Tarell Basham facts for kids
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Basham with the Dallas Cowboys in 2021
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||||
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | March 18, 1994 Rocky Mount, Virginia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 266 lb (121 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Franklin County (Rocky Mount, Virginia) |
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| College: | Ohio | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2017 / Round: 3 / Pick: 80 | ||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||
Tarell Basham (born March 18, 1994) is an American professional football player. He plays as a defensive end, a position on the defense that tries to stop the opposing team's offense. Tarell played college football at Ohio University and was later chosen by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2017 NFL draft.
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Early Life and High School Football
Tarell Basham grew up in Rocky Mount, Virginia. He went to Franklin County High School. There, he was a versatile player, playing as a defensive end, tight end, and wide receiver.
He helped his high school team win three district championships. In 2011, during his senior year, he played both offense (wide receiver) and defense (linebacker). He made a game-winning play by blocking a field goal attempt against Salem High School. This helped his team beat Salem for the first time in 30 years.
Tarell received several awards for his strong performance. He finished his high school career with 82 tackles and 16 sacks. After high school, he spent a year at Hargrave Military Academy before deciding to play college football at Ohio University.
College Football Career
Tarell Basham earned a football scholarship to Ohio University. He quickly made an impact on the team.
Freshman Year (2013)
As a first-year player, called a "true freshman," Tarell started in 5 of 13 games as a defensive tackle. He made 32 tackles and led his team with 7.5 sacks. He also caused two fumbles. Because of his great performance, he was named to the Freshman College Football All-America Team.
Sophomore Year (2014)
In his second year, Tarell played in all 12 games and started seven as a defensive end. He recorded 33 tackles and 5 sacks. He also helped break up two passes and forced one fumble.
Junior Year (2015)
During his junior season, Tarell started 11 of 12 games at left defensive end. He had 43 tackles and led the team with 5.5 sacks. He also had 10 tackles for loss, meaning he stopped opponents behind their starting line.
Senior Year (2016)
In his final college year, Tarell helped his school win the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Division title. This was the first time they had won it in five years. He set a school record with 11.5 sacks. He also made 50 tackles and forced two fumbles. For his outstanding play, he was named the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Overall, Tarell started 37 of 51 games in college. He helped his team play in three bowl games. He finished his college career with 158 tackles and a school record of 29.5 sacks.
Professional Football Career
Tarell Basham began his professional career in the NFL.
Indianapolis Colts (2017–2018)
The Indianapolis Colts chose Tarell in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. He played as an outside linebacker, a position that often rushes the quarterback or covers receivers. He played in 15 games as a backup. He recorded 7 tackles and 2 sacks. In October 2018, the Colts decided to let him go.
New York Jets (2018–2020)
Soon after, the New York Jets picked up Tarell. He played in 10 games for them in 2018. In 2019, he played in all 16 games and had 36 tackles and 2 sacks. He also made his first career interception against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2020, he started a career-high nine games. He made 33 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and forced 3 fumbles.
Dallas Cowboys (2021–2022)
In March 2021, Tarell signed a two-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys. He started 6 of 17 games in 2021, making 38 tackles and 3.5 sacks. In 2022, he had a quad injury early in the season. He returned to play in two games as a backup defensive end. The Cowboys later let him go in November 2022.
Tennessee Titans (2022)
In December 2022, Tarell signed with the Tennessee Titans. He played in 5 games as a backup outside linebacker for them.
Cincinnati Bengals (2023)
Tarell signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in April 2023. He was released by the team in August 2023 before the season started.
San Antonio Brahmas (2024)
In March 2024, Tarell Basham joined the San Antonio Brahmas in the United Football League (UFL). He was briefly on a suspended list but was activated in April 2024. He was released by the team in May 2024.
Personal Life
Tarell Basham is related to other football players. He is the cousin of defensive end Carlos Basham Jr. and running back Aaron Jones. He has three siblings named Thaddeus Basham, Kamiyah Ford, and Tajia Dawson.
