Justin Forsett: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 18:02, 14 October 2014
 Forsett with the Seattle Seahawks in September 2009 | |||||||||
| Baltimore Ravens | |||||||||
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| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | October 14, 1985 Lakeland, Florida | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| College: | California | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2008 / round: 7 / pick: 233 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 6, 2014 | |||||||||
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Justin Forsett (born October 14, 1985) is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at California. Forsett has also played for the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Early years
Forsett was born in Lakeland, Florida. He moved to Arlington, Texas in his sophomore year of high school after living in Mulberry, Florida. Forsett attended high school at Grace Preparatory Academy in Arlington, where he set several school records. In his final two seasons, he had 63 touchdowns and rushed for nearly 5,000 yards, leading Grace Prep to two Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools division 4A state championships. In high school, his nickname was "The Truth."[1] His father Rodney is a minister and a coach.[2] Forsett plays the tenor saxophone and taught himself a little piano.[3] He lists video games and photography as his hobbies. Reggie White is his biggest inspiration.[1]
Close to signing day, Notre Dame pulled a scholarship offer from Forsett. Notre Dame coaches later contended they had not offered Forsett a scholarship. Notre Dame's running backs coach at the time, Buzz Preston, later said that Notre Dame was looking for a taller running back.[4] The Texas Longhorns decided not to offer Forsett a scholarship because of his size.[3] Forsett's coach Mike Barber, a former NFL player, distributed Forsett's game tape to colleges across the country.[4] Coach Jeff Tedford offered Forsett a scholarship after watching Forsett's game tape and receiving a tip from Cal great Chuck Muncie, and made Forsett one of the last signings of Cal's 2004 recruiting class.[2]
College career
With a deep depth chart at running back, it appeared Forsett would redshirt his freshman year, but an impressive performance in fall camp kept him on the active roster. In the season opener, Forsett had 34 yards rushing and a touchdown in Cal's victory over Air Force. Forsett played mostly as a backup during his first three years behind J.J. Arrington and Marshawn Lynch. Nevertheless, he managed to amass a good amount of playing time. During his freshman year, Forsett was used primarily on special teams, returning one kickoff for 11 yards but usually blocking for Marshawn Lynch. On coverage units, he made 3 tackles and blocked a punt in the endzone for a touchdown against Washington.[3]
During his sophomore year, Forsett became second on the Cal depth chart at running back. He filled in when Lynch was injured in the early season and ran for 235 yards against New Mexico State, good for the fourth highest single game rushing effort in school history.[2] In Forsett's junior year, he continued his role as backup. He ran for over 100-yards against Oregon when injuries sidelined Lynch and in Cal's rout of Texas A&M in the 2006 Holiday Bowl.[2]
As a starter his senior year, Forsett rushed for 1,546 yards on 305 carries, and scored 15 touchdowns. He opened the season with 156 yards rushing and a touchdown against Tennessee. His 15 touchdowns led all rushers in the Pac-10, and his 1,546 rushing yards finished second, behind Oregon tailback Jonathan Stewart. Forsett's efforts earned him a selection to the All-Pacific-10 Conference first team.[5] Forsett ended his college career on a high note, rushing for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 42-36 Cal victory over Air Force in the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl.
Statistics
| Year | Team | Games-Games Started | Carries | Yards | Average | Long | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Cal | 3-0 | 11 | 49 | 4.5 | 1 | |
| 2005 | Cal | 12- | 132 | 999 | 7.6 | 6 | |
| 2006 | Cal | 12- | 119 | 626 | 5.3 | 4 | |
| 2007 | Cal | 13-13 | 305 | 1,546 | 5.1 | 15 | |
| Totals | 41-13 | 567 | 3,220 | 5.7 | 26 | ||
| Year | Team | Games-Games Started | Receptions | Yards | Average | Long | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Cal | 3-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | Cal | 12- | 7 | 68 | 9.7 | 22 | 0 |
| 2006 | Cal | 13- | 12 | 116 | 9.7 | 25 | 1 |
| 2007 | Cal | 13-13 | 22 | 202 | 9.2 | 49 | 0 |
| Totals | 41-13 | 41 | 386 | 8.8 | 49 | 1 | |
Professional career
First stint with Seahawks
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Forsett was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 7th round in the 2008 NFL Draft. He scored his first NFL touchdown on August 16, 2008 in a preseason game against the Chicago Bears. A game in which he also totaled 261 all purpose yards, 136 rushing and 125 on return yards. The total was 55 yards more than the entire Chicago Bear offense for the night. One game into the regular season, Forsett was waived by the Seahawks on September 5, 2008.
Indianapolis Colts
A day after being waived by the Seahawks, Forsett was claimed off waivers by the Indianapolis Colts on September 10, 2008. He was waived on October 8.
Second stint with Seahawks
A day after being waived by the Colts, Forsett was re-signed to the practice squad of the Seattle Seahawks on October 9, 2008. Forsett was then signed from the practice squad on October 14, 2008 and became the return specialist. For the 2009 season, he was slated to compete with Julius Jones and Edgerrin James for touches in a crowded Seahawks backfield. After the release of Edgerrin James, Forsett became the teams No. 2 back which gave him an opportunity to get more touches and make a bigger on-the-field impact. On November 15, Julius Jones, the starting running back for the Seahawks, left a game against the Arizona Cardinals with a bruised lung. Forsett filled in for Jones, rushing for 123 yards and his first regular season touchdown. He started as the primary running back on November 22 game against the Minnesota Vikings, scoring his second touchdown on a 9-yard run. With the Seahawks' running game struggling, Forsett also caught 8 passes for 80 yards. On November 29 against the St. Louis Rams, he rushed for a career high 130 yards and two scores. With the return of Julius Jones in week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers, Forsett was relegated back to the position of 2nd-string running-back. He saw only 8 touches, rushing for a net gain of 9 yards, reception of 25 yards, and one touchdown. When asked if Forsett will be elevated to the position of the primary running back for the Seattle Seahawks, Coach Jim Mora responded,"You'll see them both and we like them both." But Mora confirmed that Forsett will see more touches, "Are we going to see more of Justin? The answer is yes, absolutely."
In the 2010 season, Forsett had 523 yards on 118 carries, with 2 TDs. In 2011, Forsett was only able to amass 145 yards on 46 carries, with 1 TD.
The Seahawks did not re-sign Forsett after his contract expired following the 2011 season.
Houston Texans
Forsett signed with the Houston Texans on June 2, 2012. In the Texans' final 2012 NFL preseason game, played against the Minnesota Vikings, Forsett broke Arian Foster’s preseason record of 110 yards rushing. On Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012, Forsett scored an 81-yard touchdown, the longest running play in Texans history. Replays showed that Forsett was down by contact before making a first down, but the play was not reviewed due to Lions coach Jim Schwartz throwing the challenge flag. Forsett has admitted he was down by contact.[8] The Texans would eventually win the game against the Detroit Lions in overtime 34-31.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Forsett signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on March 15, 2013.[9]
He was placed on injured reserve on December 9, 2013 due to a foot injury.
He was released on March 11, 2014.
Baltimore Ravens
Forsett signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens on April 4, 2014.[10] Initially signed as a likely third stringer behind Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce, Forsett was thrust into the starting role at the beginning of the season due to the suspension and subsequent release of Rice, and injuries to Pierce. Forsett performed well enough to keep the starting job even after Pierce was healthy again. In week Six against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he recorded a season-high 111 yards which was his first 100-yard rushing performance since the 2009 season with the Seattle Seahawks.[11]
References
- ^ a b Cal Football Profile
- ^ a b c d Assault on the Record Book: Justin Forsett
- ^ a b c Small back expects to do big things for Cal
- ^ a b Forsett rushes into limelight at California
- ^ Pac-10 Football Awards and All-Conference Team Announced, Pacific 10 Conference, December 3, 2007.
- ^ a b Yahoo Player Profile
- ^ a b Cal Football Stats
- ^ http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000099222/article/justin-forsett-admits-he-was-down-on-touchdown-run
- ^ Jaguars agreed to terms with running back Justin Forsett
- ^ Ravens Sign RB Justin Forsett To 1-Year Deal
- ^ Justin Forsett dedicates 100 yard-game to his ailing grandmother
External links
- 1985 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Lakeland, Florida
- Players of American football from Florida
- American football running backs
- American football return specialists
- California Golden Bears football players
- Seattle Seahawks players
- Indianapolis Colts players
- Houston Texans players
- Jacksonville Jaguars players
- Baltimore Ravens players