Quinton Coples facts for kids
Coples signing autographs in April 2013
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | June 22, 1990 Kinston, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 290 lb (132 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Kinston | ||||||||
| College: | North Carolina (2008–2011) | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2012 / Round: 1 / Pick: 16 | ||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||
Quinton Kyle Coples (born June 22, 1990) is an American former professional football player. He played as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). The New York Jets picked him in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Coples played for the Jets for most of his first five seasons. He became a starter in his second year (2013). Later, he also played for the Miami Dolphins and the Los Angeles Rams.
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Early Life and High School
Quinton Coples grew up and went to Kinston High School in North Carolina. He later moved to Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia. During his high school years, he was considered a very talented football player. Experts like Rivals.com rated him as a four-star recruit, which means he was one of the top players in the country.
College Football Career
Quinton Coples played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels. He was a very strong player on their defense.
Standout Junior Year
In 2010, during his junior year, Coples was named a first-team All-ACC player. This means he was one of the best players in the Atlantic Coast Conference. That year, he made 59 tackles and had 10 sacks. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the opposing team's quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.
College Statistics
By the end of his college career, Coples had made 144 tackles. He also had 24 sacks and caused 5 fumbles. These numbers show he was a very important player for his team's defense.
Professional Football Career
Quinton Coples was seen as one of the best defensive players available for the 2012 NFL draft.
New York Jets (2012–2015)
The New York Jets chose Coples as the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He signed a contract worth $8.8 million in May 2012.
Rookie Season
In his first year (2012), Coples played well. He made 30 tackles and had 5.5 sacks. The Jets finished that season with 6 wins and 10 losses.
Changing Positions
In 2013, the Jets decided to move Coples to a new position: outside linebacker. This meant he would have different responsibilities on the field. During a preseason game, he got a small ankle injury, but he returned to play later that season. He adjusted well to his new role. In 14 games, he made 38 tackles and had 4.5 sacks. The Jets improved their record to 8 wins and 8 losses that year.
Later Years with the Jets
In 2014, Coples played in all 16 games, mostly as an outside linebacker. He made 35 tackles and had 6.5 sacks. However, the Jets had a tough season, finishing with only 4 wins and 12 losses.
In 2015, the Jets decided to keep Coples for another year, but he started to play less. He made 8 tackles in 10 games. The Jets later released him in November 2015.
Miami Dolphins (2015)
After being released by the Jets, Coples was picked up by the Miami Dolphins in November 2015. He played the rest of the 2015 season with them as a backup player. The Dolphins released him in February 2016.
Los Angeles Rams (2016)
In March 2016, Coples signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Rams. However, he was released by the Rams before the 2016 season even began.
NFL Career Summary
Quinton Coples played in the NFL for five seasons. He played a total of 62 games. During his career, he made 114 tackles and had 16.5 sacks. He also forced 2 fumbles and recovered 1 fumble.
