Jeff King (American football)
Encyclopedia
Jeffery "Jeff" W. King (born February 19, 1983 in Pulaski, Virginia
) is an American football
tight end
in the National Football League
with the Arizona Cardinals
. He played college football
and basketball
for Virginia Tech
.
Joel Hicks at Pulaski County High School
, King rated the #3 tight end in the Atlantic Region. He was named first-team Group AAA all-state as a tight end by the Associated Press
and the state coaches. He was ranked the #12 prospect in Virginia
by The Roanoke Times
and SuperPrep. He was an honorable-mention All-South pick by the Orlando Sentinel
. He led his high school team to the Group AAA, Division 5 state semifinals in 2000. He finished his senior season with 278 yards receiving
and eight touchdowns. He also registered eight sacks
as a defensive end
. He set a school record with 101 pancake blocks in a season. He had 12 pancakes and two receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown in a game his senior year. Named All-Timesland as a junior and senior.
during his career. He averaged 25 points and 14 rebounds as a senior on the way to all-district and all-region honors. He also competed in the shot put
for the track
team with a best effort of 54' 7" as a junior. He was also a member of the National Honor Society
.
. He also blocked a field goal against Western Michigan
.
. He maded 6 receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown He also blocked a field goal
against Rutgers
.
that the Hokies returned for a touchdown. He was also a Second-team All-ACC selection.
In his college career King set a school record for touchdown catches by a tight end with 11, bettering the previous mark of eight. He also blocked three kicks on special teams.
. He played in 12 games in his rookie season, and scored a touchdown on his only reception of the season in a game against the Atlanta Falcons
.
.
to the Carolina Panthers, King changed numbers from #87 to #47. King recorded 21 receptions for 195 yards and had one touchdown reception against the Detroit Lions
. King also improved his career long catch, with at 31 yard reception against the Arizona Cardinals
. While King's stats declined his blocking skills were much improved.
Pulaski, Virginia
Pulaski is a town in Pulaski County, Virginia, United States. The population was 9,086 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Pulaski County.Pulaski is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg–Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
) is an American football
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...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
in the National Football League
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...
with 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...
. 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...
and basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
for Virginia Tech
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
.
Football
A PrepStar All-American for CoachCoach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
Joel Hicks at Pulaski County High School
Pulaski County High School (Virginia)
Pulaski County High School is located at 5414 Cougar Trail Road in Dublin, Virginia about 45 miles southwest of Roanoke, Virginia. It is the sole public high school in Pulaski County, Virginia.-History:...
, King rated the #3 tight end in the Atlantic Region. He was named first-team Group AAA all-state as a tight end by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and the state coaches. He was ranked the #12 prospect in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
by The Roanoke Times
The Roanoke Times
The Roanoke Times is the primary newspaper in Southwestern Virginia and is based in Roanoke, Virginia, United States. It is published by Landmark Media Enterprises...
and SuperPrep. He was an honorable-mention All-South pick by the Orlando Sentinel
Orlando Sentinel
The Orlando Sentinel is the primary newspaper of the Orlando, Florida region. It was founded in 1876. The Sentinel is owned by Tribune Company and is overseen by the Chicago Tribune. As of 2005, the Sentinel’s president and publisher was Kathleen Waltz; she announced her resignation in February 2008...
. He led his high school team to the Group AAA, Division 5 state semifinals in 2000. He finished his senior season with 278 yards receiving
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
and eight touchdowns. He also registered eight sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
as a defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
. He set a school record with 101 pancake blocks in a season. He had 12 pancakes and two receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown in a game his senior year. Named All-Timesland as a junior and senior.
Basketball
Jeff King was also an outstanding basketball player who compiled over 1,000 points and 1,000 reboundsRebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
during his career. He averaged 25 points and 14 rebounds as a senior on the way to all-district and all-region honors. He also competed in the shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
for the track
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...
team with a best effort of 54' 7" as a junior. He was also a member of the National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
.
Freshman (2002)
In 2002 King played in all 14 games for Virginia Tech making only one reception, a 19-yard touchdown against Arkansas StateArkansas State Red Wolves
The Arkansas State University Red Wolves is the name given to Arkansas State University's athletic teams. The university is affiliated with the Sun Belt Conference in sports and maintains NCAA Division I status.-History:...
. He also blocked a field goal against Western Michigan
Western Michigan Broncos football
The Western Michigan Broncos football program represents Western Michigan University in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I and the Mid-American Conference . Western Michigan has competed in football since 1906, when they played three games in their inaugural season...
.
Sophomore (2003)
In 2003 King played in 13 games with two startsStarting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
. He maded 6 receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown He also blocked a field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
against Rutgers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represents Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision play...
.
Junior (2004)
In 2004 King became a starter. He started all 13 games, posting 25 receptions for 304 yards and four touchdowns. He was also a Second-team All-ACC choice.Senior (2005)
In 2005 he started all 13 games. He recorded a career-high 26 catches for 292 yards and six touchdowns, a school single-season record for tight ends, and became the first player in school history to catch a touchdown pass in four consecutive games. He also blocked a field goal against Georgia TechGeorgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
that the Hokies returned for a touchdown. He was also a Second-team All-ACC selection.
College stats
| Receiving | |||||||||
| Year | Team | G | Rec | Yards | Y/R | TD | LNG | FUM | LOST |
| 2001 | Virginia Tech | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2002 | Virginia Tech | 14 | 1 | 19 | 19.0 | 1 | 19 | - | - |
| 2003 | Virginia Tech | 13 | 6 | 109 | 18.2 | 1 | 31 | - | - |
| 2004 | Virginia Tech | 13 | 25 | 304 | 12.2 | 4 | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | Virginia Tech | 13 | 26 | 292 | 11.2 | 6 | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 53 | 58 | 724 | 12.5 | 11 | 35 | 0 | 0 |
In his college career King set a school record for touchdown catches by a tight end with 11, bettering the previous mark of eight. He also blocked three kicks on special teams.
2006
King was selected in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
. He played in 12 games in his rookie season, and scored a touchdown on his only reception of the season in a game against the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
2007
In 2007 his first year as a starter King recorded 46 receptions for 406 yards and two touchdowns. King made his then career long reception during the Panthers week three win over the Atlanta Falcons, with a 29 yard catch. He also had a single-game career high in receptions with 10 during a week eight loss to the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
.
2008
With the return of Muhsin MuhammadMuhsin Muhammad
Muhsin Muhammad II is a retired American football wide receiver who played for the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
to the Carolina Panthers, King changed numbers from #87 to #47. King recorded 21 receptions for 195 yards and had one touchdown reception against 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...
. King also improved his career long catch, with at 31 yard reception 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...
. While King's stats declined his blocking skills were much improved.
Career stats
| Receiving | |||||||||
| Year | Team | G | Rec | Yards | Y/R | TD | LNG | FUM | LOST |
| 2006 | Carolina | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | Carolina | 16 | 46 | 406 | 8.8 | 2 | 29 | 2 | 1 |
| 2008 | Carolina | 16 | 21 | 195 | 9.3 | 1 | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | Carolina | 16 | 25 | 200 | 8.0 | 3 | 32 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 60 | 93 | 802 | 8.5 | 7 | 32 | 3 | 1 |