DeMeco Ryans

DeMeco Ryans (/dᵻˈmiːkoʊ/; born July 28, 1984) is an American football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Alabama, and received unanimous All-American honors. He was chosen by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft, and was recognized as the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2006. He was selected to two Pro Bowls, before being traded to the Eagles in the 2012 offseason.

Early years

Ryans was born in Bessemer, Alabama. He attended Jess Lanier High School in Bessemer, where he played high school football. In his senior season, he had 135 tackles, 11 sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions. Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Ryans was listed as the No. 39 inside linebacker prospect in the nation from the class of 2002. He picked Alabama over Mississippi State.

College career

Ryans attended the University of Alabama, where he played outside linebacker for coach Mike Shula's Alabama Crimson Tide football team from 2002 to 2005. Ryans started his career by earning a role on special teams and back up linebacker in his first season. By making great improvements every year in his college career, Ryans went on to become the SEC's Defensive Player of the Year for his performance in 2005. Later on, Ryans attributed much of his college success to his defensive coordinator at Alabama, Joe Kines. He was named the 2006 Cotton Bowl Classic defensive MVP in their 13-10 win over Texas Tech. Following his 2005 senior season, he received the Lott Trophy for his combination of athletic excellence and off-the-field achievements, and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American.

Jeremy Shockey

Jeremy Charles Shockey (/ˈʃɒki/; born August 18, 1980) is a former American football tight end. He was drafted by the New York Giants 14th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Miami.

The winner of the first-ever Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year Award in 2002, Shockey has earned four Pro Bowl selections in his career and received a Super Bowl ring with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII and with the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV.

Early years

Jeremy Shockey was born August 18, 1980 in Ada, Oklahoma. A 1999 graduate of Ada High School, Shockey lettered all four seasons, playing mostly at wide receiver and outside linebacker. As a senior he caught 50 passes for 1,108 yards and five touchdowns. He also returned four punts for touchdowns and was named to Oklahoma's All-District, All-County, and All-State teams. Playing in the State Semi-final game of his senior year, he caught eight passes for 206 yards, but his team lost in an upset to Chickasha High School. He also played basketball and was an honor roll student.

Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team competes in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division. The Texans first played in 2002 as an expansion team after Houston's previous franchise, the Houston Oilers, moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where they are now the Tennessee Titans. The team's majority owner is Bob McNair. The team clinched its first playoff berth during the 2011 season as AFC South division champions. The Texans repeated as AFC South champions in 2012 and 2015.

Franchise history

In 1997, Houston entrepreneur Bob McNair had a failed bid to bring a National Hockey League (NHL) expansion team to the city, and Bud Adams relocated the city's NFL team, the Houston Oilers, to Nashville where they were renamed the Tennessee Titans. In 1996, a year earlier, the Cleveland Browns had controversially relocated to become the Baltimore Ravens. As part of the settlement between the NFL, the city of Cleveland and the team owned by Art Modell, the league promised to return football to Cleveland within the following three years.

Le'Veon Bell

Le'Veon Andrew Bell (pronounced LAY-vee-on; born February 18, 1992) is an American football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Michigan State, and was drafted by the Steelers in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

High school career

Bell attended Groveport Madison High School in Groveport, Ohio, where he played football, basketball and ran track. He played running back for the Groveport Cruisers football team. As a sophomore, Bell ran for 789 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. As a junior, Bell ran for 1,100 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, and as a senior, Bell ran for 1,333 yards on 200 carries with 21 touchdowns. He was selected first-team All-Ohio Capital Conference Ohio Division as a senior. He ran as a junior, and added as a sophomore. In basketball, Bell earned second-team All-OCC Ohio Division honors as a junior. He also participated in track & field while at Groveport, where he ran the 100 and 200-meter dashes and was one of the state's top performers in the high jump (personal-best of 6'8" or 2.03 meters).