Fred Vinson (American football)
Encyclopedia
Fred Vinson is a former American football
defensive back
.
He is the cousin of National Football League
safety Corey Chavous
and is also related to Barney Chavous
, former defensive end
/defensive tackle for the Denver Broncos
.
where he was an All-Area and All-Conference selection after recording ninety-nine tackles as a senior. He attended Vanderbilt University
where he played every game as a freshman, starting
one and garnering thirty tackles
. The following season, he won a full-time starting job and had a career-high fifty-three tackles, thirty-nine of them solo. In 1997, his total increased to forty-eight tackles, with forty-four of them solo. He began his senior season as the starter for Vanderbilt, but was injured in an early contest, forcing him to miss the rest of the season.
by the Green Bay Packers
. He played as a nickelback and had nineteen tackles and two interceptions. After one season with the Packers, he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks
for running back
Ahman Green
and a fifth-round draft pick. Vinson suffered a torn ACL
during the preseason in a pickup basketball
game and was forced to miss the season. After another injury the following offseason, he was released. He attempted a comeback with the Carolina Panthers
, but did not a play a game.
He played in the Arena Football League with the Carolina Cobras
. He had eighteen tackles, but did not play in the league again following the folding of the Cobras.
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...
defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
.
He is the cousin of 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...
safety Corey Chavous
Corey Chavous
Corey Lamonte Chavous is an American football safety who is currently retired. Chavous played 11 years in the NFL for three different teams, primarily as a safety but also as a cornerback. Chavous was known as one of the most instinctive safeties of his era and was a Pro Bowl selection in 2003....
and is also related to Barney Chavous
Barney Chavous
Barney Lewis Chavous is a former American football defensive end/defensive tackle in the NFL. He played his entire thirteen year career with the Denver Broncos from 1973-1985. He ranks third on the Broncos' all-time sacks list with 75 and is tied with Tom Jackson for third in Broncos' career...
, former defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
/defensive tackle for the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
High school & college
When he was ten years old, Vinson competed in the Utah Junior Olympics, where his 40-yard dash time was 2/100ths behind the national best. He attended North Augusta High SchoolNorth Augusta High School
North Augusta High School is a four-year public high school located in North Augusta, South Carolina. Approximately 1,600 students attend the school. The school offers over thirty student organizations including Future Business Leaders of America, SADD, NJROTC, NAHS Band, and National Honor...
where he was an All-Area and All-Conference selection after recording ninety-nine tackles as a senior. He attended Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
where he played every game as a freshman, starting
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
one and garnering thirty tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
. The following season, he won a full-time starting job and had a career-high fifty-three tackles, thirty-nine of them solo. In 1997, his total increased to forty-eight tackles, with forty-four of them solo. He began his senior season as the starter for Vanderbilt, but was injured in an early contest, forcing him to miss the rest of the season.
Pro career
Despite the injury, Vinson was selected in the second round with the 47th overall selection in the 1999 NFL Draft1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 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 17-18, 1999...
by 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...
. He played as a nickelback and had nineteen tackles and two interceptions. After one season with the Packers, he was traded to 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...
for 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...
Ahman Green
Ahman Green
Ahman Rashad Green is a retired American football running back. He is the all-time leading rusher for the Green Bay Packers. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 3rd round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
and a fifth-round draft pick. Vinson suffered a torn 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...
during the preseason in a pickup basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
game and was forced to miss the season. After another injury the following offseason, he was released. He attempted a comeback with 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...
, but did not a play a game.
He played in the Arena Football League with the Carolina Cobras
Carolina Cobras
Not to be confused with the Los Angeles Cobras, who played in the 1988 AFL season.The Carolina Cobras were an expansion franchise in the Arena Football League...
. He had eighteen tackles, but did not play in the league again following the folding of the Cobras.