Josh Brent facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Josh Brent

Brent in 2012
No. 92, 95
Position:	Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born:	(1988-01-30) January 30, 1988 (age 37) Tulare, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	321 lb (146 kg)
Career information
High school:	Central Catholic (Bloomington, Illinois)
College:	Illinois
Supplemental draft:	2010 / Round: 7
Career history
Dallas Cowboys (2010–2012, 2014)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 46 Sacks: 1.5 Forced fumbles: 1
Player stats at PFR

Joshua Aaron Price-Brent (born January 30, 1988) is a former American football player. He played as a defensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). Josh played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini. The Cowboys picked him in the 2010 NFL supplemental draft. His football career ended earlier than expected due to a serious car accident in 2012 involving his teammate, Jerry Brown. After this event, Josh decided to retire from the sport.

Early Life and High School Football

Josh Brent was born in Tulare, California, on January 30, 1988. He grew up in Bloomington, Illinois. There, he went to Central Catholic High School.

As a junior, Josh was a star player. He made 109 tackles and had 6 sacks. He earned many awards, including All-Area and All-State honors. In his senior year, he continued to excel. He recorded 90 tackles and 8 sacks. He was also named a PrepStar All-American.

Other High School Sports

Besides football, Josh was also a talented athlete in other sports. He earned a "letterman" award for four years in basketball and track. A letterman award means he was a key player on the varsity team.

In track, he was very good at the shot put. As a freshman, he reached the state finals. In his sophomore and junior years, he was a state runner-up. He was also chosen for the all-state team three times in track.

College Football Career

Josh Brent went to the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He played football for the Fighting Illini team.

In 2007, as a freshman, he played in 10 games. He made 8 tackles and had 0.5 sacks. As a sophomore in 2008, he played in 10 games and started 8 of them. He recorded 34 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

During his junior year in 2009, he started all 12 games. He had 29 tackles, 3 sacks, and forced 3 fumbles. Josh finished his college career having played in 33 games. He made a total of 71 tackles and 5 sacks.

Professional Football with the Cowboys

Josh decided to join the NFL after his junior year. He entered the 2010 supplemental draft. The Dallas Cowboys picked him in the seventh round. This was a big surprise, as the Cowboys had not drafted a player this way since 1995.

As a rookie, Josh impressed everyone by making the team. He played about 15 plays per game and made 17 tackles. In 2012, he started his first career games. He was becoming a key player on the defensive line.

A Difficult Time

On December 8, 2012, Josh was in a serious car accident. His college and Cowboys teammate, Jerry Brown, was also in the car. This accident deeply affected Josh and the team. The Cowboys were about to play an important game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The team learned about the accident while flying to Cincinnati.

The players held emotional meetings. They hung the jerseys of both Josh and Jerry in their locker room. The Cowboys went on to win that game 20–19. After the accident, Josh was placed on a special list by the team.

Jerry Brown's mother, Stacey Jackson, showed great support for Josh. She asked him to meet with her family and sit with them at Jerry's memorial service. For the next game, Josh was invited to sit on the Cowboys' sideline. However, he later decided to step away from the sidelines. He wanted to focus on his personal well-being.

Retirement and Return

Josh announced his retirement from football on July 18, 2013. He wanted to focus on important personal matters. After some time away, he went through a rehabilitation process. The NFL then allowed him to return to play.

On November 11, 2014, he was back with the Cowboys. He needed time to get back into playing shape. He played in three games as a reserve player. He then missed the last four games due to a calf injury. He played in the Cowboys' playoff games that season.

Josh Brent was placed on the reserve/retired list on May 8, 2015. Head coach Jason Garrett said that Josh was focusing on his life outside of football. He praised Josh for his recovery and wished him well. On September 25, 2015, the Cowboys announced that Josh had accepted a job in their scouting department.

Images for kids

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  Brent in 2012