Michael Jasper facts for kids
Jasper with the Buffalo Bills in 2011
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| Stetson Hatters | |
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| Position: | Head coach |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | October 8, 1986 Mount Juliet, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight: | 375 lb (170 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Mount Juliet |
| College: | Bethel (TN) |
| NFL Draft: | 2011 / Round: 7 / Pick: 245 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
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| As coach: | |
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| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season: | 43–18 (.705) |
| Postseason: | 1–2 (.333) |
| Career: | 44–20 (.688) |
| Player stats at PFR | |
Leslie Michael Jasper (born October 8, 1986) is an American college football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach for Stetson University. Jasper was chosen by the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL) in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL draft. He played college football at Bethel University as a defensive tackle and offensive guard. During his college career, Jasper was very large, weighing around 450 pounds. He later lowered his weight to 375 pounds at the request of Bills coach Chan Gailey. Michael Jasper is the most recent player from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to be drafted into the NFL, as of the 2023 NFL draft.
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Playing in the NFL and UFL
Michael Jasper played for several teams in the NFL and the United Football League (UFL). He was known for his size and strength on the field.
Buffalo Bills Journey
Jasper joined the Buffalo Bills after being drafted in 2011. He was first placed on the team's practice squad. A practice squad is where players train with the team but are not on the main roster. He was later activated to the main team in December 2011. However, he was released by the Bills in August 2012.
Time with Tennessee Titans
After leaving the Bills, Jasper signed with the Tennessee Titans in August 2012. His time with the Titans was short, and he was waived soon after joining.
Playing for Omaha Nighthawks
In September 2012, Jasper signed with the Omaha Nighthawks in the UFL. Here, he played on both offense and defense. He was a starter on the offensive line. He also played as a nose tackle in special situations, like when the team needed to stop opponents on third down and one yard to go.
New York Giants and Carolina Panthers
Jasper later signed a contract with the New York Giants for the 2013 season. He was cut by the Giants in August 2013. He then joined the Carolina Panthers' practice squad in September 2013. He was later signed as a free agent by the Panthers in January 2014.
Coaching Career Highlights
After his playing career, Michael Jasper became a successful football coach. He started by coaching college players.
Coaching at Bethel University
From 2016 to 2018, Jasper returned to his old college, Bethel University. He worked there as the offensive line coach. An offensive line coach teaches players how to block for their teammates. On January 24, 2019, he was promoted to head football coach at Bethel. As head coach, he led the Bethel Wildcats to a very successful 2022 season, finishing with an 11–1 record and winning their conference championship. They also made it to the NAIA playoffs. In 2023, they had another strong season, going 11–2 and reaching the NAIA Quarterfinals.
Leading the Stetson Hatters
On December 20, 2024, Michael Jasper was hired as the new head coach for the Stetson Hatters. This is a new and exciting step in his coaching journey.
