-trophy-for-second-time-1.1787566 |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=TSN.ca |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Inabinett |first=Mark |date=May 4, 2022 |title=Wide receiver John Metchie III drafted again |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2022/05/wide-receiver-john-metchie-iii-drafted-again.html |access-date=24 May 2022 |website=AL.com}}
=Statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ College statistics ! rowspan="2"| Season ! rowspan="2"| GP ! colspan="5"| Receiving | ||||||
| Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019
| 4 || 4 || 23 || 5.8 || 17 || 0 | ||||||
| 2020
| 13 || 55 || 916 || 16.7 || 78 || 6 | ||||||
| 2021
| 13 || 96 || 1,142 || 11.9 || 46 || 8 | ||||||
| [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/john-metchie-1.html Career] | 30 | 155 | 2,081 | 13.4 | 78 | 14 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11 1/4
| weight = 187
| arm span = 30 5/8
| hand span = 9 1/4
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/john-metchie/32004d45-5437-3452-4786-13bd57b6dd0c |title=John Metchie Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 9, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1029388&DraftYear=2022 |title=John Metchie III, Alabama, WR, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=March 9, 2022}}
}}
Metchie was selected by the Houston Texans in the second round (44th overall) of the 2022 NFL draft. He was also selected by the BC Lions in the seventh round (59th overall) of the 2022 CFL Draft before signing a four-year contract, worth $8 million, with the Texans on May 14, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Galatzan |first=Matt |date=May 14, 2022 |title=Texans Sign WR John Metchie III To Rookie Deal |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/texans/news/houston-john-metchie-wr-signs-rookie-deal |access-date=24 May 2022 |website=SI.com}} In July, Metchie announced he would sit out his rookie season after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia.{{cite web |title=Texans WR Metchie diagnosed with leukemia |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34289700/houston-texans-wr-john-metchie-iii-diagnosed-leukemia |website=ESPN.com |access-date=24 July 2022 |language=en |date=24 July 2022}}
A year after receiving his diagnosis, Metchie was cleared to attend training camp.{{cite web | last=Rieken | first=Kristie | title=Houston receiver John Metchie 'grateful' on field after finishing cancer treatment | website=AP News | date=2023-08-03 | url=https://apnews.com/article/metchie-texans-cancer-houston-return-c6cb2f8bc844f6c92923c16405a1d3ec | access-date=2024-11-01}} He played his first career NFL game in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts and finished the season with 16 receptions for 158 yards.{{Cite web |title=John Metchie 2023 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MetcJo00/gamelog/2023/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} Metchie was named the recipient of the 2024 George Halas Award by the Pro Football Writers of America for his adversity.{{Cite web |date=May 28, 2024 |title=Texans’ John Metchie III selected as PFWA 2024 George Halas Award winner |url=https://www.profootballwriters.org/2024/05/28/texans-john-metchie-iii-selected-as-pfwa-2024-george-halas-award-winner/ |access-date=28 May 2024 |website=Pro Football Writers of America}} In Week 10 of the 2024 season, he scored his first professional touchdown against the Detroit Lions.{{cite web | last=Bien-Aime | first=DJ | title=Texans WR John Metchie III scores first career TD after cancer battle | website=ESPN.com | date=2024-11-11 | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/42318961/texans-wr-john-metchie-iii-scores-first-career-touchdown | access-date=2025-01-28}} In the 2024 season, Metchie finished with 24 reception for 254 yards and one touchdown.{{Cite web |title=John Metchie 2024 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MetcJo00/gamelog/2024/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
NFL career statistics
=Regular season=
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="2"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | HOU
| 0 || 0 || colspan="12"| {{abbr|DNP|Did not play due to leukemia diagnosis}} | |||||||||||||
| 2023 | HOU
| 16 || 0 || 16 || 158 || 9.9 || 22 || 0 || 1 || 4 || 4.0 || 4 || 1 || 1 || 1 | |||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| Career | 16 | 0 | 16 | 158 | 9.9 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
=Postseason=
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="2"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | HOU
| 2 || 0 || 3 || 44 || 14.7 || 27 || 0 || 1 || 9 || 9.0 || 9 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| Career | 2 | 0 | 3 | 44 | 14.7 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Personal life
His older brother, Royce Metchie, is a defensive back for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League.{{Cite web |last=Ralph |first=Dan |date=April 29, 2022 |title=Texans trade up for Canada's John Metchie III in 2nd round of NFL draft |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/nfl/nfl-john-metchie-drafted-2nd-round-texans-nfl-draft-2022-1.6436760 |access-date=2023-02-19 |website=CBC.ca}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons}}
- [https://www.houstontexans.com/team/players-roster/john-metchie-iii/ Houston Texans bio]
- [https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/john-metchie-iii/6351 Alabama Crimson Tide bio]
{{Houston Texans roster navbox}}
{{2020 Alabama Crimson Tide football navbox}}
{{Texans2022DraftPicks}}
{{Jon Cornish Trophy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Metchie, John}}
Category:Sportspeople from Brampton
Category:Taiwanese emigrants to Canada
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football players
Category:Taiwanese players of American football
Category:Houston Texans players
Category:Canadian people of Taiwanese descent
Category:Canadian sportspeople of Nigerian descent
Category:Taiwanese people of Nigerian descent
Category:Jon Cornish Trophy winners