JoLonn Dunbar
Encyclopedia
Jo-Lonn D. Dunbar is an American football
linebacker
for the New Orleans Saints
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football
at Boston College
.
in Syracuse, New York
where he played running back and linebacker, under the head coach Leo Cosgrove. He earned All-State Class AA first-team honors as a senior running back and second-team All-State as a junior, when he competed as a linebacker. He added All-American accolades from Super Prep and was an All-East choice by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report.
, Dunbar received recognition by becoming the fourth player in NCAA history to return two fumbles for touchdowns in a single game. In 2006, he was named MVP of the 2006 Meineke Car Care Bowl
; he recovered 3 fumbles, returning two for touchdowns. At the end of his college career, he registered 262 tackles (156 solo) with 2.5 sacks for -12 yards and 21.5 stops for losses of 58 yards. He caused three fumbles and deflected seven passes. He gained 45 yards on two of interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.
to return a punt for a touchdown on Monday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings
.
Dunbar continued to play backup linebacker and special teams in the 2009 season
. He suffered a hamstring injury in the Saints' December 6, 2009 game against the Washington Redskins
, and was placed on the injured reserve list on December 8. The Saints went on to win Super Bowl XLIV
.
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...
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 New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
of 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...
. He was signed by the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2008. 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 Boston College
Boston College Eagles football
The Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division...
.
Early years
Dunbar attended Corcoran High SchoolCorcoran High School
Corcoran High School is a public high school located in Syracuse, New York, having approximately 1800 students. In 2005, it became a member of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. It is one of the top 1000 ranked schools in the country as of 2009, but has been in the top 600...
in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
where he played running back and linebacker, under the head coach Leo Cosgrove. He earned All-State Class AA first-team honors as a senior running back and second-team All-State as a junior, when he competed as a linebacker. He added All-American accolades from Super Prep and was an All-East choice by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report.
College career
During his senior year at Boston CollegeBoston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, Dunbar received recognition by becoming the fourth player in NCAA history to return two fumbles for touchdowns in a single game. In 2006, he was named MVP of the 2006 Meineke Car Care Bowl
2006 Meineke Car Care Bowl
The 2006 edition to the Meineke Car Care Bowl featured the Navy Midshipmen, and the Boston College Eagles. The game was played on Saturday, December 30, 2006 at 1:00 PM EST....
; he recovered 3 fumbles, returning two for touchdowns. At the end of his college career, he registered 262 tackles (156 solo) with 2.5 sacks for -12 yards and 21.5 stops for losses of 58 yards. He caused three fumbles and deflected seven passes. He gained 45 yards on two of interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.
NFL career
During his first season with the Saints, Dunbar made a brief trip into the NFL spotlight when he made an impressive block to allow Reggie BushReggie Bush
Reginald Alfred "Reggie" Bush II is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
to return a punt for a touchdown on Monday Night Football against 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...
.
Dunbar continued to play backup linebacker and special teams in the 2009 season
2009 New Orleans Saints season
The 2009 New Orleans Saints season is the franchise's 43rd season in the National Football League and the most successful in franchise history in which they won Super Bowl XLIV. The Saints recorded a franchise record 13 victories, an improvement on their 8–8 record and fourth place finish in the...
. He suffered a hamstring injury in the Saints' December 6, 2009 game against the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, and was placed on the injured reserve list on December 8. The Saints went on to win Super Bowl XLIV
Super Bowl XLIV
Super Bowl XLIV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion New Orleans Saints to decide the National Football League champion for the 2009 season. The Saints defeated the Colts by a score of...
.