Curtis Deloatch
Encyclopedia
Curtis Lee Deloatch is an American football
cornerback
who is currently a free agent
. He was signed by the New York Giants
as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football
at North Carolina A&T.
Deloatch has also played for the New Orleans Saints
, Carolina Panthers
and Florida Tuskers.
at Hertford County High School in Ahoskie, North Carolina
.
. As a redshirt freshman, he played in the team's final eight games as a reserve free safety. He recorded seven tackles (four solo) with nine pass deflections and an interception. He also returned 12 punts for 143 yards (11.9-yard avg.) and five kickoffs for 104 yards (20.8-yard avg.)
As a sophomore in 2001, Deloatch was a consensus All-America
n and first-team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
choice. He lined up at free safety and recorded 26 tackles (18 solo) with a stop for a 3-yard loss. Deloatch set school and conference season-records, as he gained 248 yards with a pair of touchdowns on four interceptions. He deflected six passes and returned eight kickoffs for 392 yards (34.0 avg). He set NCAA Division 1-AA season-records as he scored five times on 20 punts for a school season-record 530 yards, leading the nation with a 26.5-yard average.
As a junior, Deloatch appeared in ten games at strong-side cornerback, recording 14 tackles (ten solo) with an assisted stop for a 3-yard loss. He intercepted a pass, deflected six others and returned 28 punts for 193 yards (6.9 avg).
As a senior, Deloatch was an All-MEAC second team selection as a defensive back. He played in every game and had 21 tackles (15 solo) with an assisted stop for a 3-yard loss. He intercepted four passes for 44 yards and a touchdown. He deflected eight passes and blocked a kick. Deloatch also returned 28 punts for 269 yards (9.6-yard avg.) and three kickoffs for 38 yards.
in 2004 and 2005, having been acquired as an undrafted free agent.
In 2004 he was one of only two members of the Giants 2004 rookie class to play in all 16 regular season games (the other was linebacker Reggie Torbor
.) The majority of action came on special teams and in nickel and dime packages. He finished with 17 tackles (15 solo) and 12 special teams tackles.
The following year, he played in all 16 regular season games with 13 starts at right cornerback, plus the NFC Wild Card Game. Finished the season with 54 tackles (45 solo), one interception, a team-high 12 passes defensed, one fumble recovery and four special teams tackles.
He was waived by the Giants before the 2006 regular season.
Less than three weeks later, he scored one of the most dramatic touchdowns in Saints history, when he recovered a punt blocked by Steve Gleason
against the Atlanta Falcons
. It was the first touchdown in the Saints' first home game in nearly 21 months, since Hurricane Katrina
devastated the city.
but tore his ACL
in October against the Colts ending his season. He was placed on injured reserve
by the Carolina Panthers
on October 31, 2007.
On May 27, 2008, Deloatch was re-signed by the Panthers. He was later released after the Panthers had to cut down their roster size.
(Paterson, New Jersey
), and Manchester Regional High School
(Haledon, New Jersey
), about making smart choices in life and striving for success.
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...
who is currently 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....
. He was signed by the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2004. 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 North Carolina A&T.
Deloatch has also played 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 ....
, Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
and Florida Tuskers.
Early years
Deloatch played high school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at Hertford County High School in Ahoskie, North Carolina
Ahoskie, North Carolina
Ahoskie is a town in Hertford County, North Carolina. The population was 4,523 at the 2000 census. Ahoskie is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region. Its nickname is "The Only One" because no other town in the world is known by the same name...
.
College career
Deloatch attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State UniversityNorth Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a land-grant university located in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest publicly funded historically black college in the state of North Carolina.NC A&T is a constituent institution of the University of North...
. As a redshirt freshman, he played in the team's final eight games as a reserve free safety. He recorded seven tackles (four solo) with nine pass deflections and an interception. He also returned 12 punts for 143 yards (11.9-yard avg.) and five kickoffs for 104 yards (20.8-yard avg.)
As a sophomore in 2001, Deloatch was a consensus All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n and first-team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is a collegiate athletic conference of historically black colleges and universities in the Southeastern United States...
choice. He lined up at free safety and recorded 26 tackles (18 solo) with a stop for a 3-yard loss. Deloatch set school and conference season-records, as he gained 248 yards with a pair of touchdowns on four interceptions. He deflected six passes and returned eight kickoffs for 392 yards (34.0 avg). He set NCAA Division 1-AA season-records as he scored five times on 20 punts for a school season-record 530 yards, leading the nation with a 26.5-yard average.
As a junior, Deloatch appeared in ten games at strong-side cornerback, recording 14 tackles (ten solo) with an assisted stop for a 3-yard loss. He intercepted a pass, deflected six others and returned 28 punts for 193 yards (6.9 avg).
As a senior, Deloatch was an All-MEAC second team selection as a defensive back. He played in every game and had 21 tackles (15 solo) with an assisted stop for a 3-yard loss. He intercepted four passes for 44 yards and a touchdown. He deflected eight passes and blocked a kick. Deloatch also returned 28 punts for 269 yards (9.6-yard avg.) and three kickoffs for 38 yards.
New York Giants
Deloatch played for the New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2004 and 2005, having been acquired as an undrafted free agent.
In 2004 he was one of only two members of the Giants 2004 rookie class to play in all 16 regular season games (the other was linebacker Reggie Torbor
Reggie Torbor
Reggie Jermaine Torbor is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Auburn.Torbor has also played for the Miami Dolphins...
.) The majority of action came on special teams and in nickel and dime packages. He finished with 17 tackles (15 solo) and 12 special teams tackles.
The following year, he played in all 16 regular season games with 13 starts at right cornerback, plus the NFC Wild Card Game. Finished the season with 54 tackles (45 solo), one interception, a team-high 12 passes defensed, one fumble recovery and four special teams tackles.
He was waived by the Giants before the 2006 regular season.
New Orleans Saints
Deloatch was then claimed by the Saints on September 3, 2006.Less than three weeks later, he scored one of the most dramatic touchdowns in Saints history, when he recovered a punt blocked by Steve Gleason
Steve Gleason
Stephen Michael Gleason is a former American football safety of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college football at Washington State.As a free agent in 2008, Gleason retired from the NFL after eight...
against the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. It was the first touchdown in the Saints' first home game in nearly 21 months, since Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
devastated the city.
Carolina Panthers
In 2007, Deloatch signed with the Carolina PanthersCarolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
but tore his ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in October against the Colts ending his season. He was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
by the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
on October 31, 2007.
On May 27, 2008, Deloatch was re-signed by the Panthers. He was later released after the Panthers had to cut down their roster size.
Florida Tuskers
Deloatch was signed by the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League on August 25, 2009. He was released on September 22, 2009.Personal
Deloatch joined several rookie teammates to visit the N.J. Veteran’s Memorial Home at Menlo Park on Veteran’s Day. He participated in the Giants Player Development cooking competition at ESPN Zone, as well as the “Giant Steps to Success” program, speaking to kids at John F. Kennedy High SchoolJohn F. Kennedy High School (Paterson, New Jersey)
John F. Kennedy High School is a four-year public high school in Paterson, New Jersey, United States, that serves the western section of Paterson. Kennedy High School, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Paterson Public Schools...
(Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
), and Manchester Regional High School
Manchester Regional High School
Manchester Regional High School is a comprehensive, four-year public high school and regional school district serving students in grades 9 - 12 from three communities in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States...
(Haledon, New Jersey
Haledon, New Jersey
Haledon is a borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,318.Haledon was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1908, replacing the now-defunct Manchester Township, based on the...
), about making smart choices in life and striving for success.