Will Demps
Encyclopedia
William Henry Demps, Jr. (born November 7, 1979 in Charleston, South Carolina
) is an American football
safety who is currently a free agent
. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens
as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football
at San Diego State.
Demps has also played for the New York Giants
and Houston Texans
. He is the older brother of former NFL
safety Marcus Demps
.
, where he was a two-time All-Mountain West first-team selection. During his college career, Demps recorded 229 career tackle
s (135 solo), including 15 tackles for loss, and five interception
s.
Demps played primarily on special teams as a red-shirt freshman. He majored in Information Decision Systems.
Demps posted 140 tackles (125 solo) and one interception as a sophomore in 1999. He recorded his first career interception and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown
against Wyoming
. Demps also had five tackles, including one tackle for a loss against the Cowboys.
Demps started all 11 games at strong safety as a junior. He earned first-team All-Mountain West honors and finished second on the team and sixth in Mountain West with 97 tackles (51 solo). He also had two interceptions and led the team with 15 tackles for loss. He opened the season with 15 tackles (ten solo), including three tackles for a loss.
Demps started all 11 games at strong safety as a senior in 2001 and earned a second consecutive First-team All-Mountain West honors. He posted 92 tackles, including a career-high 59 solo, along with two interceptions.
, but was signed by the Baltimore Ravens
where he played from 2002 to 2005.
He played in 14 games, starting 10 after making the Ravens roster as a rookie free agent. He recorded 53 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble
, and a game-saving interception vs. Jacksonville
.
In 2003
, Demps saw action in all 16 regular season games with nine starts for Ravens and recorded 59 total tackles, two interceptions and one forced fumble. He made his first career post-season start in Baltimore's Wild Card loss to Tennessee
.
In 2004
, Demps started all 16 games for the first time in his career, tying for sixth on the team (Gary Baxter
) with 86 tackles, including 72 solo. He also recorded 2.5 sack
s, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception on the season. Demps notched career highs with 15 tackles, including 14 solo against the Bengals
.
Demps started in all 11 games in which he played at free safety for Baltimore in 2005 before tearing his ACL
and being placed on injured reserve on December 2, 2005. Before his injury, he tallied 70 tackles, and two fumble recoveries, plus seven special teams tackles.
in the offseason. He started all 16 games for the Giants in 2006
.
on September 11, 2007. He played in 15 games, starting the last 8 games of the season. He was named an AFC Pro Bowl
alternate.
The Texans released Demps on February 25, 2009.
. He went to Highland High School
, located in Palmdale, California
and occasionally works as a model in his spare time. He made an appearance in ex-Destiny's Child
, Letoya Luckett
's first solo video "Torn
".
Demps' father is African American
while his mother is Korean. He lived in San Diego Bay
and his home was featured in on the MTV
show Cribs
; however, since being picked up by the New York Giants he now owns a home in northern New Jersey
. Demps can speak conversationally in Korean and Spanish. As a child he also lived on Mather Air Force Base
in Sacramento, California
.
Demps is also the owner of a Wet Willie's chain bar in San Diego, California
, the first on the West Coast, which celebrated its Grand Opening on October 8, 2010 and features dishes influenced by his mother's home cooking such as the Seoul tacos. Demps hired a muralist to paint the walls with San Diego landmark scenes including the Sailor Kissing a Nurse, depicting the tall sculpture that stands next to the USS Midway Museum. Several of Demps's celebrity friends attended to show their support, including Denyce Lawton
, Michael Strahan
, Shawn Phillips
and Stephen Cooper
of the San Diego Chargers
, Carlos Emmons (formerly with the Steelers, Eagles and Giants) and Robert Griffith of the Minnesota Vikings
. Demps and his friends sported pink scarves in honor of breast cancer awareness month, and a few of the slushy daiquiri drinks sported names in reference to the issue including one by the name of "Save the Tatas
."
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
) 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...
safety 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 signed by the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
as an undrafted free agent in 2002. 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 San Diego State.
Demps has also played 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...
and 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...
. He is the older brother of former NFL
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...
safety Marcus Demps
Marcus Demps
Marcus L. Demps is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at San Diego State.He is the younger brother of free agent safety Will Demps.-High school career:...
.
College career
Demps was a walk-on who was a two-year starter at San Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
, where he was a two-time All-Mountain West first-team selection. During his college career, Demps recorded 229 career tackle
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....
s (135 solo), including 15 tackles for loss, and five interception
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
s.
Demps played primarily on special teams as a red-shirt freshman. He majored in Information Decision Systems.
Demps posted 140 tackles (125 solo) and one interception as a sophomore in 1999. He recorded his first career interception and returned it 73 yards for a 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:...
against Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
. Demps also had five tackles, including one tackle for a loss against the Cowboys.
Demps started all 11 games at strong safety as a junior. He earned first-team All-Mountain West honors and finished second on the team and sixth in Mountain West with 97 tackles (51 solo). He also had two interceptions and led the team with 15 tackles for loss. He opened the season with 15 tackles (ten solo), including three tackles for a loss.
Demps started all 11 games at strong safety as a senior in 2001 and earned a second consecutive First-team All-Mountain West honors. He posted 92 tackles, including a career-high 59 solo, along with two interceptions.
Baltimore Ravens
Demps went undrafted in the 2002 NFL Draft2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
, but was signed by the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
where he played from 2002 to 2005.
He played in 14 games, starting 10 after making the Ravens roster as a rookie free agent. He recorded 53 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
, and a game-saving interception vs. Jacksonville
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
In 2003
2003 NFL season
-Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *...
, Demps saw action in all 16 regular season games with nine starts for Ravens and recorded 59 total tackles, two interceptions and one forced fumble. He made his first career post-season start in Baltimore's Wild Card loss to Tennessee
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...
.
In 2004
2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
, Demps started all 16 games for the first time in his career, tying for sixth on the team (Gary Baxter
Gary Baxter
Gary Wayne Baxter is an American football defensive back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Baylor....
) with 86 tackles, including 72 solo. He also recorded 2.5 sack
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...
s, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception on the season. Demps notched career highs with 15 tackles, including 14 solo against the Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
.
Demps started in all 11 games in which he played at free safety for Baltimore in 2005 before tearing his ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
and being placed on injured reserve on December 2, 2005. Before his injury, he tallied 70 tackles, and two fumble recoveries, plus seven special teams tackles.
New York Giants
Demps was signed by 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...
in the offseason. He started all 16 games for the Giants in 2006
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
.
Houston Texans
Demps was signed by the Houston TexansHouston 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...
on September 11, 2007. He played in 15 games, starting the last 8 games of the season. He was named an AFC Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
alternate.
The Texans released Demps on February 25, 2009.
Personal
Demps is the oldest brother of Marcus DempsMarcus Demps
Marcus L. Demps is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at San Diego State.He is the younger brother of free agent safety Will Demps.-High school career:...
. He went to Highland High School
Highland High School (Palmdale, California)
Highland High School is located in Palmdale, California and is part of the Antelope Valley Union High School District. About 4,000 students attend Highland High School in grades 9 through 12. It received a California Distinguished School award in 2005....
, located in Palmdale, California
Palmdale, California
Palmdale is a city located in the center of northern Los Angeles County, California, United States.Palmdale was the first community within the Antelope Valley to incorporate as a city on August 24, 1962; 47 years later, voters approved creating a charter city in November, 2009. Palmdale is...
and occasionally works as a model in his spare time. He made an appearance in ex-Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
, Letoya Luckett
LeToya Luckett
LeToya Nicole Luckett , known professionally as LeToya, is an American R&B singer-songwriter and actress. She was a member of the R&B group Destiny's Child, with whom she won two Grammy Awards and released many successful commercial recordings.After signing a record deal with Capitol Records, she's...
's first solo video "Torn
Torn (LeToya Luckett song)
"Torn" is the first official single from American R&B singer LeToya's debut album LeToya which was released in March 2006 and soon became a hit, having a high airplay, just missing out the top ten on the U.S. Hot 100 Airplay charts at number eleven. "Torn" became a hit on the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop...
".
Demps' father is African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
while his mother is Korean. He lived in San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay is a natural harbor and deepwater port adjacent to San Diego, California. It is 12 mi/19 km long, 1 mi/1.6 km–3 mi/4.8 km wide...
and his home was featured in on the MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
show Cribs
Cribs
Cribs may refer to:*The Cribs, a band from the United Kingdom*MTV Cribs, a reality television program on MTV...
; however, since being picked up by the New York Giants he now owns a home in northern New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Demps can speak conversationally in Korean and Spanish. As a child he also lived on Mather Air Force Base
Mather Air Force Base
Mather Air Force Base is a closed United States Air Force Base located east of Sacramento at Rancho Cordova, California on the south side of U.S. Route 50....
in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
.
Demps is also the owner of a Wet Willie's chain bar in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, the first on the West Coast, which celebrated its Grand Opening on October 8, 2010 and features dishes influenced by his mother's home cooking such as the Seoul tacos. Demps hired a muralist to paint the walls with San Diego landmark scenes including the Sailor Kissing a Nurse, depicting the tall sculpture that stands next to the USS Midway Museum. Several of Demps's celebrity friends attended to show their support, including Denyce Lawton
Denyce Lawton
Denyce-Marie Lawton is a model and actress known as Denyce Lawton.-Biography:Lawton is of African American and Korean descent. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Lawton is the middle child of three children, She also has a older half sister who's full Korean...
, Michael Strahan
Michael Strahan
Michael Anthony Strahan is a former National Football League defensive end who played his entire career for the New York Giants; a career where he set the record for the most sacks in a single season and won a Super Bowl in his final year. He is currently a football analyst on Fox NFL Sunday, and...
, Shawn Phillips
Shawn Phillips
Shawn Phillips is a folk-rock musician, primarily influential in the 1960s and 1970s.Phillips has recorded twenty albums and worked with musicians including Donovan, Paul Buckmaster, J. Peter Robinson, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Bernie Taupin, and many others...
and Stephen Cooper
Stephen Cooper
Stephen Cooper is an American football linebacker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football for the University of Maine....
of 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...
, Carlos Emmons (formerly with the Steelers, Eagles and Giants) and Robert Griffith of the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. Demps and his friends sported pink scarves in honor of breast cancer awareness month, and a few of the slushy daiquiri drinks sported names in reference to the issue including one by the name of "Save the Tatas
Save the tatas
Save the tatas, also written as save the ta-tas, refers to both a non-profit breast cancer awareness foundation and a for-profit company founded in 2004 by Julia Fikse and currently has 12 employees. Their motto is that laughter heals. Founder Julia Fikse, attributes her idea to seeing people...
."