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Jamaal Westerman
African american male wearing white helmet and green uniform with "55" shown on the front
Westerman playing for the Jets in September 2009
Miami Dolphins
Personal information
Born: (1985-02-21) February 21, 1985 (age 39)
Brooklyn, New York
Career information
College:Rutgers
Undrafted:2009
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× Second-team All-Big East (2006, 2008)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 16, 2011
Tackles:47
Sacks:4.5
Interceptions:0
Forced fumbles:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Jamaal Akeem Westerman (born February 21, 1985) is an American football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Rutgers.

Westerman played high school football in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at St. Thomas Aquinas High School before moving to Brampton, Ontario. In Brampton, he started in every season he played. After his time in Brampton, he received three scholarship offers from National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) colleges before accepting one from Rutgers. Westerman was considered one of Rutgers' best defensive linemen and was named to the Second–team All–Big East team two times. In the 2009 NFL Draft, Westerman went undrafted and signed with the New York Jets. He debuted with the Jets on September 13, 2009.

Early years

Westerman was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 21, 1985. He and his family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where Westerman began his high school career at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Following his freshman season, he moved again, this time to Brampton, Ontario, and enrolled at Notre Dame Secondary School. Westerman started every year he was there and led both the team and league in tackles and sacks.[1] After graduating from Notre Dame in 2004 he was considered a two-star prospect by Rivals.com. Rutgers, Boise State and Central Michigan all recruited him and all offered him scholarships. He eventually accepted Rutgers' scholarship offer.[2]

College career

After redshirting in 2004, Westerman made a quick impression on the Rutgers coaching staff after recording six tackles in two games to begin 2005.[3] In the Cincinnati game, Westerman recorded a sack on quarterback Dustin Grutza which forced a fumble.[4]

Before the 2006 season, Westerman was involved in a car accident with teammates Willie Foster and Corey Hyman. Westerman and Foster were uninjured while Hyman required two stitches in his forehead.[5] On September 29, against South Florida, Westerman sacked quarterback Matt Grothe for a five yard loss.[6] After the month of September, Westerman had eight tackles and two and a half sacks.[7] Through eight games, Westerman was the team leader in sacks with six.[8] Against Connecticut, Westerman blocked a punt and recovered a fumble by Connecticut quarterback D. J. Hernandez. Both the punt and fumble recovery were returned for a touchdown. Westerman also recorded two and a half sacks in the game.[9] By the final game in the season, Westerman and defensive end William Blackford had a combined 59 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss with 10 sacks.[10] In the Texas Bowl against the Kansas State Wildcats, Westerman sacked quarterback Josh Freeman twice and recovered a Freeman fumble.[11] Westerman was named second–team All–Big East following the season along with teammates Brian Leonard, Cameron Stephenson, Pedro Sosa, Jeremy Ito, Ramel Meekins, Devraun Thompson, Ron Girault and Courtney Greene.[12]

During spring practice, Westerman and two other starter defensive linemen missed the annual intersquad scrimmage due to injuries.[13] In Rutgers' 59–0 win over Norfolk State, Westerman recorded one sack on quarterback Casey Hansen.[14] Against Syracuse and South Florida, Westerman recorded two sacks which gave him six for the season.[15][16] Following the season, Westerman and Rutgers earned a bid to play in the International Bowl against Ball State. The game was played in his hometown of Toronto.[17] According to Westerman he received numerous questions from teammates about Toronto, including "What's the weather like?"[18]

Beginning in March 2008, Rutgers attempted to convert Westerman to defensive tackle,[19] so he could replace the departed Eric Foster.[20] However, Westerman ended up playing defensive end during the season.[21] Against Morgan State, Westerman blocked a punt and recovered the loose ball.[22] Westerman suffered a torn biceps against Louisville and was forced to sit out the rest of the season which included a bowl game.[23] Despite his injury, he led Rutgers with six sacks on the season.[24]

Westerman ended his collegiate career with 26 sacks, 141 tackles and 45 tackles for a loss. His career sack total ranked him third highest in Rutgers school history.[1]

Professional career

New York Jets

African American male in green jersey and white helmet holding a football
Westerman in training camp.

Westerman was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2009.[25] On June 9, 2009, Jets head coach Rex Ryan said that he expected Westerman to make the team's final roster.[26][27] He ended up making the final roster as an outside linebacker[28] and recorded two tackles and a sack in his debut against the Houston Texans on September 13.[29] On October 9, 2011, Westerman recorded 5 tackles along with 2 sacks against the New England Patriots but in a losing effort while the Jets loss 30-21.

Miami Dolphins

Westerman signed with the Miami Dolphins on March 15, 2012.[30]

Personal

Westerman's brother, Jawann, walked onto the Rutgers football team as a wide receiver after Westerman saw how awesome his brother was.[31] His other brother Jabar is a defensive tackle at Dodge City Community College and is set to graduate and move onto a four–year college in 2010.[32]

References

  1. ^ a b "#55 Jamaal Westerman". New York Jets. Retrieved 2009-09-14. [dead link‍]
  2. ^ "Jamaal Westerman". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  3. ^ "NCAA Canadians". CFL.ca. September 14, 2005. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  4. ^ "Cincinnati 9, Rutgers 44". USA Today. November 26, 2005. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  5. ^ "Jones's Backup Sample To Be Tested This Week". Washington Post. August 29, 2006. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  6. ^ "Rutgers 22, South Florida 20". ESPN.com. September 29, 2006. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  7. ^ "Canadians in the NCAA - 2006 Division 1-A Midseason Update". Slam! Sports. October 4, 2006. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  8. ^ LaPointe, Joe (November 8, 2006). "Defense and Confidence Go Together for Rutgers". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  9. ^ McDonald, Mike (November 2, 2006). "Rutgers not pretty, but effective in win". Brick Township Bulletin. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  10. ^ Easton, Andy (November 30, 2006). "Preview: West Virginia - Rutgers". Scout.com. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  11. ^ "Rutgers 37, Kansas State 10". ESPN.com. December 28, 2006. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  12. ^ "Schiano, slew of RU players earn All-Conference nods". New Brunswick Sentinel. December 14, 2006. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  13. ^ Fox, David (April 22, 2007). "Rutgers closes spring amid new expectations". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  14. ^ "Norfolk State 0, Rutgers 59". ESPN.com. September 15, 2007. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  15. ^ "Bulls and Knights meet in Thursday night action". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. October 17, 2007. Retrieved 2009-09-16. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) [dead link‍]
  16. ^ "Critical Big East showdown features Knights and Mountaineers". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. October 24, 2007. Retrieved 2009-09-16. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) [dead link‍]
  17. ^ Ralph, Dan. "Brampton's Jamaal Westerman anxious to play in Toronto in International Bowl". The Canadian Press. Prince George Citizen. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  18. ^ Luicci, Tom (January 2, 2008). "Westerman is RU's answer man". Newark Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  19. ^ Luicci, Tom (March 28, 2008). "Westerman may move to DT". Newark Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  20. ^ Muench, Steve (August 25, 2008). "Big East team recruiting needs for the Class of 2009". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2009-09-16. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ Luicci, Tom (September 1, 2008). "Rutgers trounced, 24-7, by Fresno State in season opener". Newark Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  22. ^ Myers, Jim (September 28, 2008). "Rutgers' Defense Gets A Shutout". Scout.com. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  23. ^ Luicci, Tom (December 29, 2008). "Four Downs with Rutgers DE Jamaal Westerman". Newark Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  24. ^ Franko, Kyle (December 1, 2008). "Senior sacks QBs, Rutgers records". The Daily Targum. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  25. ^ "Jets sign 17 players, including Canada's Westerman". The Canadian Press. TSN. May 1, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  26. ^ Cimini, Rich (June 9, 2009). "Jamaal Westerman expected to make Jets". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
  27. ^ Hutchinson, Dave (May 2, 2009). "Rutgers product Jamaal Westerman impressing at New York Jets rookie minicamp". Newark Star Ledger. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
  28. ^ Caldwell, Dave (September 9, 2009). "An Undrafted Rookie From Rutgers Plays His Way Onto the Jets". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  29. ^ "NEW YORK JETS POSTGAME NOTES JETS 24, TEXANS 7". September 13, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  30. ^ Vrentas, Jenny (16 March 2012). "Former Jets OLB Jamaal Westerman agrees to one-year deal with Dolphins". The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  31. ^ Luicci, Tom (August 12, 2007). "CB Anderson getting noticed". Newark Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  32. ^ "Jabar Westerman". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2009-09-16.

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