Florence in 2006. |
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| No. 29 Buffalo Bills | |
| Cornerback | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: December 19, 1980 | |
| Place of birth: Waycross, Georgia | |
| Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | Weight: 195 lb (88 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: Tuskegee | |
| NFL Draft: 2003 / Round: 2 / Pick: 46 | |
| Debuted in 2003 for the San Diego Chargers | |
| Career history | |
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| Roster status: Active | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 16, 2011 | |
| Tackles | 440 |
| Sacks | 0.0 |
| INTs | 17 |
| Forced fumbles | 3 |
| Stats at NFL.com | |
Drayton Florence, Jr. (born December 19, 1980) is an American football cornerback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee-Chattanooga and Tuskegee.
Florence has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Florence was an all-district selection at Vanguard High School in Ocala, Florida, but spent his sophomore year at Richland Northeast High School in Columbia, South Carolina.
Florence attended Tuskegee University (2001–2002) after transferring from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1999–2000). He registered school-record three returns for touchdowns on interceptions at Tuskegee. As a senior, he was named first-team Division II All-America by the Associated Press and American Coaches Association. He majored in social work.
Florence was drafted by the Chargers 46th overall in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft and was the 2nd cornerback selected by Chargers that draft after Sammy Davis. He is the highest drafted NFL player from Tuskegee University
| Pre-draft measureables | ||||||||||
| Ht | Wt | 40-yard dash | 10-yd split | 20-yd split | 20 ss | 3-cone | Vert | Broad | BP | Wonderlic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-0¼ * | 198 lb * | 4.39 * | 1.53 * | 2.58 * | X * | X * | 35 in. * | 10'04" * | 18 * | X |
| (* represents NFL Combine)[1] | ||||||||||
Initially drafted as a nickel back who could fill in at safety if needed, Florence had fought his way to become a legitimate starting cornerback in the NFL across Quentin Jammer.
On Sunday, January 14, 2007 in the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the New England Patriots after a muffed punt by wide receiver Eric Parker at the San Diego 31 yard line, Florence committed a personal foul, head-butting Patriot TE Daniel Graham following a 3rd and long play.[2] During the play, the Charger defense had stopped the Patriots for a 7 yard loss putting the ball at the Charger 37 yard line (apx. 53 yard field goal range). The result of the penalty was a Patriots first down on the Charger 18. The extension of the drive led to a Stephen Gostkowski 34 yard field goal. The Patriots went on to win the game 24-21.[3]
The NFL fined San Diego Chargers cornerback Drayton Florence $15,000 for the illegal hit he put on Houston Texans Quarterback Matt Schaub on Sunday October 28. On an interception return, Florence drilled Schaub from the blind side, and he was penalized 15 yards for unnecessary roughness. The league ruled that on a change of possession, Florence unnecessarily made helmet-to-helmet contact with Schaub, who suffered a concussion and missed the rest of the game.
On March 1, 2008, Florence was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars to a six-year $36 million contract with $13 million in guaranteed money.[4] After only one disappointing season with the team he was released on February 11, 2009.[5]
On March 3, 2009, Florence was signed by the Buffalo Bills. Florence has fought his way into the starting rotation under Head Coach Chan Gailey and the man responsible for drafting him, GM Buddy Nix. Florence has responded by leading the Bills in takeaways, including a fumble returned for a touchdown against the Bengals and an interception returned for a touchdown against Minnesota, two weeks apart.[6]
On July 27th, 2011, Florence re-signed with the Bills for 3 years $15 million.
He is the cousin of Chicago Rush wide receiver Carlos Wright.[7]
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