Sean Weatherspoon
Encyclopedia
Franklin De'Sean "Sean" Weatherspoon (born December 29, 1987) is an American football
linebacker
for the Atlanta Falcons
of the National Football League
. He played college football at University of Missouri
. He was drafted by the Falcons with the 19th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft
.
in Jasper, Texas
where he was a versatile athlete who was an accomplished three-sport star in Texas, including as a linebacker in football. Sean was the 2006 recipient of the defensive Willie Ray Smith Award. He was named the Texas District 22-3A player of the year as a senior; after making 98 tackles
in 2005 for the Jasper Bulldogs. Sean had 8 tackles for loss in 2005, and added 4 quarterback sack
s along with 2 interceptions from his linebacker position as well. His high school football career also included a 2nd-Team All-State pick. Sean also played receiver on offense, and had 27 catches for 428 yards and 7 TDs. He was a 1st-Team All-District selection as a junior in 2004 at linebacker, after registering 105 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 QB sacks and 3 interceptions. He was named the 22-3A defensive newcomer of the year as a sophomore in 2003; when he amassed 101 stops, 3 tackles for loss, 1 QB sack and 2 interceptions. He was an All-State high jumper in track, and an All-District performer as a guard in basketball.
Considered only a two-star recruit by Rivals.com
, Weatherspoon was not ranked among the best linebacker prospects in the nation. He chose Missouri over Iowa State
, Houston
, Tulane
, and TCU
, among others.
in 2006, Weatherspoon saw action in all 13 games, primarily on various special teams units, and was named Mizzou's special teams player of the year, as he led the team with 9 tackles on kickoff coverage. Weatherspoon was listed as the backup on the depth chart at middle linebacker to senior co-captain Dedrick Harrington
, and had 17 tackles in all for the season.
As a sophomore, Weatherspoon became a starter at weakside linebacker and blossomed into a leader on the field. He led the team with 130 tackles, and also broke up 8 passes on the year (2nd-most on the team). Weatherspoon received All-Big 12 First Team honors by the Associated Press
, San Antonio Express-News
, and Rivals.com in 2007.
In 2008, Weatherspoon finished the season with 155 tackles, which were the 2nd-most in Missouri single-season history, trailing only to Travis McDonald (164 in 1994). He also had 18.5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions (2 of which he returned for touchdowns), and also broke up 7 passes. In the 2008 Alamo Bowl
, Weatherspoon was named the game's defensive MVP after registering 17 tackles. He announced after the game that he had filed for the 2009 NFL Draft
, but just to see where he would rank, and that he would return for his senior season.
19th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He signed a five-year contract worth $17.5 million on July 29, 2010.
In his 2010 season, Weatherspoon recorded 42 total tackles and one sack.
in 1987. He has an older sister Wanda and two older brothers Douglas and Develous Jr. Sean is the second cousin of former WNBA star Teresa Weatherspoon
. The family originated in Pineland, Texas
and moved to Greenville, South Carolina
in 1984. The family moved back to Texas in 1988, settling in Jasper.
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...
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...
for 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...
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 played college football at University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
. He was drafted by the Falcons with the 19th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
.
High school career
Weatherspoon attended Jasper High SchoolJasper High School (Jasper, Texas)
Jasper High School is a high school located in Jasper, Texas. The school is part of the Jasper Independent School District. It serves grades 9-12 and the principal is Victor Williams. The assistant principal is Brenda Payne.-Mission:"Jasper I. S. D...
in Jasper, Texas
Jasper, Texas
Jasper is the county seat of Jasper County, Texas, in the United States. The population was 8,247 at the 2000 census. Jasper is situated in the Deep East Texas subregion, about northeast of Houston. The city is best known for the 1998 murder of James Byrd, Jr., an event which gained national...
where he was a versatile athlete who was an accomplished three-sport star in Texas, including as a linebacker in football. Sean was the 2006 recipient of the defensive Willie Ray Smith Award. He was named the Texas District 22-3A player of the year as a senior; after making 98 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....
in 2005 for the Jasper Bulldogs. Sean had 8 tackles for loss in 2005, and added 4 quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s along with 2 interceptions from his linebacker position as well. His high school football career also included a 2nd-Team All-State pick. Sean also played receiver on offense, and had 27 catches for 428 yards and 7 TDs. He was a 1st-Team All-District selection as a junior in 2004 at linebacker, after registering 105 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 QB sacks and 3 interceptions. He was named the 22-3A defensive newcomer of the year as a sophomore in 2003; when he amassed 101 stops, 3 tackles for loss, 1 QB sack and 2 interceptions. He was an All-State high jumper in track, and an All-District performer as a guard in basketball.
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...
, Weatherspoon was not ranked among the best linebacker prospects in the nation. He chose Missouri over Iowa State
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
, Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
, Tulane
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
, and TCU
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...
, among others.
College career
One of only four true freshmen to play for the TigersMissouri Tigers football
The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996...
in 2006, Weatherspoon saw action in all 13 games, primarily on various special teams units, and was named Mizzou's special teams player of the year, as he led the team with 9 tackles on kickoff coverage. Weatherspoon was listed as the backup on the depth chart at middle linebacker to senior co-captain Dedrick Harrington
Dedrick Harrington
Dedrick Harrington is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent of the National Football League. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Missouri.Harrington has also been a member of the St. Louis Rams.-External...
, and had 17 tackles in all for the season.
As a sophomore, Weatherspoon became a starter at weakside linebacker and blossomed into a leader on the field. He led the team with 130 tackles, and also broke up 8 passes on the year (2nd-most on the team). Weatherspoon received All-Big 12 First Team honors by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, San Antonio Express-News
San Antonio Express-News
The San Antonio Express-News is the daily newspaper of San Antonio, Texas. It is ranked as the third-largest daily newspaper in the state of Texas in terms of circulation, and is one of the leading news sources of South Texas, with offices in Austin, Brownsville, Laredo, and Mexico City...
, and Rivals.com in 2007.
In 2008, Weatherspoon finished the season with 155 tackles, which were the 2nd-most in Missouri single-season history, trailing only to Travis McDonald (164 in 1994). He also had 18.5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions (2 of which he returned for touchdowns), and also broke up 7 passes. In the 2008 Alamo Bowl
2008 Alamo Bowl
The 2008 Valero Alamo Bowl is a college football bowl game that is part of the 2008–2009 bowl season of the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The 2008 game was the 16th annual edition of the contest, the second to be sponsored by Valero Energy Corporation, and was played on December 29,...
, Weatherspoon was named the game's defensive MVP after registering 17 tackles. He announced after the game that he had filed for the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
, but just to see where he would rank, and that he would return for his senior season.
Professional career
Weatherspoon was drafted by 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...
19th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He signed a five-year contract worth $17.5 million on July 29, 2010.
In his 2010 season, Weatherspoon recorded 42 total tackles and one sack.
Personal
Sean was born to Develous Weatherspoon and Elwanda Martin Weatherspoon in Greenville, South CarolinaGreenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
in 1987. He has an older sister Wanda and two older brothers Douglas and Develous Jr. Sean is the second cousin of former WNBA star Teresa Weatherspoon
Teresa Weatherspoon
-Personal:Weatherspoon was born to Charles and Rowena Weatherspoon in Pineland, Texas. Her father, Charles Sr., played minor league baseball in the Minnesota Twins' farm system, and holds the record for the most grand slams in a minor league game. Weatherspoon has two brothers and three sisters...
. The family originated in Pineland, Texas
Pineland, Texas
Pineland is a city in Sabine County, Texas, United States. The population was 980 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pineland is located at ....
and moved to Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
in 1984. The family moved back to Texas in 1988, settling in Jasper.