Johnnie Lee Higgins
Encyclopedia
Johnnie Lee Higgins is an American football
wide receiver
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders
in the third round (99th overall and the last pick of the first day) out of the University of Texas at El Paso
in the 2007 NFL Draft
.
Higgins has also been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles
. He is the cousin of San Diego Chargers
cornerback
Quentin Jammer
.
in Sweeny, Texas
, and was a student and a letterman in football
, basketball
, and track
. In basketball, he was named his team's Most Valuable Player
.
to play football
for the Miners
. He received several honors, including Conference USA
Special Teams Player of the Year in 2006.
time at the 2007 NFL Scouting Combine, Higgins was selected by the Oakland Raiders
in the third round (99th overall and the final pick of the first day) of the 2007 NFL Draft
. He became the team's starting punt returner
and he returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown in a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks
on August 30, 2007. He saw action in all 16 games in the 2007 season
, starting in two of them at wide receiver.
He saw punt return action in the first three games, but it was in week 4 against the Denver Broncos
in which Higgins made his first NFL reception. He caught two passes for 14 yards in the game. On special teams, Higgins recorded five tackles. In his final game of the season, he had a punt return for 54 yards, which set up fellow rookie JaMarcus Russell
to throw his second touchdown of the season. Higgins finished his rookie year with six receptions for 47 yards, 20 punt returns for 103 yards, and five special teams tackles.
In the 2008 season, Higgins recorded more receiving yards than any other Raider wide receiver (tight end Zach Miller
led the team in yards). He also returned punts for touchdowns in back-to-back games.
In the first game of the 2009 season, against San Diego
, Higgins ran the ball one time for 19 yards.
on July 29, 2011.
He was released on September 3 during final roster cuts.
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...
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...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the third round (99th overall and the last pick of the first day) out of the University of Texas at El Paso
University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Texas System. Its campus is located on the bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. The school was founded in 1914 as The Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy,...
in the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
.
Higgins has also been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He is the cousin of San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
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...
Quentin Jammer
Quentin Jammer
Quentin Tremaine Jammer is an American football player who currently plays cornerback for the San Diego Chargers of the NFL.- Early years :...
.
Early years
Higgins attended Sweeny High SchoolSweeny Independent School District
Sweeny Independent School District is a public school district based in Sweeny, Texas .The district is approximately and serves the City of Sweeny and surrounding area...
in Sweeny, Texas
Sweeny, Texas
Sweeny is a city in Brazoria County, Texas, USA. The population was 3,624 at the 2000 census, 7,316 if you include unincorporated areas of Sweeny. The city's motto is "A City With Pride", and is the westernmost incorporated town in the county.-Demographics:...
, and was a student and a letterman in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
, 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...
, and 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...
. In basketball, he was named his team's Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
.
College career
Higgins attended the University of Texas at El PasoUniversity of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Texas System. Its campus is located on the bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. The school was founded in 1914 as The Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy,...
to play 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...
for the Miners
UTEP Miners football
The UTEP Miners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Texas at El Paso . With a history dating back to 1914, UTEP currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of Conference USA . UTEP currently plays their home games at the Sun Bowl...
. He received several honors, including Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
Special Teams Player of the Year in 2006.
Oakland Raiders
After turning in a 4.43 40 yard dash40 yard dash
The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time in the 40 can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football...
time at the 2007 NFL Scouting Combine, Higgins was selected by the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the third round (99th overall and the final pick of the first day) of the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. He became the team's starting punt returner
Punt returner
Punt returner is a position on special teams in American football.-Description:The role of a punt returner is to catch the ball after it is punted and to give his team good field position by returning it. Before catching the punted ball, the returner must assess the situation on the field while...
and he returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown in a preseason game against the 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...
on August 30, 2007. He saw action in all 16 games in the 2007 season
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
, starting in two of them at wide receiver.
He saw punt return action in the first three games, but it was in week 4 against the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in which Higgins made his first NFL reception. He caught two passes for 14 yards in the game. On special teams, Higgins recorded five tackles. In his final game of the season, he had a punt return for 54 yards, which set up fellow rookie JaMarcus Russell
JaMarcus Russell
JaMarcus Trenell Russell is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. Russell played college football for the LSU Tigers where he finished 21–4 as a starter and was named MVP of the 2007 Sugar Bowl. The Oakland Raiders selected Russell with the first overall pick of the 2007...
to throw his second touchdown of the season. Higgins finished his rookie year with six receptions for 47 yards, 20 punt returns for 103 yards, and five special teams tackles.
In the 2008 season, Higgins recorded more receiving yards than any other Raider wide receiver (tight end Zach Miller
Zach Miller
Zachary Joseph Miller is an American football tight end for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. He played college football at Arizona State.-Early years:Miller Attended Desert Vista High School in...
led the team in yards). He also returned punts for touchdowns in back-to-back games.
In the first game of the 2009 season, against San Diego
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Higgins ran the ball one time for 19 yards.
Philadelphia Eagles
Higgins signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on July 29, 2011.
He was released on September 3 during final roster cuts.