Vladimir Ducasse

A native of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Ducasse moved to the United States in 2002.{{Citation |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/football/articles/2009/10/24/for_ducasse_destiny_leads_to_nfl_draft/?page=full |last=Dobrow |first=Marty |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=October 24, 2009 |title=For Ducasse, destiny leads to NFL draft }} He attended Stamford High School in Stamford, Connecticut, where he was a three-sport star in football, basketball and track. In football, Ducasse played offensive line and was named First Team All-State by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association. He also earned First Team All-Fairfield County by the FCIAC Coaches.

Ducasse was also an standout track & field athlete at Stamford High, where he was one of the state's top performers in the throwing events. He captured the League championship in the discus, with a throw of 44.77 meters (146 ft, 5 in) and was a runner-up in the shot put, with a throw of 16.43 meters (53 ft, 9 in).{{Cite web |url=https://www.trackingfootball.com/players/vladimir-ducasse-11482/ |title=Vladimir Ducasse - Stats |access-date=November 11, 2014 |archive-date=November 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111090134/https://www.trackingfootball.com/players/vladimir-ducasse-11482/ |url-status=dead }}

Ducasse was not rated by any recruiting service and failed to draw the attention of any Division I Bowl Subdivision college. He chose to attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

As a true freshman at UMass, Ducasse saw action in four games as a reserve offensive lineman. In his sophomore year he became the starter at left tackle, started 12 of 13 games in 2007 and aided UMass' line in allowing just 15 quarterback sacks in his 12 games. In his junior season, Ducasse started all games at left tackle and was part of offensive line that allowed just six sacks, the fewest in the Colonial Athletic Association and second in the NCAA.

Ducasse finished his career with 35 consecutive starts at left tackle. In those 35 games, UMass allowed just 39 sacks and had a 100-yard rusher in 23 of those games. He was named a FCS First Team All-American by the Associated Press.{{Citation |url=http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/sports/ci_14014020 |newspaper=Stamford Advocate |date=December 16, 2009 |title=UMass' Ducasse an AP FCS First Team All-American }}

Ducasse was considered one of the best offensive guard prospects available in the 2010 NFL draft.{{Citation |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/TSX/2010_OG |work=CBS Sports |title=2010 OG Draft Prospects |access-date=December 19, 2009 }} He worked out at TEST Sports Clubs in Martinsville, New Jersey in order to prepare himself for the NFL combine.{{Citation |url=http://www.nj.com/sports/njsports/index.ssf/2010/01/haiti_native_vladimir_ducasse.html |title=Haiti native Vladimir Ducasse training for NFL draft in Martinsville, keeping an eye on homeland |first=Mike |last=Garafolo |newspaper=The Star-Ledger |date=January 26, 2010 }}. He scored 13 on the Wonderlic intelligence test.{{Citation |url=http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/85445307.html |title=Packers may get offensive lineman they need in NFL draft |newspaper=Journal Sentinel |date=February 25, 2010 |first=Bob |last=McGinn |access-date=February 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228192117/http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/85445307.html |archive-date=February 28, 2010 |url-status=dead }}.

{{nfl predraft

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| dash = 5.27

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| vertical = 26

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| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Citation |url=http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/vlad-ducasse?id=497006 |title=Vlad Ducasse Combine Profile |work=NFL.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303211418/http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/vlad-ducasse?id=497006 |access-date=February 27, 2010|archive-date=March 3, 2016 }}{{Citation |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=85558&DraftYear=2010 |title=Vladimir Ducasse, Massachusetts, OT, 2010 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |work=draftscout.com}}{{Citation |url=http://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/combine/_/id/25078/vladimir-ducasse |title=Vladimir Ducasse 2010 NFL Draft Profile |work=insider.espn.com}}

}}

Ducasse was selected in the second round (61st overall) by the New York Jets, as the first non-BCS-eligible player drafted in 2010.{{Cite web |title=2010 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2010/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He is the first UMass football player drafted by the NFL since linebacker Khari Samuel in 1999, and the highest Minuteman taken since Greg Landry was the 11th pick overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1968 NFL/AFL draft.

The Jets released Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca after they selected Ducasse.{{Citation |url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2010/04/jets_cut_pro_bowl_guard_alan_f.html |title=Jets to cut Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca |first=Manish |last=Mehta |newspaper=The Star-Ledger |date=April 23, 2010 }}. Ducasse and Matt Slauson, a second-year backup, competed for Faneca's old job in training camp that season.{{Citation |url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5135128 |work=ESPN |title=New York Jets' new offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse made it from Haiti to NFL |first=Rich |last=Cimini |date=April 27, 2010 }}. On July 7, he was signed by the Jets to a four-year deal worth $3.25 million, including a signing bonus just over $1 million.{{Citation |url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2010/07/second-round_pick_vladimir_duc_1.html |title=Second-round pick Vladimir Ducasse signs with Jets |newspaper=The Star-Ledger |first=Jenny |last=Vrentas |date=July 7, 2010 }}. Ducasse played 2 games during his rookie year in 2010 and eventually helped the Jets into the playoffs until losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship. In 2011, Ducasse played all 16 games and made 1 start. In 2012, Ducasse again appeared all 16 games playing left guard and right tackle.

After performing well in training camp, Ducasse earned the starting job at left guard during the 2013 NFL season. However, due to penalties and struggles, Ducasse was benched in favor for rookie Brian Winters.{{cite news|title=Jets to bench struggling Ducasse for Winters|url=https://nypost.com/2013/10/01/jets-to-bench-struggling-ducasse-for-winters/}} Ducasse played in all 16 games with 4 starts for the 2013 season. He became a free agent for the first time in his career after the season ended.

Ducasse signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings on March 24, 2014.{{cite news|title=Jets free-agent offensive lineman Vlad Ducasse signs with Vikings, per report|url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/03/former_jets_offensive_lineman_vladimir_ducasse_signs_with_vikings_per_report.html|work=The Star-Ledger|author=Consentino, Dom|date=March 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325071918/http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/03/former_jets_offensive_lineman_vladimir_ducasse_signs_with_vikings_per_report.html|archive-date=March 25, 2014|access-date=March 25, 2014|url-status=live}}

Ducasse signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears on March 16, 2015.{{cite web|last=Wright|first=Michael C.|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/bears/post/_/id/4697656/bears-sign-vladimir-ducasse|title=Bears sign offensive guard Vladimir Ducasse|publisher=ESPN|date=March 16, 2015|access-date=March 16, 2015}}

Ducasse signed with the Baltimore Ravens on May 16, 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Sign-Quarterback-Josh-Johnson-Offensive-Lineman-Vladimir-Ducasse/4f969f3a-8710-4350-8bb0-3bd6d0568df3|title = Ravens Sign Quarterback Josh Johnson, Offensive Lineman Vladimir Ducasse}} On September 3, 2016, he was released by the Ravens.{{cite web|title=Ravens Trim 2016 Roster to 53 Players|url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Trim-2016-Roster-To-53-Players/996d3b0a-7452-413d-a887-9e94be344117|last=Downing|first=Garrett|website=BaltimoreRavens.com|date=September 3, 2016|access-date=April 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505065623/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Trim-2016-Roster-To-53-Players/996d3b0a-7452-413d-a887-9e94be344117|archive-date=May 5, 2017|url-status=dead}} He was re-signed on October 11, 2016.{{cite web|title=Ravens Place CB Sheldon Price on Injured Reserve, Sign OG Vladimir Ducasse|url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Place-CB-Sheldon-Price-On-Injured-Reserve-Sign-OG-Vladimir-Ducasse/202fe876-355b-4932-bd3c-0a6beea98a31|author=Mink, Ryan|website=BaltimoreRavens.com|date=October 11, 2016}}

On March 9, 2017, Ducasse signed a three-year contract with the Buffalo Bills.{{cite web|title=Bills agree to terms with five including S Hyde and K Hauschka|url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-agree-to-terms-with-five-including-S-Hyde-and-K-Hauschka/d8d35fb4-046c-47e6-a289-2a7dff43e38e|first=Chris|last=Brown|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=March 9, 2017|access-date=March 9, 2017|archive-date=March 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310015752/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-agree-to-terms-with-five-including-S-Hyde-and-K-Hauschka/d8d35fb4-046c-47e6-a289-2a7dff43e38e|url-status=dead}} After being inactive the first four games, Ducasse started the rest of the season at right guard in 2017.

Ducasse was named the starting left guard to begin the 2018 season. He started the first nine games before losing the starting job to rookie Wyatt Teller.

On August 11, 2019, Ducasse was released by the Bills.{{cite web|title=Bills sign defensive end Sam Acho; guard Vlad Ducasse released|url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-sign-defensive-end-sam-acho-guard-vlad-ducasse-released|author=Brown, Chris|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=August 11, 2019}}

Vladimir Ducasse is the son of Delinois Ducasse, an accountant for the Banque de la République d'Haïti. His mother died when he was 5. He has two older brothers, Reginald and Macarthur, and two younger siblings, Jefferey and Jemima. Vladimir and Macarthur moved to Connecticut in 2002 to live with his aunt and uncle Virginia and Lezanord Ducasse while Reginald moved to Beijing, China to study computer science. The rest of his family still resides in Haiti and was affected by the 2010 earthquake.{{Citation |url=http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2010-01-21/family-alive-haiti-ducasse-can-return-focus-senior-bowl |title=With family alive in Haiti, Ducasse can return focus to Senior Bowl |first=Davis |last=Curtis |date=January 21, 2010 |work=Sporting News }}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.vikings.com/team/roster/Vladimir-Ducasse/1cb689b8-cb6f-4265-91e9-cd0314ace8cb Minnesota Vikings bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312074821/http://www.vikings.com/team/roster/vladimir-ducasse/1cb689b8-cb6f-4265-91e9-cd0314ace8cb/ |date=March 12, 2015 }}
• [http://www.newyorkjets.com/team/roster/Vladimir-Ducasse/b9198a72-2450-4e0c-b8aa-af8a4c8aea91 New York Jets bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324201731/http://www.newyorkjets.com/team/roster/Vladimir-Ducasse/b9198a72-2450-4e0c-b8aa-af8a4c8aea91 |date=March 24, 2014 }}
• [http://www.umassathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ducasse_vladimir00.html UMass Minutemen bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723213339/http://www.umassathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ducasse_vladimir00.html |date=July 23, 2011 }}

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Category:1987 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Port-au-Prince

Category:Haitian emigrants to the United States

Category:Haitian players of American football

Category:Sportspeople from Stamford, Connecticut

Category:Players of American football from Fairfield County, Connecticut

Category:American football offensive tackles

Category:American football offensive guards

Category:UMass Minutemen football players

Category:New York Jets players

Category:Minnesota Vikings players

Category:Chicago Bears players

Category:Baltimore Ravens players

Category:Buffalo Bills players

Category:Stamford High School (Stamford, Connecticut) alumni