Deon Figures
Encyclopedia
Deon Juniel Figures is a former professional American football
cornerback
in the NFL
. He played four years for the Pittsburgh Steelers
1993 to 1996 and two for the Jacksonville Jaguars
1997 to 1998. While with Pittsburgh in 1994, he helped the Steelers reach the AFC Championship Game against the San Diego Chargers. During his early years Deon played popwarner football in gardena for Christopher Charles Mahoney.
He attended the University of Colorado
1988-FRESHMAN SEASON:
As a freshman he played in 10 games. His two interceptions set 2 school records:
1. Passes Intercepted By Class/Season - Freshman (True)—2 Deon Figures
2. Passes Intercepted By Class/Game - Freshman (True/Redshirt)—2 Deon Figures vs. Iowa State in Boulder.
The team had finished 8-4 and reached number 19 in the rankings during what would be teammate Sal Aunese’s last season before passing away. Deon then underestimated the rigors of a University of Colorado student workload and did not qualify in 1989. The Buffaloes entered the 1989 season ranked 14th. Sal’s death became a rallying point and the team gathered at midfield and pointed skyward prior to each game that season. Most did not miss Deon that season as the Buffaloes rolled through each opponent en route to a convincing 11-0 regular season record and #1 ranking. A loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl left many Buff fans wondering what would have transpired had the shifty freshman from last season been given the chance to slow the pass-happy Irish attack that day.
1990-SOPHOMORE SEASON:
In 1990 Deon did not return to the field until the second game of the season. He was sorely missed as the #5 Buffaloes, playing in the Disney Pigskin Classic in Anaheim, CA, fought to a tie with #8 Tennessee in front of a national television audience. Deon played the next three games: a close comeback win vs unranked Stanford, a 1-point loss to Illinois in Champaign, and a win vs. #22 Texas in Austin. This set up the final game of the non-conference schedule at Folsom vs. #12 Washington. With one minute to play and the Buffs leading by 6, future NFL quarterback , Mark Brunell drove the Huskies into Buff territory. After terrorizing the UW QB all afternoon, Deon picked off Brunell a second time to secure the victory and a 3-1-1 record heading into Big-8 play. The Buffaloes then steamrolled the conference with a 7-0 run giving the CU Buffs a 10-1-1 record and their second consecutive Big 8 title. CU entered the National Title Game ranked number 1 after playing the toughest schedule in the nation. They faced #5 Notre Dame led by another future NFL’er Rick Mirer. Deon put the exclamation point on an incredible season by intercepting Mirer as time expired securing the win and the National Championship. Deon played in 12 games. His nose for the ball and relentless pursuit led to 67 unassisted tackles, another 18 assisted and made him a fan favorite.
1991-JUNIOR SEASON:
By the start of the 1991 season, opposing Big-8 coaches were well aware of the young standout on the Buffaloes stacked defensive side of the ball. However, Deon kept up his game with another two interceptions. He logged 39 tackles, 24 of those unassisted. He helped the Buffaloes win a share of their third straight Big-8 title and another top 25 ranking to close the season.
1992-SENIOR SEASON:
His senior season in 1992 saw his interceptions increase to 6 while again logging 38 tackles with 27 of those being unassisted. He also inked his named into the records books that year from the special teams squad:
PUNTS
1. Most Returns - Game—10 (for 167 yards), Deon Figures vs. Kansas State in Boulder, Oct. 24, 1992.
2. Yards - Game—167 (10 returns), Deon Figures vs. Kansas State in Boulder, Oct. 24, 1992
Not a single Big-8 defensive coordinator was willing to throw at Deon that season, However, the highlights still came and by seasons end, he was named Big-8 defensive player of the year, voted first team All-American, and awarded the Jim Thorpe Trophy for best defensive back. Deon graduated from CU and is considered by many to be the best corner ever to don the Buffaloes uniform.
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...
in the NFL
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 played four years for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
1993 to 1996 and two for the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
1997 to 1998. While with Pittsburgh in 1994, he helped the Steelers reach the AFC Championship Game against the San Diego Chargers. During his early years Deon played popwarner football in gardena for Christopher Charles Mahoney.
He attended the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
1988-FRESHMAN SEASON:
As a freshman he played in 10 games. His two interceptions set 2 school records:
1. Passes Intercepted By Class/Season - Freshman (True)—2 Deon Figures
2. Passes Intercepted By Class/Game - Freshman (True/Redshirt)—2 Deon Figures vs. Iowa State in Boulder.
The team had finished 8-4 and reached number 19 in the rankings during what would be teammate Sal Aunese’s last season before passing away. Deon then underestimated the rigors of a University of Colorado student workload and did not qualify in 1989. The Buffaloes entered the 1989 season ranked 14th. Sal’s death became a rallying point and the team gathered at midfield and pointed skyward prior to each game that season. Most did not miss Deon that season as the Buffaloes rolled through each opponent en route to a convincing 11-0 regular season record and #1 ranking. A loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl left many Buff fans wondering what would have transpired had the shifty freshman from last season been given the chance to slow the pass-happy Irish attack that day.
1990-SOPHOMORE SEASON:
In 1990 Deon did not return to the field until the second game of the season. He was sorely missed as the #5 Buffaloes, playing in the Disney Pigskin Classic in Anaheim, CA, fought to a tie with #8 Tennessee in front of a national television audience. Deon played the next three games: a close comeback win vs unranked Stanford, a 1-point loss to Illinois in Champaign, and a win vs. #22 Texas in Austin. This set up the final game of the non-conference schedule at Folsom vs. #12 Washington. With one minute to play and the Buffs leading by 6, future NFL quarterback , Mark Brunell drove the Huskies into Buff territory. After terrorizing the UW QB all afternoon, Deon picked off Brunell a second time to secure the victory and a 3-1-1 record heading into Big-8 play. The Buffaloes then steamrolled the conference with a 7-0 run giving the CU Buffs a 10-1-1 record and their second consecutive Big 8 title. CU entered the National Title Game ranked number 1 after playing the toughest schedule in the nation. They faced #5 Notre Dame led by another future NFL’er Rick Mirer. Deon put the exclamation point on an incredible season by intercepting Mirer as time expired securing the win and the National Championship. Deon played in 12 games. His nose for the ball and relentless pursuit led to 67 unassisted tackles, another 18 assisted and made him a fan favorite.
1991-JUNIOR SEASON:
By the start of the 1991 season, opposing Big-8 coaches were well aware of the young standout on the Buffaloes stacked defensive side of the ball. However, Deon kept up his game with another two interceptions. He logged 39 tackles, 24 of those unassisted. He helped the Buffaloes win a share of their third straight Big-8 title and another top 25 ranking to close the season.
1992-SENIOR SEASON:
His senior season in 1992 saw his interceptions increase to 6 while again logging 38 tackles with 27 of those being unassisted. He also inked his named into the records books that year from the special teams squad:
PUNTS
1. Most Returns - Game—10 (for 167 yards), Deon Figures vs. Kansas State in Boulder, Oct. 24, 1992.
2. Yards - Game—167 (10 returns), Deon Figures vs. Kansas State in Boulder, Oct. 24, 1992
Not a single Big-8 defensive coordinator was willing to throw at Deon that season, However, the highlights still came and by seasons end, he was named Big-8 defensive player of the year, voted first team All-American, and awarded the Jim Thorpe Trophy for best defensive back. Deon graduated from CU and is considered by many to be the best corner ever to don the Buffaloes uniform.