Sam Aiken facts for kids
Aiken with the New England Patriots in 2009
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| No. 89, 88, 85 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | December 14, 1980 Clinton, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | James Kenan (NC) | ||||||||
| College: | North Carolina | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2003 / Round: 4 / Pick: 127 | ||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||
Samuel "Sam" Aiken (born December 14, 1980) is a former American football player. He played as a wide receiver. Sam was chosen by the Buffalo Bills in the 2003 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of North Carolina.
He also played for the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns.
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Sam Aiken's Early Life and Sports
Sam Aiken grew up in Warsaw, North Carolina. He went to James Kenan High School. There, he was a star athlete in many sports.
He was honored for his skills in football, basketball, and track and field. In track and field, he even placed second in the high jump at the North Carolina State Meet.
Sam's College Football Journey
After high school, Sam Aiken went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He played college football for the Tar Heels.
Freshman Year Success
In 1999, as a freshman, Sam played in all 11 games. He was a wide receiver. He was named one of the most outstanding freshmen. He caught three passes and returned kickoffs and punts.
Growing as a Player
In 2000, his sophomore year, Sam played in all 11 games again. He had 29 catches for 410 yards. He also scored three touchdowns.
In 2001, Sam led his team with 46 catches. He gained 789 yards and scored eight touchdowns. This was the second-best record in his school's history. He also played on special teams.
Record-Breaking Senior Season
As a senior in 2002, Sam had an amazing year. He caught 68 passes for 990 yards. Both of these were new school records. He also scored four touchdowns.
Sam Aiken's Professional NFL Career
Sam Aiken was chosen by the Buffalo Bills in the 2003 NFL draft. He was the 127th player picked overall.
Playing for the Buffalo Bills
Sam played for the Bills for five seasons. He was mostly a special teams player. This means he helped cover kicks and punts. The Bills' special teams were known for being very good.
In his first year (2003), Sam played in five games. He caught three passes and made two special teams tackles. He later had an injury.
In 2004, Sam played in all 16 games. He caught 11 passes, which was his best with the Bills. He also made 14 special teams tackles.
In 2005, he played in all 16 games again. He started two games as a wide receiver. He made 24 special teams tackles, which was second-best on the team.
Sam continued to play a key role on special teams in 2006 and 2007.
Time with the New England Patriots
In 2008, Sam Aiken joined the New England Patriots. He played in 14 games and started two. He caught eight passes for 101 yards. He also made 10 special teams tackles.
In 2009, Sam became a special teams captain. He also played a bigger role in the offense. He started 7 games and caught 20 passes for 326 yards. He scored the first two touchdowns of his career. One was a 54-yard catch, and another was an 81-yard catch. The 81-yard catch was one of the longest for quarterback Tom Brady. Sam played in 14 games and made 11 special teams tackles.
Brief Time with the Cleveland Browns
In 2010, Sam Aiken signed with the Cleveland Browns. He was with the team for a short time before being released.
Sam's Coaching Career
After his playing career, Sam Aiken returned to his college, the University of North Carolina. In 2012, he became a graduate assistant coach for the Tar Heels football team.
Sam's Personal Life
Sam Aiken lives in North Carolina.
