O.J. Santiago
Encyclopedia
Otis Jason "O.J." Santiago (born April 4, 1974) is a Canadian football
tight end
who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted
by the Atlanta Falcons
in the third round (70th overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft
, as well as by the Edmonton Eskimos
in the fifth round, 40th overall of the 1997 CFL Draft
. He played college football
at Kent State
.
from 1992 to 1996. He caught 62 passes for 730 yards for an 11.8 career average with four touchdowns during his career at Kent State. He started 22 of 33 career games at Kent State and was named to the MAC All-Academic First-Team for three straight seasons, and in 1997, he was chosen by the Atlanta Falcons
in the third round (70th overall) in the NFL Draft
. During his first year, he totaled 217 receiving yards in eleven games, for an average of 12.8 yards per catch. In 1998, Santiago's yardage numbers went up to 478 receiving yards in 16 games, for an average of 15.9 yards per catch. He also drew attention for a dance he created to celebrate a touchdown. The dance later became known as the "Dirty Bird".
In 2000, Santiago was traded to the Cleveland Browns
, where his receiving yardage went down. After spending the 2002 season injured, he played in the 2003 season for the Oakland Raiders
, where he rebounded by playing in twelve games, with 69 receiving yards, and averaging 13.8 yards per catch. Having already totaling 972 yards before joining the Raiders, he was able to reach the 1,000 yard milestone during his short tenure with the Northern California
team.
In 2004, Santiago was signed by the Denver Broncos
who released him at the end of Training Camp. On 23 May 2006 Santiago resigned with the Oakland Raiders
after not suiting up the 2005 season. On December 13, 2006 he signed with the New England Patriots
, who released him 2 days later.
On August 7, 2007 The Oakland Raiders
signed O. J. Santiago. However, he was released by the Raiders before the 2007 season began.
On May 14, 2010, he signed as a free agent with the Montreal Alouettes
of the CFL
.
On August 28, 2010, Santiago was released by the Alouettes.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
by 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...
in the third round (70th overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft
1997 NFL Draft
The 1997 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 19–20, 1997. No teams elected to claim any players in the supplemental draft that...
, as well as by the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
in the fifth round, 40th overall of the 1997 CFL Draft
1997 CFL Draft
The 1997 CFL Draft composed of 48 Canadian football players that were chosen from eligible Canadian universities as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA.- Round one :- Round two :- Round three :- Round four :- Round five :- Round six :...
. 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 Kent State
Kent State Golden Flashes
Kent State University's intercollegiate athletic teams are known as the Golden Flashes or simply as the Flashes. The university fields sixteen varsity athletic teams, all of whom play in the Mid-American Conference and in the NCAA's Division I...
.
Biography
Santiago attended Kent State UniversityKent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
from 1992 to 1996. He caught 62 passes for 730 yards for an 11.8 career average with four touchdowns during his career at Kent State. He started 22 of 33 career games at Kent State and was named to the MAC All-Academic First-Team for three straight seasons, and in 1997, he was chosen by 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...
in the third round (70th overall) in the NFL Draft
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
. During his first year, he totaled 217 receiving yards in eleven games, for an average of 12.8 yards per catch. In 1998, Santiago's yardage numbers went up to 478 receiving yards in 16 games, for an average of 15.9 yards per catch. He also drew attention for a dance he created to celebrate a touchdown. The dance later became known as the "Dirty Bird".
In 2000, Santiago was traded to 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...
, where his receiving yardage went down. After spending the 2002 season injured, he played in the 2003 season for the 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...
, where he rebounded by playing in twelve games, with 69 receiving yards, and averaging 13.8 yards per catch. Having already totaling 972 yards before joining the Raiders, he was able to reach the 1,000 yard milestone during his short tenure with the Northern California
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...
team.
In 2004, Santiago was signed by 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...
who released him at the end of Training Camp. On 23 May 2006 Santiago resigned with the 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...
after not suiting up the 2005 season. On December 13, 2006 he signed with the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, who released him 2 days later.
On August 7, 2007 The 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...
signed O. J. Santiago. However, he was released by the Raiders before the 2007 season began.
On May 14, 2010, he signed as a free agent with the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
of the CFL
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....
.
On August 28, 2010, Santiago was released by the Alouettes.