Will Witherspoon facts for kids
Witherspoon at Al Asad Airbase in 2009
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| No. 54, 51, 50, 92 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | August 19, 1980 San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 240 lb (109 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Rutherford (Panama City, Florida) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Georgia (1998–2001) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2002 / Round: 3 / Pick: 73 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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William Cordell Witherspoon, born on August 19, 1980, is a former American football player. He was a talented linebacker who played for several teams in the NFL. These teams included the Carolina Panthers, St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, and Tennessee Titans. He was chosen by the Panthers in the third round of the 2002 NFL draft.
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Early Life and Growing Up
Will Witherspoon's father was in the U.S. Air Force. Because of this, Will moved to different places when he was a kid. However, his family chose to live in local communities, not on military bases. This allowed Will and his siblings to experience different cultures.
Will is very good with languages. He speaks German and has also learned some Arabic and Swedish. For middle school, he went to Good Shepherd Lutheran School.
High School Football
When he was in high school, Will played football for Rutherford High School in Panama City, Florida. He started as a running back, which is an offensive position. However, before his senior year, he switched to playing linebacker on defense.
This change was a great move for him. In his senior year, he made 112 tackles, 3 sacks, and 3 interceptions. He was even named the Florida Player of the Year by USA Today for his amazing performance.
College Football Career
After high school, Will Witherspoon played college football at the University of Georgia. He was a key player for the Bulldogs for three years. As a freshman, he played in every game.
For the rest of his time at Georgia, he was a starter in most games. He played different linebacker positions, showing how versatile he was. By the time he graduated, he had made 211 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and caused or recovered a fumble. He studied landscape architecture in college.
Professional Football Journey
Will Witherspoon had a long and successful career in the NFL. He was known for being a strong and versatile linebacker.
Carolina Panthers Years
The Carolina Panthers picked Will Witherspoon in the third round of the 2002 NFL draft. He was the 73rd player chosen overall. He joined the team when new coach John Fox was making big changes to the defense. Will's ability to play different linebacker roles helped the Panthers have one of the best defenses in the league.
In his first year, he made 71 tackles and 1.5 sacks. In 2003, he was the only Panthers linebacker to start every game. He even played in Super Bowl XXXVIII, where he made a career-high 16 tackles. He finished that season with 99 tackles.
The 2004 season was also strong for Will. He set personal bests with three sacks and four interceptions. He also had 103 tackles. In his final year with the Panthers in 2005, he played in 15 games and had 81 tackles.
First Time with the St. Louis Rams
On March 12, 2006, Will Witherspoon signed a big contract with the St. Louis Rams. In his first season with the Rams, he played in all 16 games. He set a new career high with 113 tackles and also had three sacks.
In 2007, he continued to play well, recording 110 tackles and a career-high seven sacks. His excellent play earned him the Team MVP award for the Rams in 2007.
Time with the Philadelphia Eagles
On October 20, 2009, Will Witherspoon was traded from the Rams to the Philadelphia Eagles. In his very first game as an Eagle, he had an amazing performance. He made six tackles, got an interception (which he returned for a touchdown), had a sack, and forced a fumble.
During that season, he played in 17 games, which is unusual. This happened because he was traded from the Rams before their "bye week" (a week off) to the Eagles after their bye week. He was released by the Eagles on March 5, 2010.
Playing for the Tennessee Titans
Will Witherspoon signed with the Tennessee Titans on March 9, 2010. His teammates voted him to receive the Ed Block Courage Award. This award is given to players who show courage, compassion, and commitment.
Second Time with the St. Louis Rams
On July 18, 2013, Will Witherspoon signed with the St. Louis Rams again. This was his second time playing for the team.
After Football
After the 2013-2014 NFL season, Will Witherspoon decided to retire from professional football. He then took a job as a sideline reporter for the Rams Radio Network. This meant he would report from the side of the field during games.
Personal Life
Will Witherspoon owns a farm called Shire Gate Farm near Owensville, MO. This farm focuses on sustainable practices, which means they try to farm in a way that protects the environment. Will has several children, including three daughters.
