David Warren (American football) facts for kids

David Warren, born on October 14, 1978, is a former American football player from Tyler, Texas. He played as a Defensive end, a position where players try to stop the opposing team's offense. Warren had a successful career in both high school and college football before playing professionally.

Early Life and High School Football

David Warren grew up in Tyler, Texas. He attended John Tyler High School, where he became a star football player.

Amazing High School Career

In 1994, as a sophomore (second year) in high school, David played for the John Tyler Lions. His team had an incredible season, winning all 16 games. They even won the 5A Division II state championship in Texas!

One of their most famous games was a regional semifinal match. In that game, David caught a touchdown pass while playing offense. He also scored another touchdown on defense by recovering a fumble. During that season, he made 124 tackles and had six sacks.

In his junior (third) year, David continued to shine. He recorded 126 tackles and 18 sacks. He also blocked four punts, showing his skill on special teams.

National Recognition

By 1996, his senior (final) year, David Warren was one of the best high school players in the country. USA Today newspaper named him the High School Defensive Player of the Year. He also won the Bobby Dodd National Lineman of the Year award.

Even though opposing teams often used two or three players to block him, he still managed 106 tackles and 8.5 sacks. David was also a talented track athlete. He won his district's 200-meter dash race.

Many colleges wanted David to play for them. He chose to join the Florida State Seminoles team. This team was coached by the famous Bobby Bowden.

College Football at Florida State

David Warren played college football for the Florida State Seminoles from 1997 to 2000.

Freshman Year

As a true freshman (first-year player) in 1997, David played in 11 games. He was a backup defensive end and also played on special teams. He made 16 tackles that year. In his very first college game against Maryland, he got his first sack. He also had five tackles in a game against Duke. Florida State won the 1998 Sugar Bowl against Ohio State, and David contributed two tackles in that big game.

Sophomore and Junior Years

In his sophomore (second) year, David became a more important part of the defense. He finished the year with 30 tackles, including five that stopped the opposing team for a loss of yards. He also had three sacks. His best game that year was against Southern California, where he made four tackles, one sack, and forced a fumble.

During his junior (third) year, David played in every game. He even started five games, including the National Championship game. He ended the season with 32 tackles and two sacks. He also led his team in forced fumbles and broke up four passes.

Professional Football Career

After college, David Warren began his professional football journey.

NFL Opportunities

David was not chosen in the 2001 NFL draft. However, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent in April 2001. He was later released by the Colts in September 2001. He rejoined the Colts in January 2002 but was released again in August 2002.

In January 2003, David joined the practice squad of the Oakland Raiders during their playoff run. A practice squad is a group of players who train with the team but are not on the main roster. He was released by the Raiders in June 2003. David did not play in any regular season NFL games.

Canadian Football League

Later in 2003, David Warren played for the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played in two games for the team that season.