Name – Jason Pierre-Paul
Position – Defensive End
Team – New York Giants
Height – 6 foot 5 inches
Age – 23
College – South Florida
Drafted – 25th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft by the New York Giants
Jason Pierre-Paul had one of the more unusual paths to the NFL. He may never have played football had it not been for a leg injury in high school that stopped him playing basketball. Being a bit of a late comer, JPP started his college career in community college – first at College of the Canyons in Santa Clara followed by Fort Scott Community College in Kansas. In 2009, he transferred to the University of South Florida where he started seven of the thirteen games he played and was name a first team All-American by Pro Football Weekly. JPP then decided to forego his senior year and head directly to the pros.
At the 2010 NFL Combine, Pierre-Paul became an internet sensation by doing 13 backflips in a row in a contest with Kion Wilson. You can see footage of JPP doing backflips below:
Despite his lack of experience having only played one full season of top level college football, Pierre-Paul was a first round draft choice of the New York Giants when they took him 15th overall netting him a cool $20 million. JPP had an average rookie season in which he was used sparingly and learned his craft.
It was in 2011 that JPP emerged as a future superstar. He finished the regular season with sixty five tackles, sixteen and a half sacks, a safety and two forced fumbles. In a crucial game against the Cowboys, Pierre-Paul became the first player in NFL history to get a sack, forced fumble and a blocked field goal in the same game. The block won the game for the Giants which eventually led to their playoff berth. Jason Pierre-Paul would later be voted to the Pro Bowl despite the fact that he wasn’t even on the ballot and was also named a first team All-Pro. Not bad for a second year player who started out playing two years of community college.
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