Jasper Brinkley
Encyclopedia
Jasper Jerrell Brinkley (born July 12, 1985 in Thomson, Georgia
) is a linebacker
for the Minnesota Vikings
. Brinkley played his college football
career for the University of South Carolina
. Brinkley was selected by the Vikings in the 5th round of 2009 NFL Draft
(150 overall).
Brinkley started at middle-linebacker due to the injury of E. J. Henderson
during the 2009 season. Henderson seriously injured his leg against the Arizona Cardinals
in week 13, and was out the remainder of the season. Brinkley has had a very close, apprentice-like relationship with Henderson who mentored him as a rookie throughout training camp and his first professional season, even quizzing him while watching film together. EJ Henderson's younger brother, Erin Henderson
, is also a linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings while Jasper's twin brother, Casper Brinkley
, played for the Carolina Panthers
but is no longer with the team
at South Carolina
as junior college transfers from Georgia Military College
alongside his twin
brother Casper
. He started 29 of 30 games. He finished his career with 298 total tackles, 27.5 sacks, 30.5 tackles for a loss and 10 interceptions. As a senior, Brinkley captured All-SEC
1st-team honors as he started all but 1 game for the Gamecocks and ranked 2nd on the squad with 73 tackles.
and was a participant at the 2009 NFL Combine in Indianapolis
. He was selected by the Vikings in the 5th round of 2009 NFL Draft
(150th overall), on June 30 Brinkley signed a 4 year contract with Minnesota. Brinkley projected to serve as the backup to E. J. Henderson
at middle linebacker. His spot on the depth chart was confirmed when Henderson went down with an injury to his femur after a collision with teammate Jamarca Sanford
in week 13 at Arizona. Brinkley stepped into the game in the fourth quarter, recording five tackles for negative 4 yards on Arizona running back Tim Hightower
.
On December 13, 2009 (week 14), Brinkley made his first start against the Cincinnati Bengals. He recorded 7 tackles en route to a 30-10 victory over the Bengals.
On December 20 (week 15), Brinkley started against the Carolina Panthers in a devastating 7-26 loss. He performed admirably, recording 12 tackles (including 5 tackles of Panther's running-back Jonathan Stewart
: a 14 yard loss, a tackle for no gain, and another for only a 1 yard gain) and 2 forced fumbles, the first of his career.
On December 28 in Chicago against their rivals the Chicago Bears, the Vikings suffered a crushing 36-30 loss - their second in a row to a team that was not in playoff contention. Brinkley had 9 tackles, helping the defense to hold Chicago running-back Matt Forte
to only 52 yards.
Thomson, Georgia
Thomson, incorporated February 15, 1854, is a city in McDuffie County, Georgia, United States. The population was 6,828 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of McDuffie County. Thomson's nickname is "The Camellia City of the South", in honor of the thousands of camellia plants...
) is 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 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...
. Brinkley played his 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...
career for the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
. Brinkley was selected by the Vikings in the 5th round of 2009 NFL Draft
2009 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...
(150 overall).
Brinkley started at middle-linebacker due to the injury of E. J. Henderson
E. J. Henderson
Eric N. "E.J." Henderson is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Vikings in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Maryland....
during the 2009 season. Henderson seriously injured his leg against the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in week 13, and was out the remainder of the season. Brinkley has had a very close, apprentice-like relationship with Henderson who mentored him as a rookie throughout training camp and his first professional season, even quizzing him while watching film together. EJ Henderson's younger brother, Erin Henderson
Erin Henderson
Erin Henderson is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Maryland.-Early years:...
, is also a linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings while Jasper's twin brother, Casper Brinkley
Casper Brinkley
Casper Terrell Brinkley was an American football defensive end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2008, but was released by the team on September 5, 2009...
, played for the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
but is no longer with the team
College career
Brinkley played college footballCollege 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 South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks football
The South Carolina Gamecocks football team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college football. The Gamecocks have been a member of the Southeastern Conference since 1992. Steve Spurrier is the current head coach, and the team plays its home games at Williams-Brice...
as junior college transfers from Georgia Military College
Georgia Military College
Georgia Military College is a United States Military Junior College, high school, and middle school in Milledgeville, Georgia. GMC is one of five military junior colleges that participates in the Army's Early Commissioning Program. Cadets who graduate from GMC's two-year, military science-oriented...
alongside his twin
Twin
A twin is one of two offspring produced in the same pregnancy. Twins can either be monozygotic , meaning that they develop from one zygote that splits and forms two embryos, or dizygotic because they develop from two separate eggs that are fertilized by two separate sperm.In contrast, a fetus...
brother Casper
Casper Brinkley
Casper Terrell Brinkley was an American football defensive end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2008, but was released by the team on September 5, 2009...
. He started 29 of 30 games. He finished his career with 298 total tackles, 27.5 sacks, 30.5 tackles for a loss and 10 interceptions. As a senior, Brinkley captured All-SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
1st-team honors as he started all but 1 game for the Gamecocks and ranked 2nd on the squad with 73 tackles.
Pro career
After the end of the 2008 season, Brinkley was selected to play in the East-West Shrine GameEast-West Shrine Game
The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...
and was a participant at the 2009 NFL Combine in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. He was selected by the Vikings in the 5th round of 2009 NFL Draft
2009 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...
(150th overall), on June 30 Brinkley signed a 4 year contract with Minnesota. Brinkley projected to serve as the backup to E. J. Henderson
E. J. Henderson
Eric N. "E.J." Henderson is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Vikings in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Maryland....
at middle linebacker. His spot on the depth chart was confirmed when Henderson went down with an injury to his femur after a collision with teammate Jamarca Sanford
Jamarca Sanford
Jamarca Deshaun Sanford is an American football player for the Minnesota Vikings. He was drafted by the Vikings in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft as the 231st pick...
in week 13 at Arizona. Brinkley stepped into the game in the fourth quarter, recording five tackles for negative 4 yards on Arizona running back Tim Hightower
Tim Hightower
-Arizona Cardinals:Hightower scored 10 touchdowns during his rookie season, and another 3 in the post season while averaging a meager 2.8 yards per carry. He would rush for a total amount of 399 yards in 2008. Hightower would then become the only Cardinal rookie running back ever to have scored a...
.
On December 13, 2009 (week 14), Brinkley made his first start against the Cincinnati Bengals. He recorded 7 tackles en route to a 30-10 victory over the Bengals.
On December 20 (week 15), Brinkley started against the Carolina Panthers in a devastating 7-26 loss. He performed admirably, recording 12 tackles (including 5 tackles of Panther's running-back Jonathan Stewart
Jonathan Stewart
Jonathan Creon Stewart is an American football running back for the Carolina Panthers of the NFL. He was selected by the Panthers in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Oregon.-High school career:Stewart is the career leading rusher in...
: a 14 yard loss, a tackle for no gain, and another for only a 1 yard gain) and 2 forced fumbles, the first of his career.
On December 28 in Chicago against their rivals the Chicago Bears, the Vikings suffered a crushing 36-30 loss - their second in a row to a team that was not in playoff contention. Brinkley had 9 tackles, helping the defense to hold Chicago running-back Matt Forte
Matt Forté
Matthew Garrett Forté is an American football running back for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Bears in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
to only 52 yards.