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7 Byron Leftwich QB
| Position: |
Quarterback |
| Height |
6-5 |
| Weight |
240 Pounds |
| College |
Marshall |
| Hometown |
Washington, DC |
| Birthday |
1/14/1980 |
Record-setting passer in college was seventh overall choice in draft and will
be Jaguars’ quarterback of the future
Highest drafted quarterback ever by Jaguars and only fourth ever drafted (joining
Rob Johnson, Jonathan Quinn and David Garrard)
Second quarterback drafted in 2003, after Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer
Jaguars’ highest draft choice since 1996 (Kevin Hardy, second overall). College
One of the most prolific passers in college football history, setting Mid-American
Conference career records for passing yards and total offense
Three-year starter who led one of college football’s most explosive offenses
the last two years
Completed 939 of 1442 passes (65.1 percent) for 11,903 yards, 89 touchdowns
and only 28 interceptions, while amassing 12,090 yards of total offense on 1,632
plays, ranking second on the school’s all-time record lists behind Chad Pennington
His 11,903 yards passing and 12,090 yards in total offense both set conference
records … Started 35 of 44 games played … 2002: Sixth in voting for the Heisman
Trophy … All-Mid American Conference first-team selection … Earned MAC’s Vern
Smith Leadership Award for second time and became the first repeat winner of
conference’s Offensive Player of the Year in a decade … Finalist for the Walter
Camp National Offensive Player of the Year Award … Semifinalist for the Davey
O’Brien Quarterback Award … Started 12 games, completing 331 of 491 passes (67.4
percent) for 4,268 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions … Scored three
times on 37 carries … Gained 4,267 yards in total offense … Passed for more
than 400 yards five times and over 300 yards four times … In preseason, had
a rod inserted into his left tibia after suffering a shin fracture in February
… Threw for season-high 469 yards and four touchdowns and ran for a score against
Appalachian State … Threw for 406 yards and three TDs vs. Virginia Tech … Passed
for 447 yards vs. Buffalo, 401 yards vs. Ball State and 404 yards vs. Toledo
… In Akron game, suffered a lower leg (left shin) injury in first quarter of
team’s 34-20 loss. Missed one play, returned for a nine-play touchdown drive,
then was taken to an area medical facility for X-rays. Returned to stadium midway
through third quarter, and what followed was one of the most memorable scenes
in college football when he limped back onto the field and led Marshall to a
touchdown. During team’s fourth quarter comeback attempt, hopped around on one
leg and had to be carried downfield by his linemen after several long gains.
Finished the game (played only two quarters) completing 26 of 38 passes for
307 yards (19 of 30 for 259 yards after being injured). Missed following game,
then returned for final four games …
2001: All-Mid American Conference first-team selection, named MAC Offensive
Player of the Year and recipient of the Vern Smith Leadership Award … Put together
the best single season for a quarterback in MAC history … Named as one of 15
semifinalists for Football News Offensive Player of the Year award and was listed
as one of the top 10 contenders for the Heisman Trophy by most national media
outlets … Broke MAC season-records for total offense (4,224 yards), total touchdowns
(41), passing attempts (470, tied), completions (315) and passing yards (4,132,
first in conference history over 4,000) … Fell just shy of two other league
passing records: TD passes in a season (38, record is 39 by Chad Pennington,
1997) and completion percentage in a season (67.0, Pennington had a 67.9 in
1999) … Had four 400-yard passing games, including a school and conference record
three straight … His ratio of TDs to INTs (5.4 to 1) was second nationally to
Fresno State’s David Carr (6 to 1) … Also ranked second in total offense per
game (352.0) behind Florida’s Rex Grossman (354.9) … Pass efficiency rating
(164.57) was fifth in nation … Against Florida, passed for 274 yards (27 of
43), with one TD … Threw for five TDs vs. Massachusetts … In three straight
weeks, threw for 455 yards and two TD passes vs. Buffalo, 471 yards and three
TDs vs. Central Michigan, then 434 yards and four TDs vs. Akron … Despite suffering
right ankle sprain vs. Ohio, passed for 399 yards and career-high six TDs …
Vs. Toledo in MAC championship game, completed 32 of 52 passes for 421 yards
and four TDs … In GMAC Bowl against East Carolina, was named game MVP and received
Award of Distinction from Columbus, Ohio, Touchdown Club after rallying team
to 64-61 double-overtime victory while hitting on 41 of 70 passes for 576 yards
and four TDs, including game-winning eight-yard toss (also ran for a TD) …
2000: In first season as starter, passed for 3,358 yards and 21 touchdowns on
279 of 457 passes (61.1 percent) while throwing only nine interceptions … Threw
for more than 300 yards four times … Suffered left hip flexor strain in spring
drills and underwent MRI in July after spraining his right wrist (results were
negative) … Against Michigan State, completed 27 of 44 passes for 227 yards
and three TDs … Threw for season-high 393 yards and two TDs vs. Akron … Against
Western Michigan in MAC championship game, completed 29 of 47 passes for 358
yards and two TDs … In Motor City Bowl vs. Cincinnati, passed for 211 yards
and one TD and ran for a TD …
1999: Received medical redshirt as a result of a high ankle sprain and tonsillitis
… Backed up Chad Pennington and saw action in three games before missing rest
of season … Completed 7 of 11 passes for 60 yards and rushed five times for
26 yards …
1998: Played in five games as No. 2 quarterback and completed 7 of 13 passes
for 85 yards … Graduated in December 2002 with a degree in business.
High School
Attended H.D. Woodson High in Washington, D.C. … Lettered in football, basketball
and baseball … Named All-Metro, George Michael’s Golden 11 and Offensive Player
of the Year.
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Stats from www.jaguars.com
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