Kevin Vickerson
Encyclopedia
Kevin Darnell Vickerson (born January 8, 1983) is an American football
defensive tackle for the Denver Broncos
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins
in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Michigan State
.
Vickerson has also been a member of the Tennessee Titans
and Seattle Seahawks
.
in Detroit, Michigan. As a senior, he earned Prep All-America honors playing both offensive and defensive line while helping his team to a 10-1 record and a Public School League title.
with a seventh-round pick (216th overall) in the 2005 NFL Draft
. After being late for numerous team meetings the Dolphins considered pulling their contract offer from the table, however he was signed on July 24. After spending two days on the Active/Non-Football Injury list, Vickerson was cleared to practice.
After compiling five tackles and a sack in preseason, Vickerson appeared likely to make the team. However, he was placed on Injured Reserve after suffering an ACL injury in a preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons
on September 1. The injury occurred on a low block by a Falcons offensive lineman, and this was not a total surprise. Then offensive line coach Alex Gibbs
had previously been accused of teaching cheap shots.http://washingtontimes.com/sports/20050903-121042-1691r.htm
Vickerson was on the bubble to make the team in 2006 and was rumored to be a candidate for the trading block, but in the end did make the final roster. He was inactive for all 16 contests in 2006, and after two seasons has yet to appear in a regular season game.
Vickerson became an unrestricted free agent on March 2, 2007 after the Dolphins declined to offer him a contract as an exclusive rights free agent. He was re-signed by the team and allocated to NFL Europa on March 9. In 10 starts for the Cologne Centurions
, Vickerson recorded 31 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two passes defensed. He was named to the 2007 All-NFL Europa team.
Despite Vickerson's strong performance in NFL Europa, he was released by the Dolphins on August 27.
on September 6, 2007 but was not signed. On November 1, he was signed to the practice squad of the Tennessee Titans
- the team with which his brother Quartez attended training camp.
On November 28, Vickerson was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster after defensive tackle Demetrin Veal
was released. He made his NFL debut on December 2, recording two assisted tackles in the team's 28-20 win over the Houston Texans
.
with Lendale White
a fourth (111) and fifth (185) round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft
for a fourth (104) and fifth (176) round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft
. Vickerson was then cut on Sunday 5 September 2010.
on September 7, 2010.
Vickerson—who was signed during training camp after being cut by the Seattle Seahawks—was a bright spot on a Broncos defense that finished dead last in football last season. The 28-year-old was rewarded for his production with a two-year, $4.75 million contract extension signed prior to the lockout in March. Because of the timing of the pact, he receives a $1 million bonus this summer regardless of labor strife.
of NFL Europa in the spring of 2007, and attended 2007 training camp with the Tennessee Titans
.
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...
defensive tackle for 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...
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 drafted by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. 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 Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
.
Vickerson has also been a member of the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
and 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...
.
Early years
Vickerson attended Martin Luther King High SchoolMartin Luther King High School (Michigan)
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. High School is located at 3200 East Lafayette Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan; the building is operated by the Detroit Board of Education. King's district encompasses Downtown and Midtown Detroit; it also includes the Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects, the Martin Luther...
in Detroit, Michigan. As a senior, he earned Prep All-America honors playing both offensive and defensive line while helping his team to a 10-1 record and a Public School League title.
College career
A four-year letterman at Michigan State, played in 44 games while starting 19 for the Spartans. He started two games as a freshman and started six the following year. As as senior, Vickerson started 11 contests and amassed 46 tackles and 4.5 sacks. In his career, Vickerson totaled 113 tackles including 24.5 for a loss, 8.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and a pair of blocked kicks. He majored in criminal justice.Miami Dolphins
Vickerson was drafted by former Miami Dolphins head coach Nick SabanNick Saban
Nicholas Lou "Nick" Saban is the head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team. Saban has previously served as head coach of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and three other NCAA universities: LSU, Michigan State and Toledo...
with a seventh-round pick (216th overall) in the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. After being late for numerous team meetings the Dolphins considered pulling their contract offer from the table, however he was signed on July 24. After spending two days on the Active/Non-Football Injury list, Vickerson was cleared to practice.
After compiling five tackles and a sack in preseason, Vickerson appeared likely to make the team. However, he was placed on Injured Reserve after suffering an ACL injury in a preseason 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...
on September 1. The injury occurred on a low block by a Falcons offensive lineman, and this was not a total surprise. Then offensive line coach Alex Gibbs
Alex Gibbs
Alex Gibbs is a retired American football coach. Gibbs was to enter his first season on Pete Carroll's Seattle Seahawks staff as the Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Line coach in 2010, but announced his unexpected retirement a week before the start of the NFL's 2010 regular season.Gibbs is a...
had previously been accused of teaching cheap shots.http://washingtontimes.com/sports/20050903-121042-1691r.htm
Vickerson was on the bubble to make the team in 2006 and was rumored to be a candidate for the trading block, but in the end did make the final roster. He was inactive for all 16 contests in 2006, and after two seasons has yet to appear in a regular season game.
Vickerson became an unrestricted free agent on March 2, 2007 after the Dolphins declined to offer him a contract as an exclusive rights free agent. He was re-signed by the team and allocated to NFL Europa on March 9. In 10 starts for the Cologne Centurions
Cologne Centurions
The Cologne Centurions were an American football team that played in NFL Europe. The Centurions began competing in the league in the 2004 season, having replaced the defunct Barcelona Dragons. They played their home games at RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne....
, Vickerson recorded 31 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two passes defensed. He was named to the 2007 All-NFL Europa team.
Despite Vickerson's strong performance in NFL Europa, he was released by the Dolphins on August 27.
Tennessee Titans
Vickerson had a workout with the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
on September 6, 2007 but was not signed. On November 1, he was signed to the practice squad of the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
- the team with which his brother Quartez attended training camp.
On November 28, Vickerson was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster after defensive tackle Demetrin Veal
Demetrin Veal
Demetrin Leandro Veal is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee.Veal has also been a member of the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Tennessee...
was released. He made his NFL debut on December 2, recording two assisted tackles in the team's 28-20 win over the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Seattle Seahawks
Vickerson was traded to the Seattle SeahawksSeattle 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...
with Lendale White
LenDale White
LenDale Anthony White is an American football running back. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California....
a fourth (111) and fifth (185) round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
for a fourth (104) and fifth (176) round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. Vickerson was then cut on Sunday 5 September 2010.
Denver Broncos
Vickerson was signed by the Denver BroncosDenver 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...
on September 7, 2010.
Vickerson—who was signed during training camp after being cut by the Seattle Seahawks—was a bright spot on a Broncos defense that finished dead last in football last season. The 28-year-old was rewarded for his production with a two-year, $4.75 million contract extension signed prior to the lockout in March. Because of the timing of the pact, he receives a $1 million bonus this summer regardless of labor strife.
Personal
Kevin's brother, Quartez Vickerson, played football at Grand Valley State and helped his team to a Division II national championship in 2005. He played with the Berlin ThunderBerlin Thunder
The Berlin Thunder were a professional American football team in NFL Europe, which was a springtime American football league serving primarily as a developmental league for the National Football League. Most of the players were young American professional players assigned by NFL teams to receive...
of NFL Europa in the spring of 2007, and attended 2007 training camp with the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
.