Alterraun Verner
Encyclopedia
Alterraun Ennis Verner is an American football
cornerback
. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles
. Verner was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the 2010 NFL Draft
. In 2011, Verner returned to UCLA during the NFL off-season to complete his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics
.
in Lakewood, California
, where he played wide receiver
, defensive back, linebacker and special teams. As a senior, he made 50 receptions for 907 yards and 13 touchdowns. On defense, he made 56 tackles and four interceptions (one returned for a 102-yard touchdown). Verner earned second-team All-CIF Southern Section honors and was selected to play in Shrine All-Star Game.
An excellent student, Verner held a 4.17 GPA and achieved a 1740 SAT
score. He also served as a peer tutor to his high school football team in the subjects of math and history.
Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com
, Verner was listed as the No. 49 cornerback prospect in the nation. He chose UCLA over Boston College
, Oregon
, and Washington
.
and Taylor Mays
), and was selected first-team Freshman All-America by College Football News
and Scripps/FWAA, as well as second-team by The Sporting News
, Scout.com
, and Rivals.com.
As a sophomore, Verner appeared in all 13 games, while starting 10, and ranked fourth on the squad with 75 tackles. He finished with 15 passes broken up and four interceptions. In his junior year, Verner was a starter in all 12 games, and was second on the team in tackles with 73. He was selected to the second-team All-Pac-10 squad chosen by the league's coaches.
In November 2009, he was named one of the twelve semifinalists for the 2009 Jim Thorpe Award
.
In his senior year, he started in all 13 games and finished with 72 tackles, 51 solo. He also had 5 interceptions and 158 interception return yards, with one of them resulting in a touchdown. He also had another defensive touchdown as a fumble recovery.
As a result of his dominating play, he earned the nickname ATV while at UCLA.
, Verner was drafted by the Tennessee Titans
in the 4th round, 142nd overall and 18th cornerback taken.
. It was a screen play thrown by Tony Romo. On October 18th 2010, he picked off Trent Edwards
for his second career interception. On December 19th, 2010, Verner intercepted Houston Texans
quarterback Matt Schaub
for his third pick of his rookie season.
Verner played in all 16 games his rookie season, starting 12 of them, and finished with 101 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
. Verner was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. In 2011, Verner returned to UCLA during the NFL off-season to complete his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
.
High school career
Verner attended Mayfair High SchoolMayfair High School
Mayfair High School is a high school in the Bellflower Unified School District 9 in the city of Lakewood, California. The school first opened in 1959. The student population is approximately 3616 in grades 7 through 12...
in Lakewood, California
Lakewood, California
Lakewood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 80,048 at the 2010 census. It is bordered by Long Beach on the west and south, Bellflower on the north, Cerritos on the northeast, Cypress on the east, and Hawaiian Gardens on the southeast. Major thoroughfares...
, where he played wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, defensive back, linebacker and special teams. As a senior, he made 50 receptions for 907 yards and 13 touchdowns. On defense, he made 56 tackles and four interceptions (one returned for a 102-yard touchdown). Verner earned second-team All-CIF Southern Section honors and was selected to play in Shrine All-Star Game.
An excellent student, Verner held a 4.17 GPA and achieved a 1740 SAT
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
score. He also served as a peer tutor to his high school football team in the subjects of math and history.
Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
, Verner was listed as the No. 49 cornerback prospect in the nation. He chose UCLA over Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, and Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
.
College career
In his true freshman year at UCLA, Verner finished fourth among Bruins with 59 tackles and third on the team with two interceptions, while leading the team with 123 interception yards and two touchdowns. He was named co-Freshman of the Year for the Pac-10 Conference (alongside Jairus ByrdJairus Byrd
-2009 season:Byrd was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. After spending the first couple of games as a backup Byrd started his first career game at free safety against the Miami Dolphins due to injuries to both the Bills starting safeties Donte Whitner and...
and Taylor Mays
Taylor Mays
Taylor Mays is an American football safety for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League.He played college football at USC...
), and was selected first-team Freshman All-America by College Football News
College Football News
College Football News is a magazine and website published by College Football News, Inc., headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. News coverage includes scores, statistics, rankings, and reports on college football games. Analysis includes comparisons between teams, predictions of game outcomes and...
and Scripps/FWAA, as well as second-team by The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
, Scout.com
Scout.com
Scout.com is an integrated sports publishing company that produces both an Internet and print product. Scout has more than 2.1 million visitors...
, and Rivals.com.
As a sophomore, Verner appeared in all 13 games, while starting 10, and ranked fourth on the squad with 75 tackles. He finished with 15 passes broken up and four interceptions. In his junior year, Verner was a starter in all 12 games, and was second on the team in tackles with 73. He was selected to the second-team All-Pac-10 squad chosen by the league's coaches.
In November 2009, he was named one of the twelve semifinalists for the 2009 Jim Thorpe Award
Jim Thorpe Award
The Jim Thorpe Award, named in memory of multi-sport legend Jim Thorpe, has been awarded to the top defensive back in college football since 1986...
.
In his senior year, he started in all 13 games and finished with 72 tackles, 51 solo. He also had 5 interceptions and 158 interception return yards, with one of them resulting in a touchdown. He also had another defensive touchdown as a fumble recovery.
As a result of his dominating play, he earned the nickname ATV while at UCLA.
2010 NFL Draft
In the 2010 NFL Draft2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
, Verner was drafted by the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
in the 4th round, 142nd overall and 18th cornerback taken.
2010 Season
On October 10th 2010, Verner had his first career interception against the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. It was a screen play thrown by Tony Romo. On October 18th 2010, he picked off Trent Edwards
Trent Edwards
Trent Edwards is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
for his second career interception. On December 19th, 2010, Verner intercepted Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
quarterback Matt Schaub
Matt Schaub
Matthew Rutledge Schaub is the starting quarterback for the Houston Texans. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia.-College career:...
for his third pick of his rookie season.
Verner played in all 16 games his rookie season, starting 12 of them, and finished with 101 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble.