Jahvid Best facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jahvid Best

Best in 2009
No. 44
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1989-01-30) January 30, 1989 (age 36) Vallejo, California, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:	199 lb (90 kg)
Career information
High school:	Salesian (Richmond, California)
College:	California (2007–2009)
NFL Draft:	2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 30
Career history
Detroit Lions (2010–2012)
Career highlights and awards
2× First-team All-Pac-10 (2007, 2008) Second-team All-Pac-10 (2009)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts: 255 Rushing yards: 945 Rushing touchdowns: 6 Receptions: 85 Receiving yards: 774 Receiving touchdowns: 3
Player stats at PFR

Jahvid Andre Best (born January 30, 1989) is an American athlete who competed in the Summer Olympics for track and field. He was also a professional football running back. The Detroit Lions chose him in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played college football for the California Golden Bears. There, he set several school records. These included the most all-purpose yards in a season. He also had the most rushing yards in a single game. Best led the Pac-10 conference in total rushing yards in 2008. In 2016, Best represented Saint Lucia in track and field at the Olympics. He later became a high school football coach.

Early Life and High School Sports

Jahvid Best went to Salesian High School in Richmond, California. He played for the Salesian Chieftains high school football team.

High School Football Achievements

In 2005, during his junior year, Best ran for 1,495 yards. He scored 20 touchdowns. Salesian won the North Coast Section championship that year. They finished the season with 12 wins and 1 loss. In his senior year, Best ran for 3,325 yards. He also scored 48 touchdowns. Both were Bay Area records for a single season. Salesian reached the NCS finals again but lost the last game. Experts considered Best a top running back.

High School Track and Field Success

Best was also a talented track athlete. He competed in the Arcadia Invitational in his junior and senior years. As a junior, he won the 100-meter dash. He finished with a time of 10.36 seconds. At the 2006 CIF California State Meet, he placed third in the 200 meters. As a senior, he won the Arcadia Invitational 200-meter dash. His time was 21.40 seconds. He also won the CIF California State Meet 100 meters. His time was 10.31 seconds. In the 200 meters, Best was runner-up. He finished his senior year with impressive personal bests.

Best at the 2016 Olympics next to James Dasaolu and Usain Bolt

Personal Best Times

Best ran in the 100 meters at the 2016 Olympics. He competed in Heat 7 of the first round. He raced against famous sprinters like Usain Bolt.

College Football Career

Best received scholarship offers from many universities. He chose to play for the California Golden Bears in 2006.

2007 College Season

As a new student in 2007, Best was a backup running back. He had 221 rushing yards on 29 carries. He scored two rushing touchdowns. Best also caught 13 passes for 174 yards. He scored one receiving touchdown. He was named the team's Most Valuable Freshman.

2008 College Season

Best gained national attention early in the 2008 season. In a game against Washington State, he had two long touchdown runs. He finished that game with 200 yards and three touchdowns. He faced a challenge against Maryland. This was because California fell behind early.

Best dislocated his elbow and missed a game. He returned for the Arizona game. He scored a 67-yard touchdown. He had 140 all-purpose yards in that game.

Best carries the ball during the Big Game

After strong games against UCLA and Oregon, Best had a quieter game against the USC Trojans. He then rushed for 201 yards against the Stanford Cardinal. This made him the seventh player for Cal to rush over 1,000 yards. In the last regular season game, Best ran for over 300 yards. He became the first Cal player to do so. He ended the season as the Pac-10's leading rusher.

Best earned Offensive MVP honors in the 2008 Emerald Bowl. He had 186 yards and two touchdowns. He finished the 2008 season with 1,580 rushing yards. He averaged 8.1 yards per carry and scored 15 touchdowns.

2009 College Season

Best had surgery in January 2009 for his elbow and foot. He missed spring football practice. He was named the most explosive player in college football. Many thought he could be a future Heisman candidate.

Best carries the ball against Eastern Washington in September 2009

Best at the 2009 Poinsettia Bowl

In Cal's first game, Best rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Against Eastern Washington, he rushed for 144 yards. He also had a receiving touchdown. Against Minnesota, he ran for 131 yards. He scored all five of Cal's touchdowns. This was a personal best and a school record.

Best was injured in a game against Oregon State. He landed on his head after hurdling a defender. This resulted in a concussion. It was his second concussion in two weeks. He was taken to the hospital but released the next day. Best missed the rest of the regular season. He also did not play in the 2009 Poinsettia Bowl. On January 2, 2010, Best decided to enter the NFL draft.

College Statistics Overview

College Records Set

• He set a Cal record for most rushing yards in a single game with 311 yards. This happened on December 6, 2008, against the Washington Huskies.
• He holds the second-highest Cal single-season rushing record with 1,580 yards in 2008.
• He had the most all-purpose yards in a single season (2008) with 2,247 total yards.
• He set the 2008 Emerald Bowl rushing record with 186 yards.
• He set a modern era Cal record for most rushing touchdowns in a single game with five. This was against Minnesota on September 19, 2009.

Professional Football Career

Pre-Draft Evaluation

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Best was one of the fastest running backs.

2010 NFL Season with the Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions selected Best 30th overall in the 2010 NFL draft. He signed a five-year contract with the Lions. Best started 9 games in his first season. He scored his first NFL rushing touchdowns on September 12. His best game was against the Philadelphia Eagles. He had 78 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and 154 receiving yards. This included a 75-yard touchdown catch. He played in all 16 games that season. He finished with 555 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. He also had 487 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.

2011 NFL Season and Injuries

Best suffered a concussion in a pre-season game on August 19, 2011. On October 10, he had his first 100-yard game. He rushed for 163 yards and an 88-yard touchdown. This was against the Chicago Bears. On October 16, Best suffered another concussion. This was the last game he played in the NFL. He was placed on injured reserve due to ongoing concussion symptoms.

2012 NFL Season and Retirement

Best was placed on injured reserve again in November 2012. This meant he would not play any games that season. He was undergoing therapy for his concussion symptoms. On July 17, 2013, the Lions released Best. The many concussions he had during his career prevented him from playing again.

NFL Career Statistics Overview

Track and Field Career After Football

In May 2015, Best ran a fast 100 meters. He was training for the 2016 Summer Olympics. He represented Saint Lucia, his father's home country. On April 2, 2016, he ran the official qualifying time for the Olympics. On July 16, 2016, Best was named to Saint Lucia's 2016 Olympics team. He competed in the 100 meters. He was the first former NFL player to participate in the Summer Olympic Games. At the 2016 Olympics, Best ran a 10.39 in his heat. He did not advance to the semifinals.

Coaching Career

Best joined the Cal Bears coaching staff in January 2014. Saint Mary's College High School hired him as head coach in 2021. Best coached the Saint Mary Panthers to a 3–6 record in 2021. He is currently the running backs coach for Bishop O'Dowd High School.

Personal Life

Best's name is a mix of "Jah" and the last part of his father's name, David. His father is from St. Lucia. Jahvid has one sister named Laurie.