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'{{Infobox NFL player | name = Christian Kirksey | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | currentteam = Cleveland Browns | currentnumber = 58 | currentpositionplain= [[Linebacker]] | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|8|31}} | birth_place = [[St. Louis, Missouri]] | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 2 | weight_lbs = 235 | highschool = [[Hazelwood East High School|Hazelwood (MO) East]] | college = [[Iowa Hawkeyes football|Iowa]] | draftyear = 2014 | draftround = 3 | draftpick = 71 | debutyear = | debutteam = | pastteams = * [[Cleveland Browns]] ({{NFL Year|2014}}–present) | status = Active | highlights = *Honorable Mention All-[[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]] (2013) | statseason = 2014 | statweek = 7 | statlabel1 = Tackles | statvalue1 = 32 | statlabel2 = [[Quarterback sack]]s | statvalue2 = 2.0 | statlabel3 = Forced [[Fumble]]s | statvalue3 = 0 | statlabel4 = [[Interception]]s | statvalue4 = 0 | nflnew = christiankirksey/2543720 }} '''Christian Kirksey''' (born August 31, 1992) is an [[American football]] [[linebacker]] for the [[Cleveland Browns]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He was drafted by the Browns in the third round of the [[2014 NFL Draft]]. He played [[college football]] at [[Iowa Hawkeyes football|Iowa]]. ==High School== Kirksey attended [[Hazelwood East High School]] in [[Hazelwood, Missouri]], where he was coached by [[Mike Jones (linebacker)|Mike Jones]]. He was first team all-conference as a senior after earning honorable mention recognition as a junior. He recorded 163 tackles as a senior, with nine tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions, returning one for a [[touchdown]]. He helped his team win the state championship in his junior season and returned to playoffs the following year. He also participated in [[track & field]] at Hazelwood East, where he competed in relays and jumping events, helping his team win the state championship as a junior. He placed ninth in the triple jump at the 2009 MSHSAA State T&F Championships, with a leap of 44 ft 1 in.<ref>http://mo.milesplit.com/athletes/232636-christian-kirksey/feed#.VF6qhslAlx0</ref> At the 2010 Suburban North Conference Championship, he placed fourth in the [[long jump]] (20 ft 12 in) and took bronze in the [[triple jump]] (45 ft 6 in).<ref>http://mo.milesplit.com/meets/71741/results/121876</ref> He was considered a three-star recruit by ''[[Rivals.com]]''.<ref>[http://sports.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-Christian-Kirksey-100352 Christian Kirksey – Yahoo Sports]</ref> ==College career== Kirksey enrolled at the [[University of Iowa]], where he was a member of the [[Iowa Hawkeyes football]] team from 2010 to 2013. As a true freshman in 2010, he played in 10 games, primarily on special teams, recording six total tackles. In 2011, he started all 13 games for the Hawkeyes, recording 62 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, three pass break-ups and two forced fumbles. As a junior in 2012, he was named a team captain. He started all 12 games, recording 95 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two QB sacks. He also returned two interceptions for touchdowns (one 68 yards vs. [[Minnesota Golden Gophers football|Minnesota]] and one 18 yards against [[Indiana Hoosiers football|Indiana]]), had four recovered fumbles, two pass break-ups and one forced fumble. In 2013, as a senior and team captain, he started all 13 games at [[outside linebacker]], finishing third on team with 104 tackles. He also had five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, two recovered fumbles and two forced fumbles, one interception and one pass break-up. He earned honorable mention All-[[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]] following the season. ==Professional career== ===2014 NFL Draft=== He was drafted by the [[Cleveland Browns]] in the third round (71st overall) of the [[2014 NFL Draft]].<ref>[http://www.dawgsbynature.com/2014/5/9/5701696/2014-nfl-draft-cleveland-browns-pick-ilb-christian-kirksey-at-no-71 Cleveland Browns Pick ILB Christian Kirksey at No. 71 Overall]</ref> ==In Popular Culture== Kirksey is featured in [[Madden NFL 15]], albeit as a member of the [[Tennessee Titans]]; due to a [[Glitch|glitch]], his in-game avatar appears as 1 ft 2 in in height.<ref>[http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/09/the-titans-have-an-adorably-tiny-player-in-madden-15 The Titans have an adorably tiny player in Madden '15]</ref> Kirksey later appeared in a trailer [[EA Sports]] created for the game that features the glitch.<ref>[http://kotaku.com/ea-made-a-trailer-out-of-the-tiny-madden-glitch-1631825778 EA Trailer]</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/christian_kirksey_584965.html Iowa Hawkeyes bio] {{Browns2014DraftPicks}} {{Cleveland Browns roster navbox}} {{Persondata | NAME = Kirksey, Christian | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = American football player | DATE OF BIRTH = August 31, 1992 | PLACE OF BIRTH = St. Louis, Missouri, USA | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Kirksey, Christian}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1992 births]] [[Category:Players of American football from Missouri]] [[Category:Sportspeople from St. Louis, Missouri]] [[Category:Iowa Hawkeyes football players]] [[Category:American football linebackers]] [[Category:Cleveland Browns players]]'