Justin Gilbert
{{Short description|American football player (born 1991)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Justin Gilbert
| image = Justin Gilbert 2014 Browns training camp (3).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Gilbert with the Cleveland Browns in 2014
| current_team = Sioux City Bandits
| number = 0
| position = Cornerback
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|11|7|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Huntsville, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lbs = 202
| high_school = Huntsville
| college = Oklahoma State (2010–2013)
| draftyear = 2014
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 8
| pastteams = * Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2015}})
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2016}})
- Sioux City Bandits ({{Year|2023}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights = * Consensus All-American (2013)
- First-team All-Big 12 (2013)
- 2× Second-team All-Big 12 (2011, 2012)
| statseason =
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 42
| statlabel2 = Pass deflections
| statvalue2 = 9
| statlabel3 = Interceptions
| statvalue3 = 1
| statlabel4 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue4 = 1
| pfr = GilbJu00
}}
Justin Rodrell Gilbert (born November 7, 1991) is an American professional football cornerback for the Sioux City Bandits of the National Arena League (NAL). He was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the eighth pick in the 2014 NFL draft, after playing college football at Oklahoma State. He has also been a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Early life
Gilbert attended Huntsville High School in Huntsville, Texas, where he was a three-sport star in football, basketball and track. He played as a defensive back and quarterback for the Huntsville Hornets football team, and was a two-time district MVP. He was a SuperPrep All-region selection and was ranked by that publication as the No. 51 player in Texas. As a junior, he accumulated 785 passing yards and 628 rushing yards. In his senior year, he rushed for over 1,000 yards with nine touchdowns and passed for over 800 yards.{{Cite web |url=http://www.okstate.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/justin_gilbert_652766.html |title=Justin Gilbert Bio - Oklahoma State Official Athletic Site |access-date=December 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212163659/http://www.okstate.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/justin_gilbert_652766.html |archive-date=December 12, 2013 |url-status=dead }}
Also a standout track & field athlete, Gilbert was one of the state's top sprinters. He captured two regional titles at the 2010 State 3-4A Regional, winning the 100-meter dash, with a time of 10.47 second, and the 200-meter dash, with a time of 21.29 seconds, while also placing second in the long jump (6.78 meters) and anchoring the 4x100 squad to a second-place finish.{{cite web|url=http://tx.milesplit.com/meets/62339/results/121479|title=Region 3-4A Meet - Boys Final Results (FAT) (Raw)|access-date=September 3, 2016}}
Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Gilbert was listed as the No. 37 athlete in the state of Texas in 2010.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-Justin-Gilbert-73036;_ylt=AnZVFkocyI8VXKlqKfxJ6AdDPZB4|title=Rivals.com|access-date=September 3, 2016}}
College career
Gilbert attended Oklahoma State University between 2010 and 2013. As a true freshman in 2010, Gilbert was a backup cornerback and kick returner. For the season he had 18 tackles and returned two kickoff returns for touchdowns. He was named a freshman All-American by Rivals.com.[http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1164970 Rivals.com Freshman All-America Team] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916195528/http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1164970 |date=September 16, 2011 }} As a sophomore in 2011, he had 48 tackles, five interceptions and two kickoff return touchdowns. He was the defensive MVP of the 2012 Fiesta Bowl.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fiestabowl.org/tostitos-fiesta-bowl/tostitos-fiesta-bowl-game-history/game-results-recaps/2012-fiesta-bowl.php |title=2012 Fiesta Bowl |access-date=December 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214162346/http://www.fiestabowl.org/tostitos-fiesta-bowl/tostitos-fiesta-bowl-game-history/game-results-recaps/2012-fiesta-bowl.php |archive-date=December 14, 2013 |url-status=dead }} As a junior in 2012, he had 53 tackles and one kickoff return for a touchdown. He nearly entered the 2013 NFL draft but decided against it.{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/oklahoma-state-football-justin-gilbert-returning-for-senior-season/article/3743773|title=Oklahoma State football: Justin Gilbert returning for senior season|date=January 6, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2016}} As a senior in 2013, he set the Big 12 Conference record for kickoff return touchdowns with six.{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/oklahoma-state-football-justin-gilbert-shows-barry-sanders-what-we-do-here-nowadays-with-kickoff-return-td/article/3903232|title=Oklahoma State football: Justin Gilbert shows Barry Sanders 'what we do here nowadays' with kickoff return TD|date=November 9, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2016}} He was also a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/oklahoma-state-cb-justin-gilbert-named-a-thorpe-award-finalist/article/3908433|title=Oklahoma State CB Justin Gilbert named a Thorpe Award finalist|date=November 25, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.okstate.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112513aac.html|title=Gilbert Named a Jim Thorpe Award Finalist|access-date=September 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128105709/http://www.okstate.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112513aac.html|archive-date=November 28, 2013|url-status=dead}} Gilbert won the 2013 College Football Performance Award as the nation's top defensive back.{{cite web|url=http://www.okstate.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010914aaa.html|title=Gilbert Wins College Football Performance Award|access-date=September 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140127031934/http://www.okstate.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010914aaa.html|archive-date=January 27, 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/oklahoma-state-cb-justin-gilbert-earns-college-football-performance-award/article/3922369|title=Oklahoma State CB Justin Gilbert earns College Football Performance Award|date=January 9, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2016}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 0+1/8
| weight = 202
| dash = 4.35
| ten split = 1.54
| twenty split = 2.50
| shuttle = 4.39
| cone drill = 6.92
| vertical = 35.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 6
| bench = 20
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 33+1/8
| hand span = 8+5/8
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/justin-gilbert?id=2543473|title=NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - Justin Gilbert|website=NFL.com |access-date=September 3, 2016}}
}}
=Cleveland Browns=
Gilbert was considered one of the top cornerback prospects for the 2014 NFL draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=107733&draftyear=2014&genpos=CB|title=Justin Gilbert - Oklahoma State, CB : 2014 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile|access-date=September 3, 2016}}{{cite web | title=Oklahoma State CB Justin Gilbert's NFL draft stock 'soaring' | website=NFL.com | date=2013-11-18 | url=https://www.nfl.com/news/oklahoma-state-cb-justin-gilbert-s-nfl-draft-stock-soaring-0ap2000000284229 | access-date=2024-12-28}} Gilbert was selected with the eighth pick in the first round by the Cleveland Browns.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/audibles/2014/05/08/cleveland-browns-select-justin-gilbert-2014-nfl-draft|title=Cleveland Browns select Justin Gilbert No. 8 overall in the 2014 NFL draft|first=Doug|last=Farrar|date=May 8, 2014 |access-date=September 3, 2016}} After a slow start to his rookie season, when he had missed two games with an illness and a heel injury, Gilbert played in Week 14 against the Indianapolis Colts when teammate K'Waun Williams was injured. He ended the game with four tackles and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown. The Colts won 25–24.
=Pittsburgh Steelers=
On September 3, 2016, Gilbert was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2018 sixth-round draft pick.{{cite web|work=ClevelandBrowns.com|url=http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-5/Browns-trade-DB-Justin-Gilbert-to-Pittsburgh/af702615-6959-4329-abc3-fe2557485d37|title=Browns trade DB Justin Gilbert to Pittsburgh|date=September 3, 2016|access-date=September 3, 2016|archive-date=September 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160904161351/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-5/Browns-trade-DB-Justin-Gilbert-to-Pittsburgh/af702615-6959-4329-abc3-fe2557485d37|url-status=dead}}
After not seeing the field in Week 1 against the Washington Redskins, Gilbert made his Steelers debut against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 18, playing exclusively on special teams. After another week of special teams duty against the Philadelphia Eagles, Gilbert made his debut on defense against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 2, covering Travis Kelce. Through the first 10 weeks, he played only 11 defensive snaps and was mainly used on kickoff coverage, but he returned three kickoffs for 69 yards.{{cite web|url=http://www.steelersdepot.com/2016/11/darrius-heyward-bey-justin-gilbert-hes-getting-better/|title=Darrius Heyward-Bey on Justin Gilbert: He's getting better|access-date=November 16, 2016|author=Dave Bryan|website=steelersdepot.com|date=November 14, 2016 }}
During the 2016 season, Gilbert played in 12 games, recording one solo tackle and assisting on two others. He also made his NFL postseason debut, playing against the Chiefs and New England Patriots, returning three kickoffs for 43 yards.
On February 6, 2017, Gilbert was released by the Steelers.{{cite web|title=Steelers release Justin Gilbert|url=http://www.steelers.com/news/transactions/article-1/Steelers-release-Justin-Gilbert/54a41fdc-8ae6-492e-a3f1-0626f8e34acc|website=Steelers.com|date=February 6, 2017|access-date=February 6, 2017|archive-date=February 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207001648/http://www.steelers.com/news/transactions/article-1/Steelers-release-Justin-Gilbert/54a41fdc-8ae6-492e-a3f1-0626f8e34acc|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Steelers release former first-rounder Justin Gilbert|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/steelers-release-former-first-rounder-justin-gilbert-0ap3000000784038|author=Bergman, Jeremy|website=NFL.com|date=February 6, 2017}}
On June 20, 2017, Gilbert was suspended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for one year for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.{{Cite magazine |last=Chavez |first=Chris |date=June 20, 2017 |title=Former Browns CB Justin Gilbert suspended for a year for substance abuse |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/06/20/justin-gilbert-suspended-roger-goodell-cleveland-browns |access-date=August 29, 2017 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}
=Sioux City Bandits=
On January 13, 2023, Gilbert signed with the Sioux City Bandits of Champions Indoor Football (CIF).{{cite web | url=https://www.siouxlandproud.com/sports/former-nfl-first-round-draft-pick-justin-gilbert-excited-for-new-opportunity-with-sioux-city-bandits/amp/ | title=Former NFL first-round draft pick Justin Gilbert excited for new opportunity with Sioux City Bandits | date=January 14, 2023 }} On December 18, 2023, he re-signed with the Bandits for their first season in the National Arena League (NAL).{{cite web|title=Welcome back to Bandits Kingdom Justin Gilbert|url=https://www.facebook.com/share/p/sftdiP3NKi7hqHqN/?mibextid=WC7FNe|website=facebook.com|date=December 18, 2023|access-date=December 18, 2023}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20131212163659/http://www.okstate.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/justin_gilbert_652766.html Oklahoma State Cowboys bio]
{{2013 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{2014 NFL Draft}}
{{BrownsFirstPick}}
{{Browns2014DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilbert, Justin}}
Category:Players of American football from Houston
Category:American football cornerbacks
Category:American football return specialists
Category:Oklahoma State Cowboys football players
Category:Cleveland Browns players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:All-American college football players