Tra Battle
{{Short description|American football player (born 1985)}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Tra Battle
| image =NFL Star Tra Battle (240829-F-MA641-5095) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Battle at Moody Air Force Base in 2024
| number = 35, 36, 27
| position = Safety
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|1|5}}
| birth_place = Forsyth, Georgia, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lbs = 177
| high_school = Mary Persons (GA)
| college = Georgia
| undraftedyear = 2007
| pastteams =
- San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|2007}}–{{NFL Year|2008}})
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2008}})
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2009}})*
- Hartford Colonials ({{UFL Year|2009}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2009}})*
- New York Sentinels ({{UFL Year|2009}})
- Hartford Colonials ({{UFL Year|2010}})
- Virginia Destroyers ({{UFL Year|2011}})
| highlights =
- Third-team All-American (2006)
- First-team All-SEC (2006)
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 15
| pfr = BattTr00
}}
Trakeius Battle{{cite news |last1=Pilch |first1=Bobby |title=From Gridiron to Cyber Defense: former NFL player enlists in the Air Force Reserve |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/488554/gridiron-cyber-defense-former-nfl-player-enlists-air-force-reserve |access-date=2 January 2025 |publisher=DVIDS |date=December 31, 2024 |language=en}} (born January 5, 1985) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs.
Early life
Battle attended Mary Persons High School in Forsyth, Georgia, where he was a three-sport athlete, lettering in football, basketball, and track. He started since his freshman season on the football team, as a quarterback and safety. He led his team to the state championships playoffs in four straight seasons.{{cite web| url=https://www.courant.com/hc-colonials-bios-story.html | title=Hartford Colonials Player Bios | date=September 13, 2010 | accessdate=February 19, 2020}}
As a junior, he was named the team's defensive MVP. As a senior, he was named the team MVP and was named an All-Middle Georgia honoree by The Telegraph. In track, he competed in the state championships in the 110 metres hurdles, 300 metres hurdles, 4 × 100 metres relay and 4 × 400 metres relay.
College career
Arriving at the University of Georgia in 2003, Battle was considered undersized at 165 pounds.{{by whom?|date=September 2024}} He walked-on to the football team and played a role as a reserve defensive back.
In his sophomore season, he started one game against the University of Kentucky when safety Thomas Davis was injured. His best game of the season came against LSU, where Battle recorded four solo tackles, garnered his first career sack, broke up a forward pass and forced a fumble. At the end of the year, he was a recipient of the Iron Man Award for players who do not miss a practice or summer workout during the year. He was awarded the Joe B. Maxwell Family Football Scholarship.
In his junior season of 2005, he became a regular starter in the defensive backfield. In the season opener against Boise State he recorded his first career interception and led the Bulldogs with eight tackles. He finished the season as the team's third leading tackler with 71 total tackles. As a senior, he posted 58 tackles .
His senior season featured a signature game in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry versus Auburn. Ranked #5, Auburn had hopes of playing for a National Championship after knocking of eventual champion Florida, but Georgia would have none of it due in large part to Battle. His performance tied a Georgia record that day with three interceptions, one of which he returned 30 yards for a touchdown. Battle's pick-six gave the Bulldogs a 17–0 lead, and they would eventually stretch it to 24-0 before Auburn got on the board to make it 24–7. UGA would go on to rout the Tigers 37–15, dashing their title hopes and costing Tommy Tuberville and company a shot at playing for the league crown in Atlanta. Battle would also turn in four total tackles and a pass breakup in the win.{{cite web| url=https://247sports.com/college/georgia/Article/Georgia-Bulldogs-Tray-Battle-goes-for-the-Hat-Trick-vs-Auburn-46674251/ | title=25 Days: Tra Battle goes for the hat trick vs. AU | accessdate=February 19, 2020}} His stellar play garnered a Pontiac Game Changing Performance nomination. Also in 2006 he had 154 return yards to place him fourth on the Georgia all-time season return list.{{cite web| url=https://dawnofthedawg.com/2015/06/29/the-top-ten-all-time-georgia-football-player-names-video/amp/7/ | title=The Top Ten All-Time Georgia Football Player Names (video) | date=June 30, 2015 | accessdate=February 19, 2020}}
Professional career
=San Diego Chargers=
Battle was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Chargers after the 2007 NFL draft on August 30, when he dropped because he was considered an undersized player.{{cite news| title=Chargers agree with 23 free agents | publisher=San Diego Chargers | date=August 30, 2007}} He was waived on September 1 and signed to the practice squad the next day.{{cite web| url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/transactions/_/name/lac/season/2007 | title=San Diego Chargers Transactions 2007 | accessdate=February 19, 2020}} He appeared in one game and had one tackle. On August 30, 2008, he was cut and signed to the practice squad the next day.{{cite web| url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/transactions/_/name/lac/season/2008 | title=San Diego Chargers Transactions 2008 | accessdate=February 19, 2020}}
=Dallas Cowboys=
On November 26, 2008, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys from the San Diego Chargers practice squad to play on special teams, after Pat Watkins was lost for the year with a neck injury.{{cite web| url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3728895 | title=Torn ligament lands Jones on injured reserve; Cowboys sign Battle | date=November 26, 2008 | accessdate=February 19, 2020}} He appeared in 5 games, making 6 defensive tackles and 5 special teams tackles. In 2009, he was tried at cornerback and was released on May 26.{{cite web| url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/id/1959/cowboys-make-small-roster-cuts | title=Cowboys make (small) roster cuts | date=May 26, 2009 | accessdate=February 19, 2020}}
=Detroit Lions=
On May 27, 2009, Battle was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions.{{cite web| url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/05/27/lions-sign-tra-battle/ | title=Lions Sign Tra Battle | date=May 27, 2009 | accessdate=February 19, 2020}} He was released on July 28.
=Cleveland Browns=
On August 24, 2009, he was signed by the Cleveland Browns. He was released on September 5.{{cite web| url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/transactions/_/name/cle/season/2009 | title=Cleveland Browns Transactions 2009 | accessdate=February 19, 2020}}
=New York Sentinels (UFL)=
=Hartford Colonials (UFL)=
In 2010, he played with the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League.
=Virginia Destroyers (UFL)=
Personal life
Battle is a cousin of former defensive end Peppi Zellner who also played for the Dallas Cowboys.
After football, Battle returned to the University of Georgia to complete his degree. While there, a classmate encouraged him to join the United States Air Force Reserve. He enlisted on December 9, 2024.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=battltra001 Tra Battle Sports Stats]
{{2011 Virginia Destroyers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Battle, Tra}}
Category:People from Forsyth, Georgia
Category:Players of American football from Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:American football safeties
Category:Georgia Bulldogs football players
Category:San Diego Chargers players
Category:Dallas Cowboys players
Category:Detroit Lions players
Category:Cleveland Browns players
Category:New York Sentinels players
Category:Hartford Colonials players