Kamerion Wimbley facts for kids
Wimbley with the Oakland Raiders in October 2010
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| Position: | Linebacker, defensive end | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | October 13, 1983 Wichita, Kansas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 258 lb (117 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Wichita Northwest (KS) | ||||||||||
| College: | Florida State (2002–2005) | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2006 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Kamerion Wimbley, born on October 13, 1983, is a former American football player. He was a talented linebacker and defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). The Cleveland Browns picked him in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft. He was the 13th player chosen overall that year. Wimbley also played for the Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans. He retired from professional football in 2015. Before joining the NFL, he played college football at Florida State University.
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Early Life and High School Football
Kamerion Wimbley grew up in Wichita, Kansas. He went to Wichita Northwest High School. There, he was an amazing football player. He played many different positions. These included defensive end, linebacker, quarterback, receiver, and even punter.
During his senior year, he was recognized as one of the best high school athletes. Parade and SuperPrep magazines named him an All-American. He also played in the 2002 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. This game features top high school players.
Experts at Rivals.com thought Wimbley was a four-star recruit. He was ranked 58th among all football players in his class. He chose to play college football at Florida State University. He picked Florida State over other big schools like Notre Dame and Nebraska. Wimbley finished high school early in December 2001. He started at Florida State in the spring of 2002.
College Football Career at Florida State
Kamerion Wimbley played for the Florida State Seminoles. He made an impact right away as a first-year student. He played in all 14 games during his freshman year. This included the 2003 Sugar Bowl against Georgia. He played defensive end and was also a key player on special teams. He had 17 tackles, which was the second-most among all freshmen on the team.
In his second year, Wimbley continued to improve. He played in all 13 games. He recorded 38 tackles and 2.5 quarterback sacks. He also broke up two passes. His first time starting a game was against Duke. He had a career-high eight tackles in that game. His best game was against Colorado. He had eight tackles, including four that stopped the opponent for a loss.
As a junior, Wimbley played in all 12 games. He mostly backed up another player at defensive end. He had 27 tackles that season. Five of those tackles came in a win against Wake Forest. He also had five tackles in a victory over Clemson.
In his senior year, Wimbley became a star. He led the ACC in sacks before a knee injury. He had three games where he recorded multiple sacks. He also led his team in quarterback hurries with 17. He set new personal bests for sacks and tackles for a loss. He returned to play in the Orange Bowl against Penn State. Even with his injury, he was named second-team All-ACC. He was also named an All-American by Pro Football Weekly.
Professional Football Journey
Joining the NFL: The 2006 Draft
Even though Kamerion Wimbley played defensive end in college, many thought he was not big enough for that role in the NFL. Scouts believed he would be a perfect fit as a "rush linebacker" in a different defensive system. The Cleveland Browns needed players who could stop runs and pressure the quarterback. They chose Wimbley as the 13th overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft. On July 22, 2006, he signed a six-year contract with the Browns.
Time with the Cleveland Browns
Wimbley quickly made an impact with the Cleveland Browns. He changed his position from defensive end to outside linebacker. He started every game during his first season. He led the team and all first-year players in the AFC with 11 sacks. He also had 62 tackles. Even with his great performance, he wasn't named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
In his second year, Wimbley didn't have as many sacks. He still led the team with 5 sacks. He also had 51 tackles and forced 4 fumbles. He continued to be a key player for the Browns' defense.
Playing for the Oakland Raiders
On March 14, 2010, Wimbley was traded to the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders hoped he would return to his amazing rookie form. They first tried him at defensive end. Then, they moved him to strongside linebacker. In a preseason game against the Chicago Bears, Wimbley had an incredible game. He recorded 4 sacks in just one half! He finished the 2010 regular season with 9 sacks and 58 tackles. He started all 16 games in his first year with the Raiders. He was released by the team on March 17, 2012.
Finishing His Career with the Tennessee Titans
Wimbley signed with the Tennessee Titans on March 20, 2012. He signed a five-year deal. During the 2012 season, he played in all 16 games. He recorded 30 tackles and six sacks. He switched back to playing defensive end for the Titans. After playing nine seasons in the NFL, Kamerion Wimbley announced his retirement. He officially retired on May 7, 2015.
Life Outside of Football
Dog Registry Business
Kamerion Wimbley owns a business in Florida called Bull Breed Coalition Registry. This company helps people track their dogs' family history. It also teaches about breeding, training, and caring for dogs. The registry helps people learn about showing, adopting, and rescuing dogs too.
Cooking Competition Champion
In 2013, Wimbley showed off his cooking skills. He competed in the Super Bowl Cook-off Competition. This was on the Rachael Ray Show. He competed against other NFL players. Wimbley made a dish called andouille sausage and shrimp over grits. This recipe was chosen as the best by judge Tony Siragusa. Wimbley won a special Super Bowl-style ring for his victory.
Other Businesses and TV Appearances
Wimbley owns several businesses in his hometown of Wichita, Kansas. He owns a chain of barbershops with two locations. He also owns a fitness center.
Kamerion Wimbley is also known for his TV appearances. On March 27, 2012, he competed on G4's American Ninja Warrior. He successfully finished the first course. He then completed the longer Regional Finals course. He competed again on the show in 2020.
He also appeared on a special charity edition of MTV's The Challenge. This show was called The Challenge: Champs vs. Pros. Wimbley competed to raise money for his own foundation. He finished as the male runner-up in the competition.
Giving Back: Charity Work
Wimbley has a foundation in Wichita, Kansas. This foundation helps young people in the area. It focuses on developing good character, improving reading skills, and supporting overall well-being. His foundation also provides training for young football players in Wichita.
