Cedric Houston facts for kids
| No. 34 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | June 28, 1982 Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Cedric Leonard Houston was born on June 28, 1982. He is an American former professional football player. He played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL). A running back is a player who primarily carries the ball. Cedric was chosen by the New York Jets in the 2005 NFL draft. Before playing professionally, he played college football for the University of Tennessee.
Contents
Early Life and High School Sports
Cedric Houston grew up in Clarendon, Arkansas. He was a talented athlete from a young age. At Clarendon High School, he played many different sports. These included football, basketball, baseball, and track and field.
In 2000, Cedric played in the very first U.S. Army All-American Bowl. This is a special game for top high school football players. He also held a record in Arkansas for scoring the most touchdowns in his high school career. He scored 97 touchdowns between 2000 and 2022.
College Football Career
After high school, Cedric Houston went to the University of Tennessee. He became a key player for the Volunteers football team. He was a starter for three years.
In 2004, Cedric and his teammate Gerald Riggs, Jr. made history. They were the first two players for the Volunteers to each gain over 1,000 rushing yards in the same season. During that 2004 season, Cedric had three games where he rushed for more than 100 yards. He also had two games where he scored multiple touchdowns.
Professional Football Journey
Cedric Houston began his professional career in the NFL. He was drafted by the New York Jets.
Joining the New York Jets
The New York Jets picked Cedric in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL draft. When he first joined the team, Cedric faced a challenge. He had a thyroid condition that made him feel tired often. This condition was found during the NFL Combine, which is a tryout for college players. He received medication to help him feel better.
Cedric started as a backup player for the Jets. He played behind experienced running backs like Curtis Martin and Derrick Blaylock. However, Blaylock got injured in October 2005. This moved Cedric up to the second spot on the team's depth chart. Later, Curtis Martin also had a knee injury. Cedric then became the starting running back on December 11. In his first year, he carried the ball 81 times for 302 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Later Seasons and Retirement
In April 2006, Cedric was in a car accident. He had injuries that were not life-threatening and was released from the hospital. During the 2006 season, he continued to play for the Jets. He carried the ball 113 times for 374 yards and scored five touchdowns. He played in eight games and started one.
On July 26, 2007, Cedric made a big decision. He left the Jets for personal reasons. It was later shared that he decided to stop playing professional football. He wanted to go back to the University of Tennessee to finish his college degree. Cedric remained on the Jets' reserve list for the rest of that season. He was officially released by the team on March 11, 2008.
