R. J. Archer
Encyclopedia
Rush James "R.J." Archer II (born August 5, 1987 in Charlottesville, Virginia
) is an American football
quarterback
who is currently a member of the Georgia Force
. He went undrafted in the 2010 NFL Draft
, but was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent.
at Albemarle High School. He holds the school's record for passing
yards (4,568), touchdown
passes (41), completions
, and attempts.
his first year, during which time he ran the scout team
. During the 2006 and 2007 seasons, he changed positions from quarterback to wide receiver
, where he totaled 69 receptions
. In 2008, he moved back to quarterback, but was not the full time starter until the 2009 season
when he threw for 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
, but was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent. He was released prior to training camp on June 29.
On November 10, it was announced that Archer signed with the Spokane Shock
of the Arena Football League
.
With injuries to Vikings quarterbacks Brett Favre
and Joe Webb
, Minnesota resigned him to the practice squad on December 7. He was subsequently placed on the Other League Exempt list by the Spokane Shock. He was elevated to the Vikings' 53-man roster on December 20 when quarterback Tarvaris Jackson
was placed on injured reserve
. He took the roster spot of guard Steve Hutchinson. The next day, it was reported that Archer was waived by the Vikings in favor of quarterback Rhett Bomar
, who was signed off the practice squad of the New York Giants
.
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
) is an American football
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...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
who is currently a member of the Georgia Force
Georgia Force
The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings...
. He went undrafted 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...
, but was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent.
High school
Archer was a 3-year starterStarting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
at Albemarle High School. He holds the school's record for passing
Forward pass
In several forms of football a forward pass is when the ball is thrown in the direction that the offensive team is trying to move, towards the defensive team's goal line...
yards (4,568), touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
passes (41), completions
Completion (American football)
A completion is a term used in American football when a receiver successfully catches a pass. The three possible outcomes of a pass thrown are completion, incompletion, and interception, respectively....
, and attempts.
College
R.J. enrolled at The College of William & Mary and was redshirtedRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
his first year, during which time he ran the scout team
Scout team
In sports, the scout team, also referred to as a practice team, taxi squad, practice squad or practice roster, is a group of players on a team whose task is to emulate future opponents for the featured players. Frequently used in American or Canadian Football, these teams consist of less...
. During the 2006 and 2007 seasons, he changed positions from quarterback to 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...
, where he totaled 69 receptions
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
. In 2008, he moved back to quarterback, but was not the full time starter until the 2009 season
2009 William & Mary Tribe football team
The 2009 William & Mary Tribe football team represented the College of William & Mary in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football during the 2009 season...
when he threw for 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Professional career
R.J. Archer went undrafted in the 2010 NFL Draft2010 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...
, but was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent. He was released prior to training camp on June 29.
On November 10, it was announced that Archer signed with the Spokane Shock
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
of the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
.
With injuries to Vikings quarterbacks Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
and Joe Webb
Joe Webb
Joseph "Joe" Webb, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. In college he played for the UAB Blazers. He was selected by the Vikings in the sixth round, number 199 overall, of the 2010 NFL Draft.-Early years:Born to Joseph and Wanda Webb,...
, Minnesota resigned him to the practice squad on December 7. He was subsequently placed on the Other League Exempt list by the Spokane Shock. He was elevated to the Vikings' 53-man roster on December 20 when quarterback Tarvaris Jackson
Tarvaris Jackson
Tarvaris DeAndre Jackson is an American football quarterback who is currently a member of the Seattle Seahawks. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
. He took the roster spot of guard Steve Hutchinson. The next day, it was reported that Archer was waived by the Vikings in favor of quarterback Rhett Bomar
Rhett Bomar
Rhett Matthew Bomar is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
, who was signed off the practice squad of 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...
.