Michael Divinity
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use American English|date = February 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Michael Divinity
| image = File:Michael Divinity Jr. LSUvsNWLA 771A (49105440077).jpg
| caption = Divinity with LSU in 2019
| alt =
| current_team =
| number = 95
| position = Linebacker, defensive end
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|5|13}}
| birth_place = Marrero, Louisiana, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 241
| high_school = John Ehret (Marrero, Louisiana)
| college = LSU
| undraftedyear = 2020
| pastteams = * Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2020}})*
- Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2020}})*
- BC Lions ({{CFL Year|2021}})
| status =
| cflstatus = American
| highlights = * CFP national champion (2019)
| pfr = DiviMi01
}}
Michael Divinity Jr. (born May 13, 1997) is an American former professional football linebacker. He played college football at LSU.{{Cite web |last=Auzenne |first=Josh |title=2020 NFL DRAFT: LSU LB Michael Divinity signs with Tampa Bay Bucs as undrafted rookie free agent |url=https://www.fox8live.com/2020/04/26/nfl-draft-lsu-lb-michael-divinity-signs-with-tampa-bay-bucs-undrafted-rookie-free-agent/ |access-date=September 27, 2021 |website=Fox8live.com |language=en}}
Early life
Divinity played quarterback on the freshman team at John Curtis Christian High School. He transferred to John Ehret High School prior to his sophomore year and switched to defense. He helped the team to their first state championship game appearance in 30 years as a senior. Divinity earned All-America honors as a junior and a senior. He was considered to be a five-star prospect that was ranked the nation's No. 6 outside linebacker and the No. 64 prospect overall by 247Sports. Divinity committed to LSU over offers from Alabama, Texas A&M, Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Florida State, among others.{{Cite news |last=Shipp |first=Sonny |date=April 25, 2020 |title=Michael Divinity signs with Tampa Bay Buccaneers |url=https://247sports.com/college/lsu/Article/Michael-Divinity-Tampa-Bay-Buccaneers-signs-LSU-linebacker-2020-NFL-Draft-undrafted-146471027/ |access-date=April 27, 2020 |work=247 Sports}}
College career
Divinity played as a true freshman in 2016 and made his first start in 2017 against Notre Dame in the Citrus Bowl.{{Cite news |last=Embody |first=Billy |date=March 31, 2020 |title=A look back at LSU's 2016 recruiting class |url=https://247sports.com/college/lsu/LongFormArticle/LSU-Tigers-2016-football-recruiting-class-Kristian-Fulton-Rashard-Lawrence-Saivion-Smith-Devin-White-Travonte-Valentine-signees-Les-Miles-145566329/#145566329_5 |access-date=April 27, 2020 |work=247 Sports}} As a junior in 2018, Divinity started 11 of 12 games and finished with 54 tackles including 9.5 tackles for loss, a team-high-tying five sacks, eight quarterback hurries, one interception, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. He posted a career-high 10 tackles and a sack in the big win at Texas early in his senior year. However, Divinity served a two-game suspension, missed a game with an injury, and then had a six-game suspension for another violation of team and university rules regarding marijuana use.{{Cite news |last=Guilbeau |first=Glenn |date=December 31, 2019 |title=LSU LB Michael Divinity Jr. cleared to play in national title game following suspension |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2019/12/31/lsu-lb-michael-divinity-jr-cleared-suspension/2788615001/ |access-date=April 27, 2020 |work=USA Today}} As a result of the suspensions, he left the team but returned to practice on November 18. He was cleared to play in the National Championship Game.{{Cite news |last=Heim |first=Mark |date=December 31, 2019 |title=LSU's Ed Orgeron talks Michael Divinity's reinstatement, call from Donald Trump |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2019/12/lsus-ed-orgeron-talks-michael-divinitys-reinstatement-call-from-donald-trump.html |access-date=April 27, 2020 |work=AL.com}} During his senior season, Divinity finished with 23 tackles including four for loss and 3.0 sacks. In his career, he posted 104 tackles (50 solo), nine sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception.{{Cite news |last=Auzenne |first=Josh |date=April 26, 2020 |title=2020 NFL DRAFT: LSU LB Michael Divinity signs with Tampa Bay Bucs as undrafted rookie free agent |url=https://www.wafb.com/2020/04/26/nfl-draft-lsu-lb-michael-divinity-signs-with-tampa-bay-bucs-undrafted-rookie-free-agent/ |access-date=April 27, 2020 |work=WAFB}}
Divinity performed poorly in NFL combine measurements. He tied for second to last at linebacker with 14 repetitions on the 225-pound bench press. He ran a 4.85 40-yard dash that was the fourth slowest for a linebacker, and his 31-inch vertical and 9-foot, 7-inch broad jump were also tied for the fourth worst at the combine.
Professional career
=Tampa Bay Buccaneers=
After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft, Divinity signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.{{Cite news |date=April 25, 2020 |title=LSU LB Michael Divinity reaches UDFA deal with Buccaneers after going undrafted: source |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_a0871d64-738d-11ea-aa1e-a3e11984adf3.html |access-date=April 27, 2020 |work=The Advocate}} He was waived on September 5, 2020.{{Cite web |last=Smith, Scott |date=September 5, 2020 |title=Matt Gay, A.Q. Shipley Among Cuts to Get to 53 |url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/buccaneers-53-man-roster-cut-down-training-camp-2020 |website=Buccaneers.com}}
=Seattle Seahawks=
On October 7, 2020, Divinity was signed by the Seattle Seahawks to their practice squad.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=John |date=October 7, 2020 |title=Seahawks Make Roster Moves, Including Signing DT Damon Harrison To Practice Squad |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-make-roster-moves-including-signing-dt-damon-harrison-to-practice-squad |access-date=October 7, 2020 |website=Seahawks.com}} He was released on November 3.{{Cite news |last=Socotch, Peter |date=November 3, 2020 |title=Seahawks relatively quiet at 2020 NFL Trade Deadline |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/seahawks/seattle-seahawks-quiet-2020-nfl-trade-deadline-make-room-carlos-dunlap |access-date=December 2, 2020 |work=NBCSports.com}}
=BC Lions=
Divinity signed with the BC Lions of the CFL on June 10, 2021.{{Cite news |last=Baker, Matt |date=June 10, 2021 |title=Lions add to D-line with signings of Divinity Jr. and Goodson |url=https://www.bclions.com/2021/06/10/lions-add-d-line-signings-divinity-jr-goodson/ |access-date=June 10, 2021 |work=BCLions.com}} He was placed on the suspended list on July 2.{{Cite web |title=2021 CFL Transactions |url=https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/?season=2021 |access-date=July 7, 2021 |website=CFL.ca}} On September 20, he was added to the main roster.{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Matt |date=September 20, 2021 |title=LIONS ADD WR TJ RAHMING AND AMERICAN DL MICHAEL DIVINITY JR. |url=https://www.bclions.com/2021/09/20/lions-add-wr-tj-rahming-american-dl-michael-divinity-jr/ |access-date=October 13, 2021 |website=BC Lions}} Divinity dressed in four games, starting one, for the Lions during the 2021 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/d/divi00170.html | title=Michael Divinity | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=14 August 2024}} He was listed as a defensive end during his time with the Lions.{{cite web | url=https://www.cfl.ca/players/michael-divinity-jr/165518/ | title=Michael Divinity Jr. | publisher=cfl.ca | accessdate=14 August 2024}} He was released on February 16, 2022.{{cite web | url=https://www.footballdb.com/players/michael-divinity-divinmi01/transactions | title=Michael Divinity | publisher=.footballdb.com | accessdate=14 August 2024}}
Personal life
He is the oldest of four children of Leslie Gilmore and Michael Divinity Sr. His mother is a teacher's assistant and his father is a produce manager at a Winn-Dixie. In November 2015, the family home in Marrero, Louisiana was ransacked during the foreclosure process.{{Cite news |last=Dellenger |first=Ross |date=March 12, 2016 |title=As Michael Divinity prepares for LSU, his family puts pieces back together after losing Marrero home |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_17361a25-5432-5957-8944-3a2a19f3cef3.html |access-date=April 27, 2020 |work=The Advocate}} Divinity has a daughter.{{Cite news |date=January 12, 2020 |title=LSU linebacker Divinity hoping to turn trouble into triumph |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2020/01/12/lsu-linebacker-divinity-hoping-to-turn-trouble-into-triumph/40988727/ |access-date=April 27, 2020 |work=USA Today |agency=Associated Press}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons}}
- [https://lsusports.net/sports/football/roster/michael-divinity-jr-/20232 LSU Tigers bio]
{{2019 LSU Tigers football navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Divinity, Michael}}
Category:Sportspeople from Marrero, Louisiana
Category:Players of American football from Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
Category:Players of Canadian football from Louisiana
Category:John Ehret High School alumni
Category:American football linebackers
Category:LSU Tigers football players
Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players