Larry English
Encyclopedia
Larry English is an American football
outside linebacker for the San Diego Chargers
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Chargers 16th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Northern Illinois
.
, in Aurora, Illinois
, English was named team co-captain, MVP, and First-team All-Suburban Catholic Conference
both as a junior and senior. He made 98 tackles and six sacks while playing inside linebacker and as a running back he rushed for 312 yards on 38 carries (8.2 avg). As a junior he had 100 tackles, and added two interceptions and two fumble recoveries during junior campaign. English lettered in football, basketball and track.
selection. Started all 13 games and tied school record with 12 sacks, while totaling 51 tackles and forcing four fumbles.
In 2007 English was the Mid-American Conference
's MVP and was a consensus choice First-team All-MAC and a Fourth-team All-American by Phil Steele
as he recorded 17 tackles for loss–which ranked 18th in the NCAA. Also in 2007 English had 10.5 sacks which led the conference. English also deflected two passes. As a senior (2008 Season) English again won the Vern Smith Award, given to the MAC's top player. Additionally, English was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year by the MAC News Media Association as well as Sporting News. He led the Huskies with eight sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss and he was an All-MAC choice for the third consecutive season.
Key: GP - games played; GS - games started; UA - unassisted tackles; AT - assisted tackles; TT - total tackles; T/L - tackles for a loss; Sacks - ; FF – Forced fumble ; FR – Fumbles recovered; PD - passes deflected; Int - interceptions
at the 2009 NFL Draft
Combine, one of the highest scores ever recorded for his position, Outside Linebacker, and the 9th highest score of the 2009 NFL Draft Class. With comparison to IQ, a Wonderlic Score of 34 suggests English has an IQ of 128, twenty-eight points above average.
. English was a defensive end in college, however, the Chargers indicated he will be an outside linebacker in the NFL."The more I learned about the 3-4 scheme and my abilities, the type of football player I am ... I think I will fit perfectly in it," said English.
inaugural Fight For Air Climb in San Diego on February 27, 2011. English, who has struggled with asthma since he was a child, stated: “As an individual living with asthma, I truly understand the challenges this disease presents."
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...
outside linebacker for the 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...
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 Chargers 16th overall in the 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...
. 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 Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois Huskies football
The Northern Illinois Huskies football team represents Northern Illinois University in the Mid-American Conference of the NCAA's Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision.-History:...
.
High school career
At Marmion AcademyMarmion Academy
Marmion Academy is a Roman Catholic high school for young men located in Aurora, Illinois. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockford.The academy is run by the Benedictine monks of Marmion Abbey, located on campus...
, in Aurora, Illinois
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
, English was named team co-captain, MVP, and First-team All-Suburban Catholic Conference
Suburban Catholic Conference
The Suburban Christian Conference is a system of Christian schools in Chicago's suburbs organized to compete against each other athletically.-History:...
both as a junior and senior. He made 98 tackles and six sacks while playing inside linebacker and as a running back he rushed for 312 yards on 38 carries (8.2 avg). As a junior he had 100 tackles, and added two interceptions and two fumble recoveries during junior campaign. English lettered in football, basketball and track.
College career
English was a medical redshirt in 2004 after playing in the first game of the season and sustaining an injury. The following season, 2005, he played 11 games, starting nine. He had 78 tackles with seven of them being for a loss. The next season, 2006, he was a First-team All-MACMid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
selection. Started all 13 games and tied school record with 12 sacks, while totaling 51 tackles and forcing four fumbles.
In 2007 English was the Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
's MVP and was a consensus choice First-team All-MAC and a Fourth-team All-American by Phil Steele
Phil Steele
Phil Steele is an American sportswriter and analyst who focuses exclusively on college and professional football. He currently writes a column for the Orlando Sentinel, and is considered a "highly respected prognosticator" within the sports media...
as he recorded 17 tackles for loss–which ranked 18th in the NCAA. Also in 2007 English had 10.5 sacks which led the conference. English also deflected two passes. As a senior (2008 Season) English again won the Vern Smith Award, given to the MAC's top player. Additionally, English was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year by the MAC News Media Association as well as Sporting News. He led the Huskies with eight sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss and he was an All-MAC choice for the third consecutive season.
Career statistics
| YEAR | TEAM | GP | GS | UA | AT | TT | T/L | Sacks | FF | FR | PD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | NIU | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | NIU | 11 | 9 | 25 | 43 | 78 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | NIU | 13 | 13 | 32 | 19 | 51 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | NIU | 12 | 12 | 29 | 38 | 67 | 17 | 10.5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 | NIU | 13 | 13 | 26 | 11 | 37 | 14.5 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 50 | 47 | 125 | 112 | 237 | 54.5 | 31.5 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
Key: GP - games played; GS - games started; UA - unassisted tackles; AT - assisted tackles; TT - total tackles; T/L - tackles for a loss; Sacks - ; FF – Forced fumble ; FR – Fumbles recovered; PD - passes deflected; Int - interceptions
Pre-draft measureables
Larry English scored a 34 on the aptitude assessment Wonderlic TestWonderlic Test
The Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Test is a twelve-minute, fifty-question test used to assess the aptitude of prospective employees for learning and problem-solving in a range of occupations. The test was developed by industrial psychologist Eldon F. Wonderlic...
at the 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...
Combine, one of the highest scores ever recorded for his position, Outside Linebacker, and the 9th highest score of the 2009 NFL Draft Class. With comparison to IQ, a Wonderlic Score of 34 suggests English has an IQ of 128, twenty-eight points above average.
San Diego Chargers
English was drafted by the Chargers 16th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft2009 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...
. English was a defensive end in college, however, the Chargers indicated he will be an outside linebacker in the NFL."The more I learned about the 3-4 scheme and my abilities, the type of football player I am ... I think I will fit perfectly in it," said English.
Personal life
English will serve as the honorary chairman of the American Lung AssociationAmerican Lung Association
The American Lung Association is a voluntary health organization whose mission is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease.-History:...
inaugural Fight For Air Climb in San Diego on February 27, 2011. English, who has struggled with asthma since he was a child, stated: “As an individual living with asthma, I truly understand the challenges this disease presents."