DeAngelo Willingham
Encyclopedia
DeAngelo Lamond Willingham (born January 15, 1987) is an American football
cornerback
for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football
at Tennessee
.
Willingham has also been a member of the Dallas Cowboys
, Seattle Seahawks
, Cincinnati Bengals
, and New England Patriots
.
in St. Matthews, South Carolina
, where he was a three-year starter at defensive back
, wide receiver
, and kick returner
. He was a PrepStar All-American selection in 2004. He also played basketball
, where he was a three-year starter at guard. In track and field
, Willingham was a regional finalist in the 4x100 meter relay.
in Palm Desert, California
, where he was a two-year starter at cornerback. He was a two-time all-conference selection. As a freshman, he had three interceptions, while as a sophomore he had five interceptions and one forced fumble.
. In 2007, he started eight games, recording 38 tackles. As a senior in 2008, he started 10 games and had three interceptions.
, Willingham signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. He was waived by the team on August 29, 2009.
on August 30, 2009; however, he was waived during the team's final cuts six days later.
. He was released on September 21, 2009.
signed Willingham to their practice squad, where he spent the remainder of the season. He was re-signed to a future contract on January 6, 2010 but was waived by the team on April 28, 2010.
on April 29, 2010. He was later waived on June 18, 2010.
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...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
as an undrafted free agent in 2009. 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 Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
.
Willingham has also been a member of the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, 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...
, and New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
.
Early years
Willingham attended Calhoun County High SchoolCalhoun County High School
Calhoun County High School is a public secondary school in St. Matthews, South Carolina.-Campus:The campus is very large with a pasture on the right with the new k-8 school in front is it on saints road.-Extracurricular activities:...
in St. Matthews, South Carolina
St. Matthews, South Carolina
St. Matthews is a town in Calhoun County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,107 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Calhoun County.St. Matthews is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:St...
, where he was a three-year starter at defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
, wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, and kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
. He was a PrepStar All-American selection in 2004. He also played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, where he was a three-year starter at guard. In track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, Willingham was a regional finalist in the 4x100 meter relay.
Junior college
Following high school, Willingham attended the College of the DesertCollege of the Desert
College of the Desert is a public two-year community college located in Palm Desert in the Coachella Valley of Riverside County, California...
in Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately east of Palm Springs. The population was 48,445 at the 2010 census, up from 41,155 at the 2000 census...
, where he was a two-year starter at cornerback. He was a two-time all-conference selection. As a freshman, he had three interceptions, while as a sophomore he had five interceptions and one forced fumble.
University of Tennessee
After junior college, Willingham attended the University of TennesseeUniversity of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
. In 2007, he started eight games, recording 38 tackles. As a senior in 2008, he started 10 games and had three interceptions.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After going undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
, Willingham signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. He was waived by the team on August 29, 2009.
Dallas Cowboys
Willingham was claimed off waivers by the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
on August 30, 2009; however, he was waived during the team's final cuts six days later.
First stint with the Patriots
On September 6, 2009, Willingham was signed to the practice squad of the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. He was released on September 21, 2009.
Seattle Seahawks
On November 3, 2009, the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
signed Willingham to their practice squad, where he spent the remainder of the season. He was re-signed to a future contract on January 6, 2010 but was waived by the team on April 28, 2010.
Cincinnati Bengals
Willingham was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati 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...
on April 29, 2010. He was later waived on June 18, 2010.