Sheldon Rankins
{{Short description|American football player (born 1994)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Sheldon Rankins
| image = Sheldonrankins2021.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Rankins in 2021
| current_team = Houston Texans
| number = 90
| position = Defensive tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|4|2}}
| birth_place = Covington, Georgia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 305
| high_school = Eastside (Covington)
| college = Louisville (2012–2015)
| draftyear = 2016
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 12
| pastteams =
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2016}}–{{NFL Year|2020}})
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2021|2022}})
- Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2023}})
- Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|2024}})
- Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statweek =
| statseason = 2024
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 246
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 30.5
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 5
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 3
| statlabel5 = Interceptions
| statvalue5 = 1
| statlabel6 = Pass deflections
| statvalue6 = 3
| pfr = RankSh00
}}
Sheldon Taylor Rankins (born April 2, 1994) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft.
Early life
Rankins attended Eastside High School in Covington, Georgia. He committed to the University of Louisville to play college football.{{cite web | last=Newberg | first=Jamie | title=Sheldon Rankins commits to Louisville | website=ESPN.com | date=2012-01-25 | url=https://insider.espn.com/blog/ncfrecruiting/on-the-trail/insider/post?id=7179 | access-date=2024-07-21}}
College career
At Louisville, Rankins was mostly a backup during his freshman and sophomore years, recording 22 tackles and four sacks. As a junior, in 2014, Rankins started in all 13 games and had 53 tackles, eight sacks, and two interceptions.{{cite web | last=Jones | first=Steve | title=Rankins wants to 'wreak havoc' in final season | website=The Courier-Journal | url=http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2015/07/20/cards-rankins-set-wreak-havoc-final-season/30440183/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin= | language=en-US | access-date=2024-07-21}}{{Cite web |last=Sinor |first=Wesley |date=2015-09-03 |title=Louisville's Sheldon Rankins praises Auburn offense, but hopes to 'wreak havoc' |url=https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2015/09/louisvilles_sheldon_rankins_pr.html |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=AL.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.independentmail.com/sports/college/clemson/breakdown-louisville-de-sheldon-rankins-one-to-watch-tonight-ep-1277062763-343987622.html|title=Breakdown: Louisville DE Sheldon Rankins one to watch tonight}} As a senior, in 2015, he had 58 tackles, six sacks, and a fumble return touchdown.
Professional career
{{nfl predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 1+1/8
| weight = 299
| dash = 5.03
| ten split = 1.73
| twenty split = 2.89
| shuttle = 4.59
| cone drill = 7.44
| vertical = 34.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 10
| bench = 28
| arm span = 33+3/8
| hand span = 9+3/8
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/sheldon-rankins?id=2555242#tabs:tab-overview |title=NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - Sheldon Rankins |publisher=National Football League}}
}}
=New Orleans Saints=
On April 28, 2016, Rankins was selected as the 12th overall pick by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2016 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2016/draft.htm |access-date=May 17, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} On May 9, the Saints signed him to a four-year, 12.8 million dollar contract.{{cite news|title=NFL draft: Results, analysis for every Round 1 pick|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2016/story/_/id/15386713/nfl-draft-2016-results-tracker-analysis-picks-live-order|access-date=April 29, 2016|work=ESPN.com|date=April 29, 2016}} On August 16, 2016, Rankins suffered a broken fibula during practice. The injury required surgery, with up to 6 weeks to recover.{{cite web|last1=Sessler|first1=Marc|title=Sheldon Rankins breaks fibula, will have surgery|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/sheldon-rankins-breaks-fibula-will-have-surgery-0ap3000000685388|publisher=NFL|access-date=August 16, 2016}} On September 6, he was placed on the injured reserve/designated for return list. He was activated on November 5, prior to Week 9.{{cite web|title=Saints put linebacker James Laurinaitis on injured reserve, ending his season|url=http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2016/11/saints_put_linebacker_james_la.html|website=NOLA.com|date=November 5, 2016}} During his rookie year, he played in 9 games and finished with 20 tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble.
During his second season in 2017, Rankins started all 16 regular season games to help a scoring defense go from ranking 31st to tenth in the league. He recorded 16 solo tackles (26 total), one forced fumble, one interception, and one pass defensed.
In a Week 8 win against the Minnesota Vikings in 2018, for the first time in his NFL career, Rankins made 2 sacks in a single game on quarterback Kirk Cousins.{{Cite web |title=New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings - October 28th, 2018 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201810280min.htm |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} For that game, he shared the top spot for sacks on the team with teammate LB Marcus Davenport. Throughout the 2018 season, Rankins started all 16 games, recording 40 tackles and eight sacks (second-best on the team behind Cameron Jordan.) In the divisional round of the playoffs against the Philadelphia Eagles, Rankins suffered a torn Achilles and was placed on injured reserve on January 15, 2019.{{cite web|title=Saints signing Tyrunn Walker to help replace Rankins|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001010910/article/saints-signing-tyrunn-walker-to-replace-injured-rankins|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116100300/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001010910/article/saints-signing-tyrunn-walker-to-replace-injured-rankins|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 16, 2019|author=Patra, Kevin|website=NFL.com|date=January 15, 2019}}
On April 24, 2019, the Saints picked up the fifth-year option on Rankins' contract.{{cite web|title=Saints pick up fifth-year option on Sheldon Rankins|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/04/24/saints-pick-up-fifth-year-option-on-sheldon-rankins/|author=Gantt, Darin|work=Pro Football Talk|publisher=NBC Sports|date=April 24, 2019}} He was placed on injured reserve on December 11 with an ankle injury.{{cite web|title=Saints place Marcus Davenport, Sheldon Rankins on injured reserve|url=https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_c98f891a-1c64-11ea-86c7-a71e9cd2716e.html|website=NOLA.com|date=December 11, 2019}} He finished the season with 10 tackles and two sacks through 10 games.
On November 6, 2020, Rankins was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.{{cite web|title=Saints send Sheldon Rankins, Justin Hardee to IR, activate Ty Montgomery ahead of Bucs game|url=https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_05864f12-2074-11eb-9667-fb3dd5cbc6b7.html|website=NOLA.com|date=November 6, 2020}} He was activated on December 5.{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints announce roster moves|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-announce-roster-moves-12052020|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|date=December 5, 2020}} In the Wild Card round against the Chicago Bears, he sacked quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.{{Cite web |title=Wild Card - Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints - January 10th, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202101100nor.htm |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Throughout the season, he played in 12 regular season games and 2 post-season games, recording 2.5 sacks, 23 combined tackles, 11 quarterback hits and 1 pass deflection.{{Cite web |title=Sheldon Rankins 2020 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RankSh00.htm |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=New York Jets=
On March 23, 2021, Rankins signed a two-year, $17 million contract with the New York Jets.{{cite web|title=Jets Sign DL Sheldon Rankins|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-dl-sheldon-rankins|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=March 23, 2021}} That season, he played in 16 regular season games while starting in 3, making 3 sacks, 32 combined tackles, 7 quarterback hits and 2 fumble recoveries.{{Cite web |title=Sheldon Rankins 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RankSh00.htm |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On November 8, 2022, on a first down in the first quarter, Rankins forced a fumble on Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, of which Allen recovered for a 2-yard gain.{{Cite web |title=Buffalo Bills at New York Jets - November 6th, 2022 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202211060nyj.htm |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In that win for the Jets, he was ruled out for 4–6 weeks after suffering a dislocated elbow.{{Cite web|title=Sheldon Rankins out 4-6 weeks with dislocated elbow|url=https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2022/11/07/sheldon-rankins-new-york-jets-dislocated-elbow/|access-date=June 29, 2023|website=jetswire.usatoday.com|language=en}} Rankins returned to play on December 4, in a loss to the Vikings. He ended the season starting in 15 games, with 3 sacks, 43 combined tackles, 7 quarterback hits and 1 forced fumble.{{Cite web |title=Sheldon Rankins 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RankSh00.htm |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=Houston Texans=
On March 18, 2023, Rankins signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Houston Texans.{{cite web |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-3-18-2023|title=Houston Texans Transactions (3-18-2023)|date=March 18, 2023
|website=HoustonTexans.com|publisher=Houston Texans Public Relations|access-date=March 18, 2023}} He was activated from the physically unable to perform list on July 30.{{Cite web |title=Houston Texans Transactions (7-30-2023) |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-7-30-2023 |access-date=July 30, 2023 |website=HoustonTexans.com }} Rankins was named the starting right defensive tackle that season.{{Cite web |title=Houston Texans 2023 NFL Depth Chart |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/depth/_/name/hou/houston-texans |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=ESPN |language=en}} During the Week 17 victory over the Tennessee Titans, Rankins recovered a fumble by Will Levis and returned it 13 yards for his first NFL touchdown. In 15 starts, he recorded 37 tackles, a forced fumble, and was third on the team with six sacks.
=Cincinnati Bengals=
On March 18, 2024, Rankins signed a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.{{cite web |title=Bengals Sign Sheldon Rankins |url=https://www.bengals.com/news/sheldon-rankins-free-agency-2024-defensive-tackle-houtson-texans |website=Bengals.com |access-date=18 March 2024}} He started all seven games he played, recording 18 tackles and one sack. He missed three games due to a hamstring injury and the final seven games due to an illness.{{cite web|title=Sheldon Rankins' season (and likely Bengals career) comes to an end|url=https://www.cincyjungle.com/2024/12/30/24332463/sheldon-rankins-injury-illness-bengals-career-comes-to-an-end|work=Cincy Jungle|date=December 30, 2024}}
On February 21, 2025, Rankins was released by the Bengals.{{Cite web |title=Bengals Release DT Sheldon Rankins {{!}} BENGALS ROSTER UPDATE |url=https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-release-dt-sheldon-rankins-bengals-roster-update |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Bengals.com |language=en-US}}
=Houston Texans (second stint)=
On March 14, 2025, Rankins signed a one-year, $5.25 million contract with the Houston Texans.{{cite web|title=Houston Texans Transactions (3-14-2025)|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-3-14-2025|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=March 14, 2025}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{footballstats|yahoo=29246|espn=2970204|nfl=sheldon-rankins}}
- [https://www.houstontexans.com/team/players-roster/sheldon-rankins/ Houston Texans bio]
- [http://www.gocards.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4931&path=football Louisville Cardinals bio]
{{2016 NFL Draft}}
{{SaintsFirstPick}}
{{Saints2016DraftPicks}}
{{Houston Texans roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rankins, Sheldon}}
Category:Sportspeople from Covington, Georgia
Category:Players of American football from Newton County, Georgia
Category:American football defensive tackles
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:Louisville Cardinals football players
Category:New Orleans Saints players
Category:New York Jets players
Category:Houston Texans players