Long Ding
{{short description|Chinese college athlete|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{infobox NFL biography
| name = Long Ding
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| position = Placekicker
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|2|11}}
| birth_place = Qingdao, China
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| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lbs = 209
| college = Dean (2008–2009)
Norwich (2010–2011)
| undraftedyear = 2012
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Long Ding (born February 11, 1988) is a Chinese former professional American football kicker. He was originally a member of the IFAF/USA Football International Student Program,{{cite web|title=Chinese kicker Long Ding will try out for Jaguars|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/chinese-kicker-long-ding-will-try-out-for-jaguars-09000d5d828c996b|work=NFL|publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC|access-date=May 27, 2012|author=Gregg Rosenthal|date=May 1, 2012}} before entering college football after his arrival in the United States in 2007. He tried out for the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2012 NFL offseason.
Early life
College career
After his arrival in the US, Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts was the first team that Ding represented before moving onto Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont.{{cite news|title=A Long journey from China to Jaguars|url=http://jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2012-05-04/story/long-journey-china-jaguars|accessdate=May 27, 2012|newspaper=The Florida Times-Union|date=May 4, 2012|author=Vito Stellino}}
In 2011, while still a student at Norwich University, Ding was named a finalist for the Fred Mitchell Award.{{cite web|url=http://www.easterncollegiatefootball.com/seasons/2011/contrib/20111010v8pus9 |title=Eastern Collegiate Football Conference : Long Ding named finalist for Fred Mitchell Award |publisher=Easterncollegiatefootball.com |date=September 30, 2011 |accessdate=July 21, 2012}} At Norwich, Ding attempted sixteen field goals, making thirteen, with the longest distance to goal measured at {{convert|51|yd|m}}.{{cite web|title=Long Ding {{!}} #99 – K – Norwich|url=http://www.easterncollegiatefootball.com/seasons/2011/players/longding4oot|work=ECFC - Eastern Collegiate Football Conference|publisher=NCAA Division III|accessdate=May 27, 2012|author=Staff|year=2011}} Ding was also active as a defensive player, recording nineteen tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks.
Professional career
Ding was scouted during the NFL Regional Combine in New York City, as well as the NFL Super Regional Combine in Detroit. He later went on to go undrafted in the 2012 NFL draft.
In May 2012, Ding was invited to a tryout at rookie mini-camp for the Jacksonville Jaguars, along with twenty-six others.{{cite web|url=http://prod.www.jaguars.clubs.nfl.com/news/article-PressRelease/Chinese-kicker-Long-Ding-joins-Jaguars-mini-camp/b04835af-25c9-4716-9452-95198f1d6bc3 |title=Chinese kicker Long Ding, joins Jaguars mini-camp |publisher=NFL.com |date=May 1, 2012 |access-date=July 21, 2012}}{{cite web|last=Sports |first=The |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/long-ding-gets-tryout-jaguars-203014438--nfl.html |title=Long Ding gets tryout with Jaguars - Yahoo! Sports |publisher=Sports.yahoo.com |date=May 1, 2012 |accessdate=July 21, 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/jacksonville-jaguars-trying-out-jordan-palmer-chinese-kicker-09000d5d828c9a05 |title=Jacksonville Jaguars trying out Jordan Palmer, Chinese kicker |work=NFL.com |date=May 1, 2012 |access-date=July 21, 2012}}{{cite news| url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2012/05/NFL-Jaguars-giving-placekicker-Long-Ding-of-China-a-tryout-685310/1#.T6VlLOtSROI | work=USA Today | title=NFL Jaguars giving kicker Long Ding of China a tryout | date=May 1, 2012}}{{cite web|author=Jason Lisk |url=http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2012/04/30/jacksonville-jaguars-invite-kicker-long-ding-to-camp/ |title=Jacksonville Jaguars Invite Kicker Long Ding To Camp |publisher=The Big Lead |date=April 30, 2012 |accessdate=July 21, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d828e356c/article/jaguars-kicker-long-ding-hopes-to-make-china-proud?module=HP11_content_stream |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508025534/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d828e356c/article/jaguars-kicker-long-ding-hopes-to-make-china-proud?module=HP11_content_stream |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 8, 2012 |title=Jaguars kicker Long Ding hopes to make China proud |work=NFL.com |date=May 5, 2012 |accessdate=July 21, 2012}} Ding stated that he just wants to show the NFL that he has the ability to kick at that level.{{cite web|url=http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/videos/One-on-one-Long-Ding/c5b9bba0-7932-4e00-8f22-b81463246bb4 |title=One-on-one: Long Ding |publisher=Jaguars.com |date=July 17, 2012 |accessdate=July 21, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.norwichguidon.com/campus-news/long-dingsanity-1.2815586#.T6VqUetSROI |title=Long DINGSANITY! - Campus News - The Norwich Guidon - Norwich University |publisher=The Norwich Guidon |date=March 9, 2012 |accessdate=July 21, 2012}} The Jaguars did not sign Ding to a contract.
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120503023940/http://www.kickinglong.com/ Long Ding's webpage]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ding, Long}}
Category:American football placekickers
Category:American sportspeople of Chinese descent
Category:Norwich University alumni
Category:Norwich Cadets football players
Category:Sportspeople from Qingdao