Courtney Van Buren
Encyclopedia
Courtney Van Buren is a former American football
offensive tackle who played for the San Diego Chargers
and the Detroit Lions
. He played college football
at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
and graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School
. Van Buren was drafted by the San Diego Chargers
in the 3rd round (80th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft
. In 2006, he signed with the Detroit Lions
for one year and sustained an injury to his knees, which were problematic throughout his career, subsequently forcing him into retirement.
. Van Buren is also very involved in various social and political causes. Courtney began working towards a law degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's William H. Bowen School of Law, but left the school after the Fall 2009 semester.
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...
offensive tackle who played for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. 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 the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a historically black university located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States. Founded in 1873, it is the oldest HBCU and the second oldest public institution in the state of Arkansas . UAPB is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
and graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
Ladue Horton Watkins High School, is a public high school located in the St. Louis suburb of Ladue, Missouri. It opened in the fall of 1952, and was named after Horton Watkins, Vice President of the International Shoe Company, who had just died in 1949. Mrs...
. Van Buren was drafted by the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 3rd round (80th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
. In 2006, he signed with the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
for one year and sustained an injury to his knees, which were problematic throughout his career, subsequently forcing him into retirement.
Off the field
Van Buren has made occasional appearances on television and radio as a color commentatorColor commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
. Van Buren is also very involved in various social and political causes. Courtney began working towards a law degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's William H. Bowen School of Law, but left the school after the Fall 2009 semester.