Cedric Houston facts for kids
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | June 28, 1982 Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Clarendon (AR) | ||||||||||
| College: | Tennessee | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2005 / Round: 6 / Pick: 182 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Cedric Leonard Houston (born June 28, 1982) is a former American football player. He played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL). Cedric was chosen by the New York Jets in the 2005 NFL Draft. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the University of Tennessee.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Cedric Houston grew up in Clarendon, Arkansas. He was a talented athlete in high school. He played many sports, including football, basketball, baseball, and track and field.
In football, he was especially good. He even played in the very first U.S. Army All-American Bowl. This special game happened on December 30, 2000. Cedric also set a record in Arkansas for career touchdowns. He scored 97 touchdowns during his high school career at Clarendon High. This record stood for many years.
College Football Career
Cedric became a key player for the University of Tennessee football team. He was a starter for three years. In 2004, he made history with his teammate, Gerald Riggs, Jr.. They were the first two players in the history of the Volunteers to each run for over 1,000 yards in the same season.
During that 2004 season, Cedric had some amazing games. He ran for over 100 yards in three different games. He also scored multiple touchdowns in two games.
Professional Football Journey
Joining the New York Jets
The New York Jets picked Cedric Houston in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL draft. This meant he would get a chance to play professional football.
When he first started training with the Jets, Cedric faced a challenge. He had a health condition that sometimes made him feel very tired. Doctors found out about this condition and gave him medicine to help.
At the start of the 2005 season, Cedric was a backup player. He played behind experienced running backs like Curtis Martin and Derrick Blaylock. However, injuries changed things. In October 2005, Blaylock broke his foot. This moved Cedric up to the second spot on the team's depth chart. Later, Curtis Martin played with a knee injury for many weeks. Cedric then became the starting running back on December 11. In his first year, he ran for 302 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Later Seasons and New Decisions
In April 2006, Cedric was in a car accident. Luckily, his injuries were not serious, and he was released from the hospital. During the 2006 season, he continued to play for the Jets. He ran for 374 yards and scored five touchdowns in eight games.
On July 26, 2007, Cedric made a big decision. He decided to leave the Jets and professional football. He wanted to go back to the University of Tennessee to finish his college degree. He stayed on the Jets' reserve list for that season. The team officially released him on March 11, 2008.
