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Robert Ferguson (football player)
Encyclopedia
Robert Charles Ferguson (born December 17, 1979 in Houston, Texas
) is an American football
wide receiver
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers
in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Texas A&M
.
Ferguson has also played for the Minnesota Vikings
, Atlanta Falcons
and Omaha Nighthawks
.
in Houston, where he was a four-time letter winner. He was named Defensive Player of the Year by the Houston Touchdown Club as a 1997 senior, when he made 96 tackles and 6 interceptions. On offense, he caught 32 passes for 999 yards and 5 touchdowns during his senior year. He won all-district and All-Greater Houston honors on both sides of the ball and was named offensive MVP of the Houston Coaches' Classic All-star game the summer after his senior year. He also earned four letters for the school's basketball team, earning all-district and all-city honors and ran track, where he was the district champion in the long jump.
, grade troubles forced him to begin his career at Tyler Junior College
. Was a junior college All-American in both 1998 and 1999 for TJC. He played safety and receiver but also spent time at cornerback and linebacker. He led the team with 36 receptions for 539 yards during his final year at Tyler.
He established himself as one of the best receivers in the Big 12 Conference
while earning first-team conference honors and being named conference Newcomer of the Year during his lone season (2000) at Texas A&M. He was the conference leader in receptions per game and ranked No. 2 in receiving yards.
He was also named the Aggies' offensive MVP when he led the team in catches with 58, receiving yards with 885, receiving touchdowns with 6, and all-purpose yards with 885. His 58 catches ranked No. 5 in school history for a single season, his 885 receiving yards ranked No. 2 and his receiving TD total tied for No. 5. He had three 100-yard receiving games, including 174 against Wyoming
which tied for No. 5 in school history. He also had a career-best 11 catches against Oklahoma State
.
. He played sparingly in his first year but slowly progressed. 2003 was his best year statistically as he caught 38 passes for 520 yards and 4 touchdowns.
on August 6, 2009 after wide receiver Harry Douglas
suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
) is an 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...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
who is currently 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 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...
in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft
2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
. 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 A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
.
Ferguson has also played for the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, 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...
and Omaha Nighthawks
Omaha Nighthawks
The Omaha Nighthawks are a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which plays in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. For their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD...
.
Early years
Ferguson played free safety and wide receiver at Spring Woods High SchoolSpring Woods High School
Spring Woods High SchoolPrincipalLance StallworthSchool typePublic school LocationHouston, Texas, United StatesEnrollment2,200 studentsCampus surroundingsUrbanMascotTigersSchool colorsBlack, Gold...
in Houston, where he was a four-time letter winner. He was named Defensive Player of the Year by the Houston Touchdown Club as a 1997 senior, when he made 96 tackles and 6 interceptions. On offense, he caught 32 passes for 999 yards and 5 touchdowns during his senior year. He won all-district and All-Greater Houston honors on both sides of the ball and was named offensive MVP of the Houston Coaches' Classic All-star game the summer after his senior year. He also earned four letters for the school's basketball team, earning all-district and all-city honors and ran track, where he was the district champion in the long jump.
College career
Originally signed as a safety with Texas A&MTexas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M Aggies refers to the students, graduates, and sports teams of Texas A&M University. The nickname "Aggie" is common at land-grant or "Ag" schools in many states. The teams compete in Division I of NCAA sports...
, grade troubles forced him to begin his career at Tyler Junior College
Tyler Junior College
Tyler Junior College is a two-year community college in Tyler, Texas, United States. TJC is one of the largest community colleges in Texas, with an enrollment of more than 12,000 credit students each year with an additional 20,000 continuing education enrollments annually. Its West Campus includes...
. Was a junior college All-American in both 1998 and 1999 for TJC. He played safety and receiver but also spent time at cornerback and linebacker. He led the team with 36 receptions for 539 yards during his final year at Tyler.
He established himself as one of the best receivers in the Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
while earning first-team conference honors and being named conference Newcomer of the Year during his lone season (2000) at Texas A&M. He was the conference leader in receptions per game and ranked No. 2 in receiving yards.
He was also named the Aggies' offensive MVP when he led the team in catches with 58, receiving yards with 885, receiving touchdowns with 6, and all-purpose yards with 885. His 58 catches ranked No. 5 in school history for a single season, his 885 receiving yards ranked No. 2 and his receiving TD total tied for No. 5. He had three 100-yard receiving games, including 174 against Wyoming
Wyoming Cowboys
Wyoming Cowboys is the name given to the sports teams of the University of Wyoming. The women's teams use the name Cowgirls. The University is a member of the Mountain West Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 17 NCAA-sanctioned sports. Wrestling is the only varsity sport that is...
which tied for No. 5 in school history. He also had a career-best 11 catches against Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State Cowboys are the athletic teams that represent Oklahoma State University. Their mascot is a cowboy named Pistol Pete. Oklahoma State participates in the NCAA's Division I-A and in the Big 12 Conference's South Division. The university's current athletic director is Mike Holder...
.
Green Bay Packers
Ferguson was drafted in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
. He played sparingly in his first year but slowly progressed. 2003 was his best year statistically as he caught 38 passes for 520 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Minnesota Vikings
He was released by the Packers in 2007 and picked up by the Minnesota Vikings. He was released after the 2008 season.Atlanta Falcons
Ferguson signed with the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta 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...
on August 6, 2009 after wide receiver Harry Douglas
Harry Douglas
Harry Douglas, IV is an American football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Falcons in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisville....
suffered a season-ending knee injury.