Curtis Lofton
Encyclopedia
Curtis Tremayne Lofton is a linebacker
for the Atlanta Falcons
of the National Football League
. He played collegiately for the Oklahoma Sooners
. In 2007 he was named Big 12
defensive player of the year and an All-America
selection. Lofton opted out of his senior season and declared himself eligible for the 2008 NFL Draft
. He was considered the top middle linebacker in the draft.
(Scout.com), No. 4 inside LB in the nation (Rivals.com) and No. 62 player in the nation (Rivals.com).
Lofton was a Parade first team All-American (2004), The Oklahoman All-State (2004), first team Coaches All-State 2004 and also nominated for the March of Dimes Oklahoma Headliners Banquet as one of the top scholar-athletes in the state of Oklahoma competed on the basketball and track teams. He was an honors student and was coached during his final season by Jeff Myers.
In high school and earlier years, Curtis readily identified himself as either "Black 40" or "Big Dino."
. He was lettered as a true freshman starting in every game and finishing with 103 tackles and 7 tackle for loss .
against Nebraska . He closed out the year with four solo tackles and a 14-yard kickoff return against Boise State in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl
he also recovered a fumble and was ranked second on the team in special teams tackles with 10. He finished the season with 14 games played and recorded 37 tackles (20 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.
and The Sporting News
adding second-team accolades from the Associated Press
.
He totaled 157 tackles, which ranked third in the nation, three interceptions, 10 tackles for loss and one sack while compiling eight games of at least 10 tackles, and added first-team All-Big 12 Conference recognition from the league coaches and was selected as the Associated Press
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. His 11.2 tackles per game ranked seventh nationally and second in the conference.
Was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week by his performance against Utah State after recording 12 tackles and one interception which was returned 45 yards for a touchdown and also credited for 16 tackles and one pass defensed at Colorado . In the 2007 Big 12 Championship Game
, Lofton picked off a Chase Daniel
pass and returned it 26 yards to the Tiger 7-yard line. The Sooner offense cashed in the takeaway with a touchdown to expand OU lead to 28-14. The play tipped the momentum and Oklahoma cruised in with a 38-17 triumph.
Sean Weatherspoon
nicknamed him "the police" because of his number 5-0.
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for 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...
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 played collegiately for the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
. In 2007 he was named Big 12
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
defensive player of the year and an All-America
2007 College Football All-America Team
The 2007 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American Teams: Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, ESPN, CBS Sports, College...
selection. Lofton opted out of his senior season and declared himself eligible for the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. He was considered the top middle linebacker in the draft.
High school
Three-year letterman and starter, he also played fullback. He led team in tackles with 168 his senior year and 505 over his career, his team won the 3A state championship in 2003 and advanced to semifinals in 2004 . He rushed for 12 touchdowns as a senior. Was ranked No. 8 inside LB in the nation (ESPN.com), No. 2 in the Midlands (SuperPrep and Scout.com), No. 9 linebacker in the nation (Scout.com), No. 2 player in OklahomaOklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
(Scout.com), No. 4 inside LB in the nation (Rivals.com) and No. 62 player in the nation (Rivals.com).
Lofton was a Parade first team All-American (2004), The Oklahoman All-State (2004), first team Coaches All-State 2004 and also nominated for the March of Dimes Oklahoma Headliners Banquet as one of the top scholar-athletes in the state of Oklahoma competed on the basketball and track teams. He was an honors student and was coached during his final season by Jeff Myers.
In high school and earlier years, Curtis readily identified himself as either "Black 40" or "Big Dino."
2005
He went to Oklahoma to play college football with the Oklahoma SoonersOklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
. He was lettered as a true freshman starting in every game and finishing with 103 tackles and 7 tackle for loss .
2006
Lofton totaled five tackles and one tackle for loss in the 2006 Big 12 Championship Game2006 Big 12 Championship Game
The 2006 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship Game was held on December 2, 2006 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, and pit the divisional winners from the Big 12 Conference: the Nebraska Cornhuskers, winner of the North division against the Oklahoma Sooners, winner of the South division. The...
against Nebraska . He closed out the year with four solo tackles and a 14-yard kickoff return against Boise State in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl
2007 Fiesta Bowl
The 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl was a college football bowl game played as part of the 2006–2007 Bowl Championship Series of the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season...
he also recovered a fumble and was ranked second on the team in special teams tackles with 10. He finished the season with 14 games played and recorded 37 tackles (20 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.
2007
Lofton earned first-team All-American honors from The NFL Draft Report, Football Writers Association of America, Sports IllustratedSports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
and 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"...
adding second-team accolades from the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
.
He totaled 157 tackles, which ranked third in the nation, three interceptions, 10 tackles for loss and one sack while compiling eight games of at least 10 tackles, and added first-team All-Big 12 Conference recognition from the league coaches and was selected as the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. His 11.2 tackles per game ranked seventh nationally and second in the conference.
Was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week by his performance against Utah State after recording 12 tackles and one interception which was returned 45 yards for a touchdown and also credited for 16 tackles and one pass defensed at Colorado . In the 2007 Big 12 Championship Game
2007 Big 12 Championship Game
The 2007 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship Game was held on December 1, 2007 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, and pit the divisional winners from the Big 12 Conference: the Missouri Tigers, winner of the North division against the Oklahoma Sooners, winner of the South division.Per Big 12...
, Lofton picked off a Chase Daniel
Chase Daniel
William Chase Daniel is an American football quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
pass and returned it 26 yards to the Tiger 7-yard line. The Sooner offense cashed in the takeaway with a touchdown to expand OU lead to 28-14. The play tipped the momentum and Oklahoma cruised in with a 38-17 triumph.
Sean Weatherspoon
Sean Weatherspoon
Franklin De'Sean "Sean" Weatherspoon is an American football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He played college football at University of Missouri...
nicknamed him "the police" because of his number 5-0.
Professional career
Lofton became a starter in his rookie 2008 season and ranked fourth on the team with 94 tackles (67 solo).Regular season
| Tackles | Interceptions | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | GS | Comb | Total | Ast | Sack | FF | PDef | Int | Yds | ||
| 2008 2008 Atlanta Falcons season The 2008 Atlanta Falcons season was the 43rd season for the team in the National Football League. Overcoming a disappointing 4-12 record, quarterback Michael Vick's dog fighting scandal and head coach Bobby Petrino's abrupt resignation in 2007, the Falcons, who were expected to be in a rebuilding... |
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... |
NFL 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... |
16 | 15 | 94 | 67 | 27 | 1.0 | 1 | 3 | -- | -- | ||
| 2009 2009 Atlanta Falcons season The 2009 Atlanta Falcons season was the 44th season for the team in the National Football League. The team looked to match or improve upon their 11–5 record from 2008 and return to the playoffs, however the Falcons were eliminated from contention in Week 15... |
Falcons | NFL | 16 | 16 | 133 | 105 | 28 | 0.0 | 2 | 2 | -- | -- | ||
| Regular season totals | 32 | 31 | 227 | 172 | 55 | 1.0 | 3 | 5 | -- | -- | ||||