DeJuan Groce
Encyclopedia
DeJuan Anthony Groce is an American football
cornerback
in the NFL
who is a free agent
. He was drafted in the 2003 NFL Draft
by the St. Louis Rams
. Groce has also played for the New Orleans Saints
, the Seattle Seahawks
, and the Toronto Argonauts
. Groce played collegiate football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers
and set or tied four school records as well as an NCAA record. He received his Communications degree in December 2002.
in Lakewood, Ohio
, and was a letterman in football and track athletics
. In football, he was named to the PrepStar's Dream Team. In track, he ran a personal best of 10.7 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.9 seconds in the 200 meters.
, Indiana
, Ohio State
and Syracuse
, where he played football and was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi
Fraternity. As a freshman, Groce was redshirted. As a sophomore, Groce played in every game as the backup left corner, taking over as the left corner when Keyou Craver
moved to nickel back. Groce had at least one tackle in 12-of-13 games and had 24 tackles. As a junior, Groce broke Ralph Brown
's school record for pass breakups in a season with 17. In 2001, as a redshirt junior, Groce had his most productive season, starting every game at cornerback as well as returning kickoffs and punts. Additionally, Groce was named a First-Team AP All-American for his punt-return duties, finishing fourth nationally with 17.0 yards per punt return.
As a senior, Groce was selected as one of the three team captains. He continued his productive career by starting every game of his redshirt-senior season. Against Troy State, Groce set a school record and tied an NCAA record with two punt return touchdowns and a pair of first-quarter interceptions in a 31-16 win. Overall, Groce set or tied four school records and set one NCAA record. Additionally, Groce joined 1972 Heisman Trophy
winner Johnny Rodgers
as the only players in NU history to amass 1,000 career punt return yards.
In December 2002, Groce received a Communications degree.
with the tenth pick of the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft
.
of the Canadian Football League
. However, Groce was released before the start of the regular 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...
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...
in the 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...
who is 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 drafted in the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
by the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. Groce 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 ....
, the Seattle Seahawks
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...
, and the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
. Groce played collegiate football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
and set or tied four school records as well as an NCAA record. He received his Communications degree in December 2002.
Early life
DeJuan Groce was born on February 17, 1980 to Debra and Warren Groce. Growing up, he was very involved in a wide variety of sports including football, basketball, and track. Groce attended St. Edward High SchoolSt. Edward High School (Lakewood, Ohio)
St. Edward High School is private, all-male Catholic, college-preparatory high school located in Lakewood, Ohio, a western Cleveland suburb. It was founded in 1949 and is operated in the by the Midwest Province of the Brothers of Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Indiana. It is one of three remaining...
in Lakewood, Ohio
Lakewood, Ohio
Lakewood is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Area, and borders the city of Cleveland. The population was 52,131 at the 2010 making it the third largest city in Cuyahoga County, behind Cleveland and Parma .Lakewood, one of Cleveland's...
, and was a letterman in football and track athletics
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. In football, he was named to the PrepStar's Dream Team. In track, he ran a personal best of 10.7 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.9 seconds in the 200 meters.
College career
Following high school, Groce chose to attend the University of Nebraska over Michigan StateMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, Indiana
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, Ohio State
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
and Syracuse
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, where he played football and was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
Fraternity. As a freshman, Groce was redshirted. As a sophomore, Groce played in every game as the backup left corner, taking over as the left corner when Keyou Craver
Keyou Craver
Keyuo Boderek Craver is an American football defensive back currently playing with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League, who signed Craver as a free agent on March 5, 2009....
moved to nickel back. Groce had at least one tackle in 12-of-13 games and had 24 tackles. As a junior, Groce broke Ralph Brown
Ralph Brown (American football)
Ralph Davis Brown II is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He has played with the New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals....
's school record for pass breakups in a season with 17. In 2001, as a redshirt junior, Groce had his most productive season, starting every game at cornerback as well as returning kickoffs and punts. Additionally, Groce was named a First-Team AP All-American for his punt-return duties, finishing fourth nationally with 17.0 yards per punt return.
As a senior, Groce was selected as one of the three team captains. He continued his productive career by starting every game of his redshirt-senior season. Against Troy State, Groce set a school record and tied an NCAA record with two punt return touchdowns and a pair of first-quarter interceptions in a 31-16 win. Overall, Groce set or tied four school records and set one NCAA record. Additionally, Groce joined 1972 Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner Johnny Rodgers
Johnny Rodgers
Johnny Steven Rodgers is a former American college football player voted the University of Nebraska's "Player of the Century" and the winner of the 1972 Heisman Trophy.-College career:...
as the only players in NU history to amass 1,000 career punt return yards.
In December 2002, Groce received a Communications degree.
Pre-draft
St. Louis Rams
He was selected by the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
with the tenth pick of the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
.
Toronto Argonauts
On May 31, 2008, Groce signed with the Toronto ArgonautsToronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. However, Groce was released before the start of the regular season.