Nate Hemsley
{{Short description|American football player (born 1974)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 58, 54
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|5|5|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Willingboro Township, New Jersey, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lbs = 228
| high_school = Delran
(Delran Township, New Jersey)
| college = Syracuse
| undraftedyear = 1997
| pastteams =
- Tennessee Oilers ({{NFL Year|1997}})*
- Dallas Cowboys (1997–{{NFL Year|1999}})
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2000|2001}})*
- Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2001}})
| highlights =
- All-Big East (1996)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 20
| pfr = HemsNa20
}}
Nathaniel Richard Hemsley (born May 15, 1974) is an American former professional football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers. He played college football at Syracuse University.
Early life
Hemsley grew up in Delran Township, New Jersey and graduated from Delran High School in 1991. As a senior, he received second-team All-American, All-Freedom League, AllBurlington County and Defensive Player of the Year honors.
He accepted a football scholarship from Syracuse University.Carchidi, Sam. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160610003450/http://articles.philly.com/1998-11-01/sports/25734521_1_training-camp-eagles-fans-defense "Hemsley's Debut At Vet Delayed The Pride Of Delran High, Now A Dallas Cowboy, Is Out With A Broken Leg."], The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 1, 1998. Accessed May 22, 2016. "Growing up in Delran, Nate Hemsley was a devoted Eagles follower who idolized Wes Hopkins, Byron Evans, Reggie White, and the rest of the NFL club's multitalented defense.... For good reason. Hemsley, the pride of Delran High, is a member of the Dallas Cowboys." As a redshirt freshman in 1993, he was named the starting inside linebacker and led the team in total tackles with 81, while also tallying 2 tackles for loss, 2 passes defensed and one blocked kick.{{cite web |url=https://cuse.com/sports/2002/1/1/seasonbyseasonleaders.aspx |title=Defensive Season-By-Season Leaders |accessdate=February 19, 2016}}
In 1994, he was lost for the season with a knee injury he suffered in the season opener against the University of Oklahoma, where he had 10 tackles and one fumble recovery.{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19940906&id=kz8gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZHwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6555,614017&hl=es |title=Zeier, Pelton SEC players of week |accessdate=February 19, 2018}} As a junior, he started 11 games at outside linebacker, making 119 tackles (second on the team), 3.5 sacks.
As a senior, in 1996, he posted 106 tackles (led the team), 6 tackles for loss (third on the team), 3 sacks, 4 quarterback pressures, 3 passes defensed, while being named First-team All-Big East.{{cite web |url=https://cuse.com/sports/2002/1/1/bigeastselections.aspx |title=SU's All BIG EAST Selections |accessdate=February 19, 2016}}
Professional career
=Houston Oilers=
Hemsley was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Houston Oilers after the 1997 NFL draft on April 21.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19970422&id=sVFIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BksDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5418,4215125&hl=es | title=Oilers sign 19 free agents | accessdate=February 19, 2016}} He was waived on August 13.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19970814&id=w-syAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2wcGAAAAIBAJ&pg=5242,3189230&hl=es | title=Oilers | accessdate=February 19, 2016}}
=Dallas Cowboys=
On September 3, 1997, he was signed to the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad. On December 10, he was promoted to the active roster for the last 2 games to play on special teams. On August 31, 1998, he was re-signed by the Cowboys. After appearing in three games playing on the short-yardage defense and on special teams, he was injured while covering a punt and was placed on the injured reserve list with a dislocated right ankle and a broken leg on October 5.{{cite web| url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cowboys-overpower-g-men/ | title=Cowboys Overpower G-Men | website=CBS News | accessdate=February 19, 2016}} He was cut by the Cowboys on October 27, 1999.
=Miami Dolphins=
Over a year later, on November 14, 2000, he was signed by the Miami Dolphins to their practice squad.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1291&dat=20001115&id=rf5TAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A44DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5751,3352551&hl=es | title=Dolphins punt Thomas on injured reserve | accessdate=February 19, 2016}} On February 19, 2001, he was re-signed to a two-year contract. He was then cut on August 28.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=20010829&id=lxFOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iP0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3995,5718810&hl=es | title=Dolphins waive Heupel, two others | accessdate=February 19, 2016}}
=Carolina Panthers=
On October 3, 2001, he was signed by the Carolina Panthers. He appeared in 9 games (3 starts), before being released on March 20, 2002.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160610003450/http://articles.philly.com/1998-11-01/sports/25734521_1_training-camp-eagles-fans-defense Hemsley's Debut At Vet Delayed The Pride Of Delran High, Now A Dallas Cowboy, Is Out With A Broken Leg]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hemsley, Nate}}
Category:Delran High School alumni
Category:People from Delran Township, New Jersey
Category:Players of American football from Willingboro Township, New Jersey
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Syracuse Orange football players
Category:Dallas Cowboys players