Chris Jennings
Encyclopedia
Chris Jennings is a gridiron football
running back
who is currently a free agent
. He was signed as a undrafted free agent by the Montreal Alouettes
in 2008. He played college football
at Arizona
and high school football
at Fairview High School
in Ashland, Kentucky
.
He has also been a member of the Cleveland Browns
, Hartford Colonials, and New York Jets
.
, Jennings drew interest from the Baltimore Ravens
and worked out for the Cleveland Browns
however, the Browns were not in a position to sign Jennings at the time. Instead, Jennings signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL
on June 15, 2008. Jennings was placed on the team's practice squad due to a rule limiting the number of American players that can be placed on active roster.
on the injured reserve list.
He made his NFL debut October 4, 2009 for the Browns against the Cincinnati Bengals
running for 8 yards on 1 carry. Jennings was primarily used in a reserved role however, he started his first game against Cincinnati on November 29. On December 10, Jennings became the first Browns rookie running back to score a rushing touchdown since Lee Suggs in 2003. It was also the first rushing touchdown by a Browns running back that season. Jennings finished the season having rushed for 220 yards and a touchdown while catching 9 passes for 56 yards.
Jennings was re-signed by the Browns on March 17, 2010 and figured to have a role in the Browns' offense following his positive performance in his rookie season however, he was waived on September 4 as part of the final roster cuts. The Browns decided not to re-sign Jennings, who threatened to seek out other opportunities, despite injuries that plagued running back Peyton Hillis
.
on January 5, 2011. During the Jets' second game of the 2011 preseason he had four carries for 81 yards. He ran 69 yards on one run, which was the longest run from the line of scrimmage by a Jet in the preseason since Curtis Martin
ran 80 yards in 1999. He was waived on September 3.
Jennings was arrested in Guernsey County, Ohio
, on September 5, 2011, for driving 147 MPH
, in a 65 MPH zone.
Gridiron football
Gridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was signed as a undrafted free agent by the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
in 2008. 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 Arizona
Arizona Wildcats football
The Arizona Wildcats football team is the football team of the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level.-Early years:...
and high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at Fairview High School
Fairview Independent Schools (Kentucky)
Fairview Independent Schools is a public school district based in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States. The district serves the area within the census-designated place of Westwood. The district consists of two schools: Fairview High School and Fairview Elementary School...
in Ashland, Kentucky
Ashland, Kentucky
Ashland, formerly known as Poage Settlement, is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States, nestled along the banks of the Ohio River. The population was 21,981 at the 2000 census. Ashland is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the...
.
He has also been a member of the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Hartford Colonials, and New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Montreal Alouettes
After going undrafted in the 2008 NFL Draft2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
, Jennings drew interest from the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
and worked out for the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
however, the Browns were not in a position to sign Jennings at the time. Instead, Jennings signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL
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....
on June 15, 2008. Jennings was placed on the team's practice squad due to a rule limiting the number of American players that can be placed on active roster.
Cleveland Browns
Jennings was signed by the Browns on August 18, 2009. In three preseason games, Jennings ran for 63 yards on 18 carries while catching 7 passes for 69 yards. He was waived by the Browns on September 5 but re-signed to their practice squad two days later. Jennings was promoted to the active roster on October 3 after the team placed James DavisJames Davis
James Davis, Jim Davis, Jimmy Davis, or Jamie Davis may refer to:-In sport:* Jim Davis , baseball pitcher* Jim Davis , American basketballer...
on the injured reserve list.
He made his NFL debut October 4, 2009 for the Browns against the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
running for 8 yards on 1 carry. Jennings was primarily used in a reserved role however, he started his first game against Cincinnati on November 29. On December 10, Jennings became the first Browns rookie running back to score a rushing touchdown since Lee Suggs in 2003. It was also the first rushing touchdown by a Browns running back that season. Jennings finished the season having rushed for 220 yards and a touchdown while catching 9 passes for 56 yards.
Jennings was re-signed by the Browns on March 17, 2010 and figured to have a role in the Browns' offense following his positive performance in his rookie season however, he was waived on September 4 as part of the final roster cuts. The Browns decided not to re-sign Jennings, who threatened to seek out other opportunities, despite injuries that plagued running back Peyton Hillis
Peyton Hillis
Hillis was selected by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft.-2008 Season:At the start of the 2008 season, Hillis was listed as the Broncos' starting fullback...
.
Hartford Colonials
Jennings signed with the Hartford Colonials of the UFL on October 21, 2010. Jennings carried the ball only 12 times for 6 yards in his tenure with the Colonials however he was an important contributor to their special teams unit.New York Jets
Jennings was signed to a future contract by the New York JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on January 5, 2011. During the Jets' second game of the 2011 preseason he had four carries for 81 yards. He ran 69 yards on one run, which was the longest run from the line of scrimmage by a Jet in the preseason since Curtis Martin
Curtis Martin
Curtis James Martin, Jr. is a former American football running back. He is an alumnus of Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh...
ran 80 yards in 1999. He was waived on September 3.
Legal
Jennings allegedly assaulted a doorman on April 17, 2010 at a dance club. The following month, Jennings was not charged with assault as the doorman did not sign the complaint.Jennings was arrested in Guernsey County, Ohio
Guernsey County, Ohio
Guernsey County is a county located in the state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 40,087. Its county seat is Cambridge and is named for the Isle of Guernsey in the English Channel, from which many of the county's early settlers came....
, on September 5, 2011, for driving 147 MPH
Miles per hour
Miles per hour is an imperial unit of speed expressing the number of statute miles covered in one hour. It is currently the standard unit used for speed limits, and to express speeds generally, on roads in the United Kingdom and the United States. It is also often used to express the speed of...
, in a 65 MPH zone.