Perrion Winfrey
{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Perrion Winfrey
| image = Perrion Winfrey 6 24 2023 (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Winfrey at Classic Park in 2023
| current_team = Dallas Cowboys
| number = 99
| position = Defensive tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|8|15}}
| birth_place = Maywood, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 290
| high_school = Lake Park
(Roselle, Illinois)
| college = Iowa Western (2018–2019)
Oklahoma (2020–2021)
| draftyear = 2022
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 108
| pastteams =
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2022}})
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2023}})
- Birmingham Stallions ({{UFL Year|2025}})
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status =Active
| highlights =
| statweek =
| statseason = 2024
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 25
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 0.5
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 = 2
| statlabel6 = Interceptions
| statvalue6 =
| statlabel7 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue7 =
| pfr = WinfPe00
}}
Perrion Winfrey ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|ɛr|i|ɒ|n}} {{respell|PERR|ee|on}}; born August 15, 2000) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa Western and Oklahoma, and was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft.
Early life
Winfrey grew up in Maywood, Illinois, and attended Lake Park High School in Roselle, Illinois.{{Cite web |last=Gregor |first=Scot |date=May 14, 2022 |title=Lake Park grad Winfrey determined to make his NFL mark with Browns |url=https://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20220514/lake-park-grad-winfrey-determined-to-make-his-nfl-mark-with-browns |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=Daily Herald |language=en-US}} Winfrey was rated a three-star prospect, but was not heavily recruited after failing to qualify academically to play NCAA Division I football.{{Cite web |last=Buettner |first=Joe |date=June 14, 2019 |title=OU football recruiting notepad: Perrion Winfrey's commitment comes at critical time |url=https://www.normantranscript.com/sports/all_ou_sports/ou-football-recruiting-notepad-perrion-winfreys-commitment-comes-at-critical-time/article_fad87f85-983a-5c7b-ba91-a31ef9054224.html |access-date=September 17, 2021 |website=The Norman Transcript}}
College career
Winfrey began his collegiate career at Iowa Western Community College at the recommendation of coaches at Iowa State.{{Cite web |last=Sautter |first=Mike |date=May 8, 2019 |title=Suddenly, Iowa Western's Perrion Winfrey has offers from near, far — including Nebraska |url=https://omaha.com/sports/high-school/recruiting/plus/suddenly-iowa-westerns-perrion-winfrey-has-offers-from-near-far-including-nebraska/article_45791ce3-0ab2-53db-8a16-a5bfd2d2cb2d.html |access-date=September 17, 2021 |website=Omaha World-Herald}} Over two seasons he recorded 55 tackles with 23 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks.{{Cite web |last=Mussatto |first=Joe |date=October 28, 2020 |title=OU football: Perrion Winfrey's JUCO coach knew he was 'an unbelievable talent' — and now he knows he's grateful, too |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/columns/2020/10/28/football-perrion-winfreys-juco-coach-knew-was-unbelievable-talent-and-now-he-knows-hes-grateful-too/306202007/ |access-date=September 17, 2021 |website=The Oklahoman}} Winfrey was rated the best junior college prospect in the nation by 247Sports.com and committed to transfer to Oklahoma over offers from Alabama, Baylor, LSU, and Texas.{{Cite web |last=Aber |first=Ryan |date=August 26, 2019 |title=OU commit Perrion Winfrey elevated to top juco player in 2020 class |url=https://oklahoman.com/article/5639662/ou-commit-perrion-winfrey-elevated-to-top-juco-player-in-2020-class |access-date=September 17, 2021 |website=The Oklahoman}}{{Cite web |last=Mussatto |first=Joe |date=June 12, 2019 |title=Top JUCO defensive lineman Perrion Winfrey commits to Sooners |url=https://oklahoman.com/article/5633767/ou-football-top-juco-defensive-lineman-perrion-winfrey-commits-to-sooners |access-date=September 17, 2021 |website=The Oklahoman}}
In his first year at Oklahoma, Winfrey played in all 11 of the Sooners' games and became a starter at defensive tackle. He was named second-team All-Big 12 Conference by the league's coaches after recording 19 tackles, six for loss, and three pass breakups.{{Cite web |last=Aber |first=Ryan |date=August 19, 2021 |title=Oklahoma banking on Perrion Winfrey to emerge on this year's defensive line |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/college/football/2021/08/19/oklahoma-sooners-football-banking-on-perrion-winfrey-for-defensive-boost/8202705002/ |access-date=September 17, 2021 |website=Austin American-Statesman}} After the season Winfrey considered entering the 2021 NFL draft, but opted to return to Oklahoma for his senior season.{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Eric |date=January 3, 2021 |title=OU football: Offensive lineman Marquis Hayes announces he'll return in 2021, Perrion Winfrey indicates return as well |url=https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/ou-football-offensive-lineman-marquis-hayes-announces-hell-return-in-2021-perrion-winfrey-indicates-return/article_368b4fcc-4e19-11eb-970e-db78262d8e81.html |access-date=September 17, 2021 |website=Tulsa World}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 5/8
| weight = 290
| dash = 4.89
| ten split = 1.68
| twenty split = 2.85
| arm span = 35 1/4
| hand span = 10 1/4
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |last=Reuter |first=Chad |last2=Zierlein |first2=Lance |title=Perrion Winfrey Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/perrion-winfrey/32005749-4e18-3492-38d6-6dddd2e4f230 |access-date=March 15, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=Perrion Winfrey, Oklahoma, DT, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1051642&DraftYear=2022 |access-date=March 15, 2022 |website=draftscout.com}}
}}
=Cleveland Browns=
Winfrey was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 108th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Poisal |first=Anthony |date=April 30, 2022 |title=Browns select DT Perrion Winfrey with the 108th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-select-dt-perrion-winfrey-with-the-108th-pick-in-the-2022-nfl-draft |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=ClevelandBrowns.com}} Winfrey appeared in 13 games as a rookie. He had .5 sacks, 22 total tackles, and two passes defensed.{{Cite web |title=Perrion Winfrey 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WinfPe00/gamelog/2022/ |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
On July 19, 2023, Winfrey was waived by the Browns after being investigated for threatening and pulling a gun on a woman in Cleveland.{{Cite web |last=Easterling |first=Chris |date=July 19, 2023 |title=Cleveland Browns release Perrion Winfrey following latest off-the-field incident |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/pro/browns/2023/07/19/cleveland-browns-news-perrion-winfrey-released/70115272007/ |access-date=July 19, 2023 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}
=New York Jets=
On November 7, 2023, Winfrey was signed to the practice squad of the New York Jets.{{Cite web |last=Greenberg |first=Ethan |date=November 7, 2023 |title=Jets Sign DL Perrion Winfrey to Practice Squad |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-dl-perrion-winfrey-to-practice-squad |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=NewYorkJets.com}} He was not signed to a reserve/future contract after the season and thus became a free agent upon the expiration of his practice squad contract.{{Cite web |last=Greenberg |first=Ethan |date=January 8, 2024 |title=Jets Sign Nine Players to Reserve/Future Contracts |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-nine-players-to-reserve-future-contracts-01-08-2024 |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=NewYorkJets.com}}
= Birmingham Stallions =
On October 3, 2024, Winfrey was signed by the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL).{{cite tweet |user=UFL_PR |title=The #UFL has announced the following transactions |number=1841957917500522709 |date=October 3, 2024 |access-date=October 5, 2024}} He was named to the All-UFL Team in 2025.{{cite web |title=UFL Announces 2025 All-UFL Team |url=https://www.theufl.com/news/ufl-announces-2025-all-ufl-team |website=The UFL |access-date=3 June 2025}}
=Dallas Cowboys=
Winfrey signed with the Dallas Cowboys on June 18, 2025.{{cite news |last=Yarrish |first=Tommy |title=Cowboys making roster moves before training camp |url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-making-roster-moves-before-training-camp |website=DallasCowboys.com |date=June 18, 2025 |access-date=June 18, 2025}}
Legal issues
On April 10, 2023, Winfrey was arrested on a misdemeanor assault charge in Harris County, Texas.{{Cite web |date=April 12, 2023 |title=Browns DT Perrion Winfrey arrested for misdemeanor assault in Texas |url=https://www.nfl.com/_amp/browns-dt-perrion-winfrey-arrested-for-misdemeanor-assault-in-texas |access-date=April 18, 2023 |website=NFL.com |language=en}} On July 19, 2023, Fox 8 Cleveland announced that Winfrey was under investigation by Cleveland police for allegedly pulling a gun on a woman and threatening her in Cleveland.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.dallascowboys.com/team/players-roster/perrion-winfrey/ Dallas Cowboys bio]
- [https://soonersports.com/sports/football/roster/perrion-winfrey/14712 Oklahoma Sooners bio]
- [https://www.goreivers.com/sports/fball/2019-20/bios/winfrey_perrion_dpa9 Iowa Western Reivers bio]
{{Dallas Cowboys roster navbox}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Winfrey, Perrion}}
Category:Sportspeople from Maywood, Illinois
Category:Players of American football from Cook County, Illinois
Category:American football defensive tackles
Category:Oklahoma Sooners football players
Category:Iowa Western Reivers football players
Category:Cleveland Browns players
Category:New York Jets players