Chris Ivory
Encyclopedia
Christopher Ivory is an American football
running back
for the New Orleans Saints
of the National Football League
. He was signed as a free agent
by the Saints after the 2010 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Washington State
and at Tiffin
.
in Longview, Texas
, playing on a team that also included future NFL players Trent Williams
, Malcolm Kelly
, and Robert Henson
. He was listed as a two-star recruit by both Rivals.com
and Scout.com
.
. Limited by injuries, in 22 games he had 91 rushes for 534 yards and 4 touchdowns, as well as 23 kickoff returns averaging 22.8 yards. When the coaches who had recruited him were replaced by a new coaching staff, Ivory found himself far down on the Cougars' depth chart. In August 2009, Ivory was dismissed from the Washington State team for violating team rules.
Ivory then transferred to Tiffin, a Division II school in Tiffin, Ohio
, whose team was coached by Dave Walkosky, a former Washington State assistant coach. In Ivory's final year of college football, he had 39 rushes for 223 yards in five games before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Walkosky attempted to obtain a medical redshirt exemption to allow Ivory to play another year, but this was unsuccessful. Despite his brief stint at Tiffin, Ivory's performance and speed attracted attention from NFL scouts, and he was thought to have a chance of becoming the first Tiffin player to be drafted by the NFL The Saints became interested in Ivory, despite his injuries, after one of their scouts was impressed by Walkosky's enthusiastic recommendations.
that included a 76-yard touchdown on a swing pass.
Early season injuries to Reggie Bush
and Pierre Thomas
left Ivory as the Saints' starting running back. He had a breakout game in Week 6 against Tampa Bay
: his 158 yards on 15 carries were the most by any Saints running back since Deuce McAllister
rushed for 165 yards in a 2003 game, and the most by a Saints rookie since a 179 yard effort by Ricky Williams
in 1999. The performance earned him awards as both Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week
and FedEx Ground Player of the Week
. Another strong performance in Week 11, with 23 rushes for 99 yards in a 34-19 win over against Seattle
, led Seahawks coach Pete Carroll
to call Ivory "a freaking stud out there." Ivory ended the regular season with 137 rushes for 716 yards (leading the team) and 5 touchdowns, but he also suffered repeated injuries during the year; after a foot injury in the Saints' last regular season game, he was placed on the injured reserve list and was unable to play in the post-season.
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...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the Saints after 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...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Washington State
Washington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
and at Tiffin
Tiffin University
Tiffin University is a university in Tiffin, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1888, Tiffin University enrolls over 4,900 students in undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered at the Tiffin campus in Tiffin, Ohio, at the University of Bucharest in Romania, and at several locations in Ohio,...
.
Early years
Ivory earned letters in both football and track and field in high school at Longview High SchoolLongview High School
Longview High School is a public, co-educational 5A high school serving grades nine to twelve in Longview, Texas . The school serves as the secondary campus of the Longview Independent School District...
in Longview, Texas
Longview, Texas
Longview is a city in Gregg and Harrison Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 80,455. Most of the city is located in Gregg County, of which it is the county seat; only a small part extends into the western part of neighboring Harrison County. It is...
, playing on a team that also included future NFL players Trent Williams
Trent Williams
-Washington Redskins:Williams was drafted fourth overall by the Washington Redskins and agreed to a six-year, $60 million contract on July 30, 2010.-External links:**...
, Malcolm Kelly
Malcolm Kelly
Malcolm Kelly is a professional American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He played college football at The University of Oklahoma.-Early years:Kelly attended Longview High School in...
, and Robert Henson
Robert Henson (American Football)
Robert Henson is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Texas Christian University and was drafted in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins....
. He was listed as a two-star recruit by both 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...
and 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...
.
College career
Ivory played three years for Washington StateWashington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
. Limited by injuries, in 22 games he had 91 rushes for 534 yards and 4 touchdowns, as well as 23 kickoff returns averaging 22.8 yards. When the coaches who had recruited him were replaced by a new coaching staff, Ivory found himself far down on the Cougars' depth chart. In August 2009, Ivory was dismissed from the Washington State team for violating team rules.
Ivory then transferred to Tiffin, a Division II school in Tiffin, Ohio
Tiffin, Ohio
Tiffin is a city in and the county seat of Seneca County, Ohio, United States. The population was 18,135 at the 2000 census. The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated Tiffin as a Tree City USA....
, whose team was coached by Dave Walkosky, a former Washington State assistant coach. In Ivory's final year of college football, he had 39 rushes for 223 yards in five games before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Walkosky attempted to obtain a medical redshirt exemption to allow Ivory to play another year, but this was unsuccessful. Despite his brief stint at Tiffin, Ivory's performance and speed attracted attention from NFL scouts, and he was thought to have a chance of becoming the first Tiffin player to be drafted by the NFL The Saints became interested in Ivory, despite his injuries, after one of their scouts was impressed by Walkosky's enthusiastic recommendations.
New Orleans Saints
Ivory was not drafted, but he reached a deal with the Saints immediately after the draft, and signed as a free agent on May 3, 2010. He had an impressive performance in training camp and preseason games, highlighted by a strong performance against the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
that included a 76-yard touchdown on a swing pass.
Early season injuries to Reggie Bush
Reggie Bush
Reginald Alfred "Reggie" Bush II is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
and Pierre Thomas
Pierre Thomas
Pierre Thomas, sieur du Fossé was a French scholar and author, and was the son of a master of accounts at Rouen. He was sent as a child to be educated to the Jansenists at Port-Royal des Champs. There he received his bent towards the life of a recluse, and even of a hermit, which drew him to...
left Ivory as the Saints' starting running back. He had a breakout game in Week 6 against Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
: his 158 yards on 15 carries were the most by any Saints running back since Deuce McAllister
Deuce McAllister
Dulymus Jenod "Deuce" McAllister is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
rushed for 165 yards in a 2003 game, and the most by a Saints rookie since a 179 yard effort by Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams
Errick Lynne "Ricky" Williams, Jr. is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints fifth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft...
in 1999. The performance earned him awards as both Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week
Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week
Every week during the NFL season, five finalists are chosen for the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week award, and a winner is determined by fan voting online at . At the end of the season, total fan voting from the year is tabulated to determine the five finalists for the Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the...
and FedEx Ground Player of the Week
FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week
Every week during the NFL season, six finalists are chosen for the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week award, 3 nominated as the FedEx Air player and 3 nominated as the FedEx Ground player , online at...
. Another strong performance in Week 11, with 23 rushes for 99 yards in a 34-19 win over against Seattle
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, led Seahawks coach Pete Carroll
Pete Carroll
Peter Clay Carroll is the head coach and executive Vice-President of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He is a former head coach of the New York Jets, New England Patriots and the University of Southern California Trojans football team.-Early life:Carroll attended Redwood High...
to call Ivory "a freaking stud out there." Ivory ended the regular season with 137 rushes for 716 yards (leading the team) and 5 touchdowns, but he also suffered repeated injuries during the year; after a foot injury in the Saints' last regular season game, he was placed on the injured reserve list and was unable to play in the post-season.