Will Rackley
{{Short description|American football player (born 1989)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Will Rackley
| image =
| caption =
| current_team =
| number = 65
| position = Guard
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|10|11|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Athens, Greece{{cite news
|first=Jim
|last=Thomas
|url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/article_1077e6f4-aec1-5dee-bd1e-ec86a193f249.html
|title=Lehigh lineman impresses Rams, scouts before draft
|date=April 20, 2011
|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch
|accessdate=August 12, 2012}}
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lbs = 310
| high_school = Riverdale (Riverdale, Georgia)
| college = Lehigh
| draftyear = 2011
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 76
| pastteams =
- Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2011}}–{{NFL Year|2013}})
- Baltimore Ravens ({{NFL Year|2014}})
| status =
| highlights =
- 3× First-team All-Patriot League (2008−2010)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 26
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 25
| pfr = RackWi01
}}
William Rackley III (born October 11, 1989) is an American former professional football offensive guard. He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft. He played college football at Lehigh University.
Early life
Rackley was born in Athens, Greece. He attended Riverdale High School in Riverdale, Georgia, where he was a teammate of Cordy Glenn. He played football at Riverdale, earned first-team all-area honors as an offensive lineman and second-team all-area honors as a defensive lineman. He was recruited by Lehigh University, Lafayette College, Colgate University, and Georgia Tech, but ultimately chose to attend Lehigh. While at Lehigh, he was a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity.{{cite news |author=Frank, Reuben |title=Lehigh lineman Rackley taking his best shot |url=http://www.csnphilly.com/02/26/11/Lehigh-lineman-Rackley-taking-his-best-s/landing_eagles_loud3r.html?blockID=428402&feedID=692 |work=Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia |date=February 26, 2011 |accessdate=April 8, 2011}}
College career
Rackley started in every game for the Mountain Hawks in each of his four seasons, the only one to do so in the last 20 years at Lehigh. Rackley started for coach Andy Coen in 2007, the first freshman to start at offensive line under Coen. Rackley earned first-team All-Patriot League honors from 2008 to 2010.{{cite web |title=Will Rackley |url=http://www.lehighsports.com/sports/football/rosters/displayplayer.aspx?playerid=6124 |work=lehighsports.com |accessdate=April 8, 2011}} He received his Bachelor of Arts in Design from Lehigh on May 23, 2011.{{Cite web |date=May 24, 2011 |title=Lehigh senior student-athletes conclude college careers |url=https://lehighsports.com/news/2011/5/24/GEN_16470.aspx?print=true |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=Lehigh University Athletics}}
Professional career
=Pre-draft=
Along with David Arkin, Ben Ijalana, and Brandon Fusco, Rackley was considered one of the best small-school offensive line prospects.{{cite news |url=http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/02/25/ol-prospects-putting-small-schools-on-nfl-map |title=OL prospects putting small schools on NFL map |work=Pro Football Weekly |date=February 25, 2011 |first=Eric |last=Edholm |access-date=April 2, 2012 |archive-date=May 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507082052/http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/02/25/ol-prospects-putting-small-schools-on-nfl-map |url-status=dead }}
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3¼
| weight = 309
| dash = 5.39
| ten split = 1.86
| twenty split = 3.08
| shuttle = 4.94
| cone drill = 7.91
| vertical = 23½
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 3
| bench = 29
| wonderlic =
| arm span =
| hand span =
| note = 40-yard dash, 10-split, and 20-split values from Pro Day on March 17, 2011, all other values from 2011 NFL Scouting Combine.{{cite web |title=Will Rackley, DS #4 OG, Lehigh |url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=89220&draftyear=2011&genpos=OG |work=nfldraftscout.com |accessdate=April 8, 2011}}
}}
=Jacksonville Jaguars=
Rackley was selected with the 76th overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2011/draft.htm |title=2011 NFL Draft Listing |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=2019-02-26}} He played 15 games in his rookie season, including 14 starts at left guard. In the 2012 preseason, right tackle Eben Britton was moved to Rackley's position of left guard. Rackley was then expected to contribute as a backup guard and center before suffering an injury. Rackley spent the 2012 season on injured reserve. In 2013, Rackley returned to the starting left guard position. He was placed on injured reserve on December 17, 2013.{{cite web | last=DiRocco | first=Michael | title=Jags WR Shorts, OL Rackley placed on IR | website=ESPN.com | date=2013-12-17 | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/10153363/cecil-shorts-rackley-jacksonville-jaguars-placed-season-ending-ir | access-date=2024-11-05}}
Rackley was released by the Jaguars on May 12, 2014.{{cite web | last=O'Halloran | first=Ryan | title=Rackley among six players released by Jaguars | website=Florida Times-Union | date=2014-05-13 | url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/nfl/2014/05/13/rackley-among-six-players-released-jaguars/15796105007/ | access-date=2024-11-05}}
=Baltimore Ravens=
Rackley signed with the Baltimore Ravens on May 19, 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Sign-Three-Players-Cut-Matt-Furstenburg-And-Two-Others/404848cb-b590-4b88-b0da-83a4ec0645ac |title=Ravens Sign Three Players, Cut Matt Furstenburg And Two Others |last=Downing |first=Garrett |date=May 19, 2014 |website=BaltimoreRavens.com |accessdate=October 10, 2015}} The Ravens placed Rackley on injured reserve on August 25, 2014, with a concussion.{{Cite web |url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Trim-Roster-Down-To-75/393025cc-1a69-4134-95a2-c2e561131580?mobile-id=848248&media-type=N |title=Ravens Trim Roster Down To 75 |access-date=August 25, 2014 |archive-date=August 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140828173348/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Trim-Roster-Down-To-75/393025cc-1a69-4134-95a2-c2e561131580?mobile-id=848248&media-type=N |url-status=dead }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Football stats |nfl=2508113 |espn=14042 |pfr=R/RackWi01}}
{{Jaguars2011DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rackley, Will}}
Category:Players of American football from Riverdale, Georgia
Category:American football offensive guards
Category:Lehigh Mountain Hawks football players