Luke Juriga
{{Short description|American football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Luke Juriga
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Center
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|06|07}}
| birth_place = Aurora, Illinois, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 301
| high_school = Marmion Academy {{nowrap|(Aurora, Illinois)}}
| college = Western Michigan
| undraftedyear = 2020
| pastteams =
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2020}}–{{NFL Year|2021}})
- San Antonio Brahmas ({{XFL Year|2023}})
| status =
| highlights =
- 2× First-team All-MAC (2018, 2019)
| statleague =
| statseason =
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 13
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 =
| pfr = JuriLu00
}}
Luke Juriga (born June 7, 1997) is an American football center who is a free agent. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2020 following his college football career with the Western Michigan Broncos.
College career
Juriga played three seasons at Western Michigan at right guard, earning Second-team All-Mid-American Conference honors in 2017 and First-team All-MAC in 2018. Before his senior season, he moved to center and was named team captain. Juriga was named to the First-team All-MAC as well as the program's Greg Jennings Outstanding Offensive Player award. He finished his career starting all 52 games played and was a four-time Academic All-MAC performer. Juriga was named to the East-West Shrine Bowl in January 2020.{{cite web |title=Juriga Agrees to Terms with Philadelphia Eagles |url=https://wmubroncos.com/news/2020/4/25/football-juriga-agrees-to-terms-with-philadelphia-eagles.aspx |website=Western Michigan Broncos |accessdate=October 24, 2020 |date=April 25, 2020}}
Professional career
= Philadelphia Eagles =
Juriga signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL draft on April 26, 2020.{{cite news |author=McPherson, Chris |title=Eagles agree to terms with 13 undrafted free agents |url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-agree-to-terms-with-13-undrafted-free-agents |website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com |date=April 26, 2020 |accessdate=October 21, 2020}} He was waived during final roster cuts on September 3, 2020,{{cite news |author=McPherson, Chris |title=Eagles place Andre Dillard on Injured Reserve; waive 12 players |url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-place-andre-dillard-on-injured-reserve-waive-12-players |website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com |date=September 3, 2020 |accessdate=October 21, 2020}} and re-signed to the team's practice squad three days later.{{cite news |author=McPherson, Chris |title=Eagles announce practice squad that includes QB Josh McCown |url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-announce-practice-squad-that-includes-qb-josh-mccown |website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com |date=September 6, 2020 |accessdate=October 21, 2020}} He was promoted to the active roster on October 3, 2020.{{cite news |author=McPherson, Chris |title=Eagles sign WR Travis Fulgham, C Luke Juriga, and RB Adrian Killins from the practice squad to the active roster |url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-sign-travis-fulgham-luke-juriga-and-adrian-killins |website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com |date=October 3, 2020 |accessdate=October 21, 2020}} In Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns, Juriga entered the game at the end of the first half following a minor injury to Jason Kelce.{{cite web |last1=Erby |first1=Glenn |title=Eagles center Jason Kelce exits game vs. the Browns with an arm injury |url=https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/2020/11/22/eagles-center-jason-kelce-exits-game-vs-the-browns-with-an-arm-injury/ |website=Eagles Wire |access-date=November 23, 2020 |date=November 22, 2020}}
On August 17, 2021, Juriga was waived/injured by the Eagles and placed on injured reserve.{{cite web|title=Eagles waive RB Kerryon Johnson, C Luke Juriga, and T Casey Tucker with an injury designation|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-waive-kerryon-johnson-luke-juriga-and-casey-tucker|author=McPherson, Chris|website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com|date=August 17, 2021}} He was released on August 21. He was re-signed to the practice squad on December 1.{{cite web|title=Eagles sign C Luke Juriga to the practice squad|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-sign-luke-juriga-to-the-practice-squad|author=McPherson, Chris|website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com|date=December 1, 2021}}
= San Antonio Brahmas =
On November 17, 2022, Juriga was drafted by the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-18 |title=Rosters for all eight XFL teams: Full draft results and where Vic Beasley, Martavis Bryant landed |url=https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/35053464/xfl-draft-results-2023-full-rosters-eight-teams-vic-beasley-martavis-bryant-picks |access-date=2022-12-30 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} He was removed from the roster on February 15, 2024.{{Cite web |title=San Antonio Brahmas Roster |url=https://www.theufl.com/teams/san-antonio/roster |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=www.theufl.com |language=en}}
Personal life
Juriga's father Jim played for three seasons in the NFL.{{cite news |author=Armstrong, Rick |title=No laughing matter: Marmion graduate Luke Juriga quick on his feet for NFL draft after rarely missing a snap for Western Michigan |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/sports/ct-abn-spt-nfl-draft-marmion-luke-juriga-st-042320-20200422-7a7ewpuofreopic56cn3dt7yce-story.html |website=ChicagoTribune.com |date=April 22, 2020 |accessdate=October 21, 2020}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://wmubroncos.com/sports/football/roster/luke-juriga/7839 Western Michigan Broncos football bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Juriga, Luke}}
Category:Players of American football from Aurora, Illinois
Category:American football centers
Category:Western Michigan Broncos football players