C. J. Mosley (defensive lineman) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
C. J. Mosley

Mosley in 2012
No. 96, 75, 95, 69, 90, 99, 94
Position:	Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born:	(1983-08-06) August 6, 1983 (age 42) Fort Knox, Kentucky, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	315 lb (143 kg)
Career information
High school:	Waynesville (MO)
College:	Missouri
NFL Draft:	2005 / Round: 6 / Pick: 191
Career history
Minnesota Vikings (2005) New York Jets (2006–2008) Cleveland Browns (2009) Jacksonville Jaguars (2010–2012) Detroit Lions (2013–2014) Miami Dolphins (2015)
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-Big 12 (2004) Second-team All-Big 12 (2003)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 195 Sacks: 14.0 Forced fumbles: 6 Fumble recoveries: 4
Player stats at PFR

Calvin Michael Mosley Jr. (born August 6, 1983), known as C. J. Mosley, is a former American professional football player. He played as a defensive tackle, a position on the defense that tries to stop the other team's offense. Mosley was chosen by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2005 NFL Draft. He also played for several other teams, including the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, and Miami Dolphins.

Early Life and High School Football

C. J. Mosley was born in Fort Knox, Kentucky. He grew up to be a talented football player. In high school, he attended Waynesville High School in Waynesville, Missouri.

High School Achievements

Mosley earned "All-State" honors, meaning he was recognized as one of the best players in the entire state. Experts like Rivals.com thought he was one of the top defensive tackle players. During his high school career, he made 21.0 sacks and 267 tackles. A "sack" is when a defensive player tackles the opposing team's quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. He also had 97 tackles and 10 sacks in his senior year alone. Besides football, Mosley was also good at track and field. He finished third in the shot put at the Missouri state track meet during his senior year.

College Football Career

C. J. Mosley played college football at the University of Missouri for the Missouri Tigers.

Starting His College Journey (2001-2002)

Mosley started his college career in 2001, but he was "redshirted." This means he practiced with the team but didn't play in any games that year, which allowed him to gain an extra year of eligibility. In 2002, he earned honorable mention as a Freshman All-America player. He played in every game that season, starting five games as a "nose guard." A nose guard is a defensive lineman who lines up directly across from the center of the offense. He made 39 tackles, 3 sacks, and 8 tackles for loss. A "tackle for loss" means he stopped the ball carrier behind the line where the play started.

Becoming a Star Player (2003-2004)

In 2003, Mosley was named to the 2nd-team All-Big 12, which is a big honor in college football. He was also named the team's Defensive Lineman of the Year. He started 11 games and was one of the best in the country with 16 tackles for loss. He also had 7 "QB hurries" (when he pressured the quarterback) and 6.0 sacks. In one game against Kansas, he had 8 tackles and a sack that took the opposing quarterback out of the game.

In 2004, Mosley was even better, earning 1st-team All-Big 12 honors. He was again named the team's Defensive Lineman of the Year. He started all 11 games and helped his team's defense become one of the best in the conference and the nation. He made 61 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 14 tackles for loss. He also recovered 2 fumbles and forced another. A "fumble" is when a player loses control of the ball. He even blocked a kick!

College Career Summary

Over his three years playing for the Missouri Tigers, Mosley started 27 of the 36 games he played. He finished his college career with 167 tackles, 15.5 sacks, and 38 tackles for loss. He was a key part of a strong defense and was recognized twice as the team's best defensive lineman.

Professional Football Career

C. J. Mosley played for several teams in the NFL during his professional career.

Minnesota Vikings (2005)

Mosley was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2005. In his first year, he played in 12 games and started 2. He made 19 tackles, 3 sacks, and forced 1 fumble. He stepped up to play when another player, Kevin Williams, was injured.

New York Jets (2006-2008)

In 2006, Mosley was traded to the New York Jets. He played for the Jets for three seasons. In 2008, he played in all 16 games, which is a full NFL regular season.

Cleveland Browns (2009)

Mosley signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2009. He played in 12 games for them that season. Unfortunately, his season ended early when he was placed on injured reserve due to a broken right ankle.

Jacksonville Jaguars (2010-2012)

Mosley joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2010. He played for the Jaguars for three seasons. In 2012, he had a strong year, starting 13 games and making 45 tackles, which was his career high for tackles in a single season. He also had 2.5 sacks and recovered 3 fumbles.

Detroit Lions (2013-2014)

In 2013, Mosley signed with the Detroit Lions. He played two seasons with the Lions. In 2013 and 2014, he played in 16 and 15 games respectively.

Miami Dolphins (2015)

Mosley's final NFL team was the Miami Dolphins in 2015. He signed a one-year contract and reunited with a former teammate, Ndamukong Suh. He played in 11 games for the Dolphins before being waived later that year.

NFL Career Statistics

C. J. Mosley played in 140 regular season NFL games during his career. He recorded a total of 195 tackles, 14.0 sacks, and forced 6 fumbles. He also recovered 4 fumbles.

Regular Season Stats

Playoff Stats