Ted Ginn, Jr.

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Theodore "Ted" Ginn, Jr. (born April 12, 1985 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dolphins ninth overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State.

[edit] High school career

Ginn played for his father, Ted Ginn, Sr., in high school at Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio. Ginn Jr was selected as the 2004 USA Today Defensive Player of the Year and a 2004 Parade All-American. He was also named the 2004 SuperPrep National Defensive Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl game. He intercepted eight passes as a senior, returning five of them for touchdowns. One of his interception returns went for a state-record 102-yard touchdown, while another went for a 98-yard score. As a junior, he became the national champion in the 110 high hurdles and recorded the best time in the nation as a senior when he won the state title for the second consecutive year. As a senior in High School, he ran 7.44 in the 55 meter high hurdles, 7.98 in the 60 meter high hurdles, 13.26 (+2.8 wind rating) and 13.40 (-1.2 wind rating) in the 110 meter high hurdles, 21.16 in the 200 meter dash (+0.0 wind rating), 46.57 in the 400 meter dash, and 36.73 in the 300 meter intermediate hurdles^[1][2][3] He has been unofficially timed at 10.02 seconds in the 100 meter dash and 4.20 seconds in the 40 yard dash. In 2006 at Ohio State university athletics day, he was timed as running a 4.27 40 yard dash.^[4].

[edit] High school awards and honors

• USA Today Defensive Player of the Year (2003)
• Parade All-American (2003)
• Pete Dawkins Trophy (2004)

[edit] College career

OSU track coach Russ Rogers recruited Ginn to run track, believing that he could qualify for the 2008 Olympics.^[5] However, his track career was put on hold in order to focus on football.

As a freshman, Ginn saw moderate playing time and finished the 2004 season with 25 receptions for 359 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also rushed for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground, led the nation with a 25.6 yards per punt return average, and returned four punts for touchdowns (which broke a Big Ten Conference record first set by Gene Derricotte in 1947 that was later tied twice).^[6] One of the most memorable moments in his freshman season was in the 30-7 win over Indiana. A pass to Ginn at the beginning of the first quarter was tipped by a diving Buster Larkins, but only to be grabbed by Ginn on the fingertips. Ginn then managed to turn around and juke out a defender, and break a couple more tackles on his way to an amazing 59 yard touchdown that looked more like a kick return than a reception touchdown^[7].

Ginn earned a spot as the Buckeyes Starting receiver his sophomore year in 2005. He finished the season with 51 receptions for 803 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned 18 kickoffs for 532 yards, along with 25 punts for 250 yards.

Entering the 2006 season, Ginn was considered by many to be a preseason candidate for the Heisman Trophy and the Biletnikoff Award. He was a second team All-American selection and finished as the Buckeyes top receiver with 59 catches for 781 yards, while adding another 706 yards and two touchdowns on special teams. Ginn returned the opening kickoff of the 2007 BCS National Championship Game for 92 yards for a touchdown. He sprained his left foot when fellow Buckeye Roy Hall, now playing for the Indianapolis Colts, slid into Ginn in celebration following the touchdown. He left the game soon after and didn't return^[8].

Ginn finished his career at Ohio State with 125 receptions for 1,943 yards and 15 touchdowns in 37 games. He also rushed for 213 yards, returned 38 kickoffs for 1,012 yards, and gained 900 yards on 64 punt returns, the second highest total in Ohio State history. Overall, he gained 4,068 total yards and scored 26 touchdowns^[9].

[edit] College awards and honors

• 2004 First-team All-American as a returner by SI.com, Pro Football Weekly, and Rivals.com
• 2005 Honorable mention All-Big Ten
• 2005 First-team All-American as a returner by Rivals.com
• 2006 First-team All-American as an All-Purpose player by Rivals.com
• 2006 Second-team All-American as an All-Purpose player by AP
• 2006 First-team All-Big Ten

[edit] Professional career

[edit] 2007 NFL Draft

Ginn was selected by the Miami Dolphins with the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Many were expecting the Dolphins to select Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn with the Dolphins in need of a quarterback, although they would end up drafting quarterback John Beck in the second round. Although Ginn was considered the fastest, and one of the most athletic picks going into the draft, Miami's selection of Ginn was booed heavily by Dolphins fans at the draft and was criticized by football pundits and even teammates.

(* represents NFL Combine)

[edit] Miami Dolphins

Although Ginn wore No. 11 in the team's initial minicamp, it was announced he would wear No. 19 during the regular season to honor his father, who wore the number in high school^[11].

Ginn eventually reached the end zone for the first time in Week 8 against the New York Giants on a 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cleo Lemon.

In the second quarter of a November 18 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Ginn returned a Saverio Rocca punt 87 yards for a touchdown. It was Ginn's first career touchdown return and tied for the longest punt return in franchise history. Ginn, who had never had more than three receptions or 37 receiving yards in any game prior, also set career highs with four receptions for 52 yards against the Eagles. For his performance, Ginn beat out four other candidates for the Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week. He received 40 percent of the fan votes. Also, Ginn was voted by his peers as the 3rd alternate to the 2007 Pro Bowl as a kick returner^[12].

Ginn finished his rookie season with 34 receptions for 420 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 24 punt returns for 230 yards and a touchdown, 63 kick returns for 1,433 yards, and four rushes for three yards.

[edit] Personal

Ginn has admitted that he has a learning disability, and it takes him two to three times longer to learn something than most others. After being diagnosed in the eighth grade, Ginn had tutors to help him and graduated middle and high school with honors. ^[13]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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Ted Ginn, Jr.

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