Duke Preston
Encyclopedia
Raymond Newton "Duke" Preston, III (born June 12, 1982 in San Diego, California
) is a former American football
center
. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills
in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Illinois
.
Preston has also been a member of the Green Bay Packers
and Dallas Cowboys
. He is the son of former NFL linebacker
Ray Preston.
at the University of Illinois
.
by the Bills where he played in all 16 games in the 2005 season
, starting one game for the injured Chris Villarrial
and playing on special teams. In 2006, Preston appeared in all 16 games for the Bills while starting in 8 of the contests. In 2007, Preston failed to start in any games for the Bills, but made appearances in 13 of the clubs 16 games. In his final season with the Bills (2008), Preston started 11 games, all at center, sharing time with Melvin Fowler
. He has also played some guard and right tackle for the Bills making appearances in 15 of the teams 16 contests. In 2009, Preston and Fowler were replaced by Geoff Hangartner
.
During the four years Preston spent with the Bills, he appeared in 59 of the teams 64 contests while getting a starting nod in 20 of them. After the 2008 season, Preston became an unrestricted free agent.
on March 30, 2009. He was informed of his release on August 25.
on August 26, 2009, declining offers from the Cleveland Browns
and Oakland Raiders
. He was released on October 10, to make room for Chauncey Washington
who was signed from the practice squad. He was re-signed on October 12, after Washington was waived.
.
, was a standout football player at Syracuse University
, and had a nine year NFL career with the San Diego Chargers
. He has one sister Casie currently living and teaching in Indianapolis.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) is a former American football
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...
center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. 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 Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
.
Preston has also been a member of the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
and Dallas Cowboys
Dallas 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...
. He is the son of former NFL linebacker
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...
Ray Preston.
Early years
Preston graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in San Diego.College career
Preston played college footballCollege 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 the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
.
Buffalo Bills
Preston was drafted in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
by the Bills where he played in all 16 games in the 2005 season
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
, starting one game for the injured Chris Villarrial
Chris Villarrial
Chris Villarrial is a former American football guard who played with the Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills in the National Football League. He played college football at Indiana University of Pennsylvania....
and playing on special teams. In 2006, Preston appeared in all 16 games for the Bills while starting in 8 of the contests. In 2007, Preston failed to start in any games for the Bills, but made appearances in 13 of the clubs 16 games. In his final season with the Bills (2008), Preston started 11 games, all at center, sharing time with Melvin Fowler
Melvin Fowler
Melvin Thaddeus Fowler, Jr. is an American football center who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
. He has also played some guard and right tackle for the Bills making appearances in 15 of the teams 16 contests. In 2009, Preston and Fowler were replaced by Geoff Hangartner
Geoff Hangartner
Geoffrey Thomas Hangartner is an American football center for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Panthers in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
.
During the four years Preston spent with the Bills, he appeared in 59 of the teams 64 contests while getting a starting nod in 20 of them. After the 2008 season, Preston became an unrestricted free agent.
Green Bay Packers
Preston was signed by the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
on March 30, 2009. He was informed of his release on August 25.
Dallas Cowboys
Preston signed with 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...
on August 26, 2009, declining offers from the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was released on October 10, to make room for Chauncey Washington
Chauncey Washington
-Jacksonville Jaguars:Washington was selected in the 7th round pick 213 of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. On June 26, 2008 Washington signed a contract of four years worth $1.6 million.-Dallas Cowboys:...
who was signed from the practice squad. He was re-signed on October 12, after Washington was waived.
Retirement
On May 8, 2010, Preston announced that he would retire from football finishing his career with 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...
.
Personal
His father, Raymond PrestonRaymond Preston
Raymond Preston is a former American football linebacker who played nine years from 1976 to 1984 with the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League....
, was a standout football player at Syracuse University
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...
, and had a nine year NFL career with the San Diego Chargers
San 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...
. He has one sister Casie currently living and teaching in Indianapolis.