Jake Kirkpatrick
Encyclopedia
Jacob Daniel Kirkpatrick (born July 7, 1987) is an American football
center
for the Indianapolis Colts
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football
at Texas Christian University
. Kirkpatrick was a 2009 All-American
selection by Sports Illustrated
.
, where he started to play football in his senior season, and earned second-team all-district honors at offensive guard. Previously playing basketball, Kirkpatrick was also the 5A District Most Valuable Player in that sport.
Considered only a two-star recruit by Rivals.com
, Kirkpatrick was not ranked among the nation's top interior linemen prospects in 2006. In fact, he only drew one scholarship offer, TCU.
his initial year at TCU, Kirkpatrick appeared in nine games in 2007 and was also utilized on special teams. In his sophomore year, he was assigned as backup to Blake Schlueter
and saw action in 12 of 13 games.
With Schlueter moved on to the NFL, Kirkpatrick took over as starting center for the Horned Frogs in 2009. Calling the blocking scheme on every play, he anchored an offensive line that helped TCU to a perfect 12–0 season, as well as a top-five ranking nationally in scoring offense (40.7 points per game), total offense (469.1 yards per game) and rushing offense (256.5 yards per game).
Kirkpatrick was named a finalist for the 2009 Dave Rimington Trophy
, awarded annually to college football's best center, and also received All-American honors by Sports Illustrated. In 2010, Kirkpatrick won the Rimington Trophy.
, Kirkpatrick was not selected in the 2011 NFL Draft
. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts
as an undrafted free agent on July 25, 2011.
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...
for the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American 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 was signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2011. 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 Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
. Kirkpatrick was a 2009 All-American
2009 College Football All-America Team
An All-American team is an honorary sports team for a specific season composed of the best amateur players at each position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply "All-Americans". Although the honorees generally do not...
selection by Sports Illustrated
Sports 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...
.
Early years
Kirkpatrick attended Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler, TexasTyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
, where he started to play football in his senior season, and earned second-team all-district honors at offensive guard. Previously playing basketball, Kirkpatrick was also the 5A District Most Valuable Player in that sport.
Considered only a two-star recruit by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
, Kirkpatrick was not ranked among the nation's top interior linemen prospects in 2006. In fact, he only drew one scholarship offer, TCU.
College career
After redshirtingRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
his initial year at TCU, Kirkpatrick appeared in nine games in 2007 and was also utilized on special teams. In his sophomore year, he was assigned as backup to Blake Schlueter
Blake Schlueter
Blake Schlueter is an American football center who is a currently a Free Agent. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
and saw action in 12 of 13 games.
With Schlueter moved on to the NFL, Kirkpatrick took over as starting center for the Horned Frogs in 2009. Calling the blocking scheme on every play, he anchored an offensive line that helped TCU to a perfect 12–0 season, as well as a top-five ranking nationally in scoring offense (40.7 points per game), total offense (469.1 yards per game) and rushing offense (256.5 yards per game).
Kirkpatrick was named a finalist for the 2009 Dave Rimington Trophy
Dave Rimington Trophy
The Dave Rimington Trophy is awarded to the player considered to be the best center in college football. Dave Rimington was a center who played at the University of Nebraska from 1979-1982....
, awarded annually to college football's best center, and also received All-American honors by Sports Illustrated. In 2010, Kirkpatrick won the Rimington Trophy.
Professional career
Despite having a stellar career at TCUTexas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
, Kirkpatrick was not selected in the 2011 NFL Draft
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
as an undrafted free agent on July 25, 2011.