Dexter Lawrence facts for kids
Lawrence with the New York Giants in 2019
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| No. 97 – New York Giants | |||||||||
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| Position: | Nose tackle | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | November 12, 1997 Wake Forest, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 340 lb (154 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Wake Forest (Wake Forest, North Carolina) |
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| College: | Clemson (2016–2018) | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2019 / Round: 1 / Pick: 17 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Dexter Lawrence II (born November 12, 1997), also known as "Dexy", is an American professional football player. He plays as a nose tackle for the New York Giants in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Clemson Tigers.
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Dexter Lawrence's Early Life and High School Football
Dexter Lawrence played all his high school football at Wake Forest High School in North Carolina. In his junior year, his team had a great record of 15 wins and only 1 loss. They reached the 4A State Championship game but lost.
During his time in high school, Dexter was a standout player. He made 28.0 sacks, which means he tackled the opposing team's quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. He also had 204 tackles, 6 forced fumbles, and 1 interception.
Dexter was considered one of the top high school football players in the country. He was the highest-ranked player ever from North Carolina. Many top colleges wanted him to play for them, including Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Alabama, and NC State. In the end, he chose to play for Clemson.
Dexter Lawrence's College Football Career
In 2016, Dexter Lawrence joined the Clemson Tigers and played in 12 games as a defensive tackle. A defensive tackle is a player who tries to stop the opposing team's offense, especially their running backs and quarterback.
During his first year, he made 55 tackles and 5 sacks. His 5 sacks set a new record for a freshman player at Clemson. Because of his amazing performance, Dexter was named the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2016.
Dexter was part of the Clemson team that won the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship. They beat Alabama with a score of 35–31. In that championship game, he made four tackles.
In 2019, Dexter was not allowed to play in the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship game. This was due to a rule violation related to a substance test. After that season, Dexter decided to leave college early and enter the 2019 NFL draft to become a professional player.
College Statistics Summary
Over his college career at Clemson, Dexter Lawrence played in 38 games. He recorded 131 total tackles, including 10 sacks. He also had 1 forced fumble.
Dexter Lawrence's Professional NFL Career
Before the 2019 NFL draft, Dexter Lawrence participated in the NFL Combine. This is where college players show off their skills to professional teams. During his 40-yard dash attempt, he injured his left leg.
The New York Giants chose Dexter Lawrence in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft. He was the 17th player picked overall. The Giants got this pick as part of a trade with the Cleveland Browns.
In his first year (2019), Dexter played in all 16 games as a starter. He made 2.5 sacks, 38 total tackles, and forced one fumble. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team, which recognizes the best new players in the league.
In the 2020 season, Dexter played in 16 games again, starting in 15 of them. He improved his performance, making 4 sacks and 53 total tackles.
During the 2021 season, Dexter played in 16 games and started 11. He recorded 2.5 sacks and 54 total tackles.
In 2022, the Giants decided to keep Dexter Lawrence for another year by picking up his fifth-year option. This season turned out to be his best yet. He had his first game with multiple sacks against the Chicago Bears. He also earned praise from famous quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Dexter helped the Giants reach the playoffs in 2022, which was the first time in his career. He finished the season with 7.5 sacks, 68 tackles, and 2 forced fumbles. For his excellent play, he was chosen for his first Pro Bowl and his first All-Pro team. Being named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro team means he was recognized as one of the best players in the NFL.
In May 2023, Dexter Lawrence signed a new four-year contract with the Giants. In Week 8 of the 2023 New York Giants season, he had an amazing game against the New York Jets. He recorded 15 quarterback pressures, which tied a record for a defensive lineman. He finished the 2023 season with 4.5 sacks and 53 total tackles. He was again named to the Pro Bowl and the second-team All-Pro.
In Week 5 of the 2024 season, Dexter had a career-high 3 sacks in a single game against the Seattle Seahawks. Sadly, in Week 12, he suffered an injury that ended his season. Even with the injury, 2024 was a great year for Dexter, as he recorded 9 sacks in only 12 games. He was also named to the 2024 NFLPA All-Pro team.
NFL Career Statistics Summary
Throughout his NFL career from 2019 to 2024, Dexter Lawrence has played in 92 regular season games. He has recorded 310 total tackles and 30.0 sacks. He has also forced 5 fumbles and deflected 11 passes. In the 2022 playoffs, he played in 2 games and made 12 tackles.
