Michael Boley
Encyclopedia
Michael Boley is an American football
linebacker
for the New York Giants
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons
in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Southern Miss
.
for Elkmont High School. While there he played as a safety, wide receiver
and running back
.
for Southern Mississippi
. In 2004 he won the Conerly Trophy
, which is awarded to the best college football player in the state of Mississippi
. During his entire career he finished with 423 tackles
, 28.5 sacks
, nine forced fumbles and was a three-time First-team All-Conference USA selection. In Boley's last season at Southern Miss he was voted as the conference's defensive most valuable player. He was also a finalist for several national defensive awards, including the Butkus Award, the Bednarik Award and the Lott Impact Trophy. He made 125 tackles as a senior and forced five fumbles, picked off two passes and recorded nine sacks.
in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He took over as a starter in his rookie year after Edgerton Hartwell
went down with an Achilles tendon
injury. In four years with the Falcons he started 52 of 64 games, recording 330 tackles, six sacks, and five interceptions. He became a free agent
after the 2008 season.
.
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 York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National 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 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...
in the fifth 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 Southern Miss
Southern Miss Golden Eagles football
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles football program represents the University of Southern Mississippi in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The Eagles are members of Conference USA and player their home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Mississippi...
.
Early years
Boley played high school footballHigh 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....
for Elkmont High School. While there he played as a safety, 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...
and running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
.
College career
Boley played college footballCollege 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 Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, informally known as Southern Miss, is a large public research university located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States. It is situated north of Gulfport, Mississippi and northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana...
. In 2004 he won the Conerly Trophy
Conerly Trophy
The Conerly Trophy or Cellular South Conerly Trophy is an award given annually to the best college football player in the state of Mississippi by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.-Voting:...
, which is awarded to the best college football player in the state of Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. During his entire career he finished with 423 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
, 28.5 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...
, nine forced fumbles and was a three-time First-team All-Conference USA selection. In Boley's last season at Southern Miss he was voted as the conference's defensive most valuable player. He was also a finalist for several national defensive awards, including the Butkus Award, the Bednarik Award and the Lott Impact Trophy. He made 125 tackles as a senior and forced five fumbles, picked off two passes and recorded nine sacks.
Atlanta Falcons
Boley was drafted by the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta 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...
in the fifth 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 took over as a starter in his rookie year after Edgerton Hartwell
Edgerton Hartwell
Edgerton "Ed" Hartwell, II is a former NFL linebacker. Currently signed with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
went down with an Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
injury. In four years with the Falcons he started 52 of 64 games, recording 330 tackles, six sacks, and five interceptions. He became 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....
after the 2008 season.
New York Giants
On February 27, 2009, Boley signed a five-year, $25 million deal with the New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.