DeAndre Levy
 Levy in the 2011 | |||||||||||
| No. 54 Detroit Lions | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Date of birth: | March 26, 1987 | ||||||||||
| Place of birth: | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 235 lb (107 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Milwaukee (WI) Vincent | ||||||||||
| College: | Wisconsin | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2009 / Round: 3 / Pick: 76 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 4, 2016 | |||||||||||
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DeAndre Levy (born March 26, 1987) is an American football linebacker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wisconsin, and was drafted by the Lions in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
Early years
Levy was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he attended Vincent High School and was a letterman in football, basketball, and track. As a senior he recorded 84 tackles, five sacks, and four forced fumbles as a linebacker and 12 receptions for 260 yards and three touchdowns as a tight end.
College career
Levy played college football at Wisconsin from 2005 to 2008. He finished his career with 211 tackles, 21 sacks, two interceptions, six forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and a blocked kick.
In November 2006, Levy inadvertently collided with nearly 80 year old Penn State coach Joe Paterno on the sideline during a game, fracturing Paterno's shin bone and damaging knee ligaments.[2][3] Many years after the discovery of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal, Levy called this accidental hit his "proudest college moment".[4]
In response to Levy, twenty-one former Penn State football players signed a letter condemning the comments Levy made about ex-Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno. The letter stated: "We find the recent statement by DeAndre Levy about Coach Paterno appalling, along with the silence that has accompanied it. To joyfully and proudly take credit for hurting a defenseless human being is sad, in and of itself. But, to couple this gleeful statement with a willful ignorance of the facts and circumstances surrounding our coach speaks to a complete lack of character and moral integrity on the part of Mr. Levy. Mr. Levy's comments reflect poorly on him, his university, the Detroit Lions and the NFL, and are certainly deserving of vocal condemnation."
The letter was signed by, among others, Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris. [5]
Levy was named second-team All-Big Ten in 2007. In 2008 he earned honorable mention All-Big Ten, and was also awarded the team's Tom Wiesner Award, given to a senior football player who most exemplifies the leadership and courage.In addition to twice winning the Big 10 Player of the Week, in 2008, he was also awarded the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week on September 13 for his performance against Fresno St.[6]
Professional career
Detroit Lions
Levy was drafted by the Lions in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft.[7]
2009 season
As a rookie, Levy started 10 of 16 games for the Detroit Lions, recording 85 tackles and an interception.
2010 season
In 2010, Levy was limited to only 11 games, missing Detroit's Week 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 games.
For the season, Levy recorded 72 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 4 pass-breakups. In Week 14, against the eventual Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers, Levy had 8 tackles and an interception of Packers QB Matt Flynn in the endzone in a 7-3 Lions win. In Week 16, against the Miami Dolphins, Levy returned an interception of Chad Henne 30 yards for the game-winning touchdown in a 34-27 win.
2011 season
In his third season, Levy started all 16 games for the Lions, recording 109 tackles, a sack, an interception, and a forced fumble.
2012 season
In 2012, Levy started 13 games for the Lions, recording 82 tackles, and 1 interception.
2013 season
In 2013, Levy started all 16 games for the Lions, recording 119 tackles, and 6 interceptions.
2014 season
In 2014, Levy started all 16 games for the Lions, recording 151 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 1 interception.
2015 season
On August 5, it was announced that Levy and the Detroit Lions agreed on a four-year extension.[8]
Levy only played 1 game in the 2015 season due to injury.
In April 2016, DeAndre wrote an article encouraging men and especially professional athletes to take leadership in sexual assault prevention.[3][9]
2016 season
As of Week 12 of the NFL season, Levy has played only two of twenty-eight possible games since signing his new contract.[10]
References
- ↑ http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/DeAndre-Levy-named-Lions-MVP-on-defense-but-why-no-Pro-Bowl-love/1b79bbfa-b350-4861-abe9-ed309a406d4a
- ↑ Fittipaldo, Ray (November 5, 2006). "Paterno leaves field after taking hit". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
- 1 2 Michael Rothstein (2016-11-17). "'Proudest college moment' for DeAndre Levy: Joe Paterno's broken leg". espn.com. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ↑ Rubin, Mike. "DeAndre Levy: The Most Interesting Man in the NFL". Men's Journal.
- ↑ http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2016/11/22/deandre-levy-penn-state/94278468/
- ↑ http://www.detroitlions.com/team/roster/DeAndre-Levy/99cae49a-298f-454b-a16d-0d88dff0bac7
- ↑ Detroit Nabs Wisconsin's DeAndre Levy
- ↑ "DeAndre Levy agrees to contract extension with Detroit Lions".
- ↑ Levy, DeAndre. "Man Up". The Players' Tribune. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- ↑ "DeAndre Levy continues to miss games".