Cameron Wake
Encyclopedia
Derek Cameron Wake is an American football
linebacker
for the Miami Dolphins
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the New York Giants
as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football
at Penn State
.
Wake has also played for the BC Lions
of the Canadian Football League
, earning the league's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
in 2007. He recorded 39 sacks over his first two seasons in the CFL, earning Western Division All-Star honors as well as the Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award
both years.
, Wake grew up in the suburban Washington, D.C.
area and attended DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Maryland
. During his senior season of 1999, Wake was named the Washington Post Defensive Player of the Year.
Following high school, Wake played collegiately
at Penn State
. Wake played mainly as a linebacker
for the Nittany Lions
, but also played the defensive end
position. Wake finished his collegiate career with 191 total tackles
, 8.5 quarterback sacks, and 24 tackles for loss.
, Wake worked out at Penn State's Pro Day and ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash.
in April 2005 but was released in June.
of the Canadian Football League
during May, 2007
. Switching from linebacker to defensive end, a rejuvenated Wake had an immediate impact with the team, and was named the Defensive Player of the Week for the first week of the 2007 CFL season
after an impressive debut (7 tackles, 3 quarterback sacks) in a 24-22 Lions
' victory over the Toronto Argonauts
.
Wake finished the 2007 season
with a league-best 16 sack
s and had the only blocked field goal in the CFL that season. He racked up 72 tackle
s on his way to becoming the first player in CFL history to be named Rookie of the Year
and Defensive Player of the Year
in the same season.
In 2008, Wake once again led the CFL in sacks (with 23) on his way to another CFL All-Star team selection, a second consecutive Norm Fieldgate Trophy
, and he was a unanimous nomination for the CFL's 2008 Most Outstanding Defensive Player
award. In 2008, Wake was also named TSN
's Friday Night Gladiator of the Year, the first defensive player to win the award.
He was named to the The Washington Examiner's CFL All-Decade Team for 2000-2009.
, Wake drew interest from several NFL teams, including the Miami Dolphins
, St. Louis Rams
, New Orleans Saints
, Buffalo Bills
and Minnesota Vikings
. He worked out for the Dolphins on January 15, 2009.
After receiving interest from 17 total NFL teams and working out for eight, Wake signed with the Dolphins on January 18, 2009. The four-year deal included a $1 million signing bonus and could be worth up to $4.9 million.
Wake started the first game of his NFL career during the 2009 season against the Bills in week four and responded with two sacks, four tackles for a loss, and a forced fumble.
During the 2010 season Wake had a memorable Week 6 against the Packers Wake had 3 sacks including one on 3rd down in overtime bringing his total to 6 sacks in 5 games already surpassing his total last year of 5 and 1/2 sacks with limited playing time. He ended a game against the Jets with a sack on quarterback Mark Sanchez completing his second of the game. Cameron Wake would lead the NFL in sacks at one point and eventually finished 3rd in the NFL (2nd in the AFC) in sacks. By the end of the season, Wake had recorded 14 sacks, 57 tackles, and 3 forced fumbles.
Wake was named a starter for the 2011 AFC Pro Bowl team at outside linebacker. Wake was also named to The Sporting News 2011 All-Pro Team and AP's Second All-Pro team.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed by the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
.
Wake has also played for the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
, earning the league's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
The Most Outstanding Rookie Award is annually rewarded to the player deemed to be the best player in his first year in the Canadian Football League. This is the fifth-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it...
in 2007. He recorded 39 sacks over his first two seasons in the CFL, earning Western Division All-Star honors as well as the Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award
The Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award is annually rewarded to the best defensive player in the Canadian Football League. This is the third-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it is hosted...
both years.
College career
Born in Beltsville, MarylandBeltsville, Maryland
Beltsville is a census-designated place in northern Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 15,691 at the 2000 census. Beltsville includes the unincorporated community of Vansville.-Geography:...
, Wake grew up in the suburban Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
area and attended DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Maryland
Hyattsville, Maryland
Hyattsville is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 17,557 at the 2000 census.- History :The city was named for its founder, Christopher Clark Hyatt. He purchased his first parcel of land in the area in March 1845...
. During his senior season of 1999, Wake was named the Washington Post Defensive Player of the Year.
Following high school, Wake played collegiately
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Penn State
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
. Wake played mainly as a linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Nittany Lions
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
, but also played the defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
position. Wake finished his collegiate career with 191 total tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
, 8.5 quarterback sacks, and 24 tackles for loss.
Pre-draft
Prior to the 2005 NFL Draft2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
, Wake worked out at Penn State's Pro Day and ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash.
New York Giants
Following his college career, Wake joined the New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in April 2005 but was released in June.
BC Lions
Wake signed a free agent contract with the BC LionsBritish Columbia Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
during May, 2007
2007 CFL season
The 2007 CFL season was the 54th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 50th season of the league, and many special events were held to commemorate the event. Regular-season play began on June 28, 2007 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario and concluded on...
. Switching from linebacker to defensive end, a rejuvenated Wake had an immediate impact with the team, and was named the Defensive Player of the Week for the first week of the 2007 CFL season
2007 CFL season
The 2007 CFL season was the 54th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 50th season of the league, and many special events were held to commemorate the event. Regular-season play began on June 28, 2007 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario and concluded on...
after an impressive debut (7 tackles, 3 quarterback sacks) in a 24-22 Lions
British Columbia Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
' victory over the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
.
Wake finished the 2007 season
2007 CFL season
The 2007 CFL season was the 54th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 50th season of the league, and many special events were held to commemorate the event. Regular-season play began on June 28, 2007 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario and concluded on...
with a league-best 16 sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s and had the only blocked field goal in the CFL that season. He racked up 72 tackle
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
s on his way to becoming the first player in CFL history to be named Rookie of the Year
CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
The Most Outstanding Rookie Award is annually rewarded to the player deemed to be the best player in his first year in the Canadian Football League. This is the fifth-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it...
and Defensive Player of the Year
CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award
The Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award is annually rewarded to the best defensive player in the Canadian Football League. This is the third-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it is hosted...
in the same season.
In 2008, Wake once again led the CFL in sacks (with 23) on his way to another CFL All-Star team selection, a second consecutive Norm Fieldgate Trophy
Norm Fieldgate Trophy
The Norm Fieldgate Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy, awarded to the outstanding defensive player in the West Division. Each team in the West division nominates a player, from which the winner is chosen. Either the winner of this trophy or the winner of the James P. McCaffrey Trophy will...
, and he was a unanimous nomination for the CFL's 2008 Most Outstanding Defensive Player
CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award
The Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award is annually rewarded to the best defensive player in the Canadian Football League. This is the third-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it is hosted...
award. In 2008, Wake was also named TSN
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
's Friday Night Gladiator of the Year, the first defensive player to win the award.
He was named to the The Washington Examiner's CFL All-Decade Team for 2000-2009.
Miami Dolphins
At the end of the 2008 CFL season2008 CFL season
The 2008 CFL season was the 55th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 51st season for the league. It was also the first CFL season in which all of the league's regular season and post-season games, including the Grey Cup game, were aired on TSN. This meant the CFL...
, Wake drew interest from several NFL teams, including the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. He worked out for the Dolphins on January 15, 2009.
After receiving interest from 17 total NFL teams and working out for eight, Wake signed with the Dolphins on January 18, 2009. The four-year deal included a $1 million signing bonus and could be worth up to $4.9 million.
Wake started the first game of his NFL career during the 2009 season against the Bills in week four and responded with two sacks, four tackles for a loss, and a forced fumble.
During the 2010 season Wake had a memorable Week 6 against the Packers Wake had 3 sacks including one on 3rd down in overtime bringing his total to 6 sacks in 5 games already surpassing his total last year of 5 and 1/2 sacks with limited playing time. He ended a game against the Jets with a sack on quarterback Mark Sanchez completing his second of the game. Cameron Wake would lead the NFL in sacks at one point and eventually finished 3rd in the NFL (2nd in the AFC) in sacks. By the end of the season, Wake had recorded 14 sacks, 57 tackles, and 3 forced fumbles.
Wake was named a starter for the 2011 AFC Pro Bowl team at outside linebacker. Wake was also named to The Sporting News 2011 All-Pro Team and AP's Second All-Pro team.