Jordan Kovacs

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Jordan Kovacs

Kovacs in 2012 at Michigan Stadium
No. 44     Miami Dolphins
Defensive back
Personal information
Date of birth: (1990-06-12) June 12, 1990
Place of birth: Curtice, Ohio
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)Weight: 195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school: Clay High School, Oregon, Ohio
College: Michigan
Undrafted in 2013
No regular season or postseason appearances
Career history
Roster status: Active (53-man roster)
Career highlights and awards

Career NFL statistics as of Week 5, 2013
Games played 9
Games started 0
Tackles 1
Sacks 0.0
Forced fumbles 0
Stats at NFL.com

Jordan David Kovacs (born June 12, 1990) is a American football safety for the Miami Dolphins, who played his redshirt senior season in 2012 for the Michigan Wolverines football team. He was a walk-on who earned 2009 CollegeFootballNews.com Freshman All-America second team recognition and 2009 Sporting News Freshman All-Big Ten honors for the 2009 Wolverines while being the second-leading tackler on the team. Granted a scholarship by the 2010 team for his second year, he was the second-leading tackler in the Big Ten Conference and was selected as a 2010 All-Conference honorable mention. He was also a 2011 All-Big Ten honorable mention for the 2011 team. He served the 2012 team as captain and was also a 2012 All-Big Ten second team selection and a 2012 Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

Background

Kovacs, a Hungarian American, attended Clay High School, which is the rival high school of former Wolverine teammate Kevin Koger.[1] In high school, he earned varsity letters in basketball as a sophomore and junior. He also earned All-City recognition in track and field three times (first team as a senior, second team as a junior and honorable mention as a sophomore) and was a four-year letterman. He qualified for the Ohio State championships in the 4x400 meter relay. He was a three-year letterman in football, where he earned All-Ohio academic honors and All-district honors as both a wide receiver and defensive back.[2]

He was not recruited by any Division I schools as a high school football player, but he was recruited by some Division II schools.[1] Kovacs only had two campus visits: Division II Hillsdale and Toledo (a school 13 miles from his high school).[3] By the time he completed his college applications, even Hillsdale had lost interest in him.[3] His father placed a call to Michigan Director of Football Operations Brad Labadie after Jordan was wait listed and got him to agree to review a homemade highlight reel.[3] As his graduation neared, Kovacs shook hands with Andy Boyd, a Toledo coach, on a preferred walk-on spot.[3] That same afternoon in June 2008, Labadie called to confirm that Kovacs had been admitted from the wait list.[3] The admission came without an athletic scholarship.[4] Labadie encouraged Jordan to attend walk-on tryouts.[3]

College career

Redshirt (2008)

Kovacs in Sept. 2012 with Thomas Gordon in background

Kovacs initially passed the walk-on tryouts, but he had to pass the physical with Paul "Schmidty" Schmidt, who had been a trainer since Jordan's father Lou had played and been on the coaching staff at Michigan.[3] He had had surgery to repair cartilage damage in high school, but that did not alleviate his problems.[4] When Jordan responded yes to a question about whether he had had any surgeries in the prior 12 months, it triggered a line of questioning about his senior season meniscus surgery.[3] He did not make the 2008 Wolverines due to a knee problem, but was advised to try out again after his knee healed.[5] After discovering a torn meniscus, he had a second knee surgery, which was successful.[1] He attended every game that season in his family's season ticket section.[3]

Freshman (2009)

In 2009, he was one of the most highly regarded walk-ons in the nation,[6] and emerged from a group of Michigan football players who referred to themselves as "The Walk-On Nation".[7] His debut on September 5 against the Western Michigan was on special teams.[2] The following week he registered 31 plays against Notre Dame after starting safety Michael Williams suffered leg cramps.[4] He made his first start on September 26 against Indiana.[2] On October 3 of that season, he had 17 tackles against Michigan State in the annual Paul Bunyan Trophy.[8] He posted ten tackles and made his first career interception on November 14 against Wisconsin.[2] That season he played free safety before being switched to strong safety.[1] He started one game at free safety and seven at strong safety over the course of the season.[9] He finished the season as the second leading tackler for the 2009 Wolverines.[6] He earned 2009 CollegeFootballNews.com Freshman All-America second team recognition and 2009 Sporting News Freshman All-Big Ten honors.[2] He was also a Rudy Award candidate.[2]

Sophomore (2010)

Kovacs earned a scholarship at the beginning of the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season.[10] In the second game of the season on September 11 against Notre Dame in the Michigan – Notre Dame football rivalry game, Kovacs recorded his first interception of the season and second of his career as part of a 10-tackle effort.[11][12] On October 16 he recorded 2.5 tackles for a loss against Iowa.[2] After eight games in the 2010 season he ranked second in the Big Ten Conference in tackles.[13] On November 18, he was nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, which was a newly created award for the most outstanding player to have begun his career as a walk on.[14] On November 20, he posted his first career quarterback sack during a season-high twelve tackle performance against Wisconsin.[12] With one week remaining on the conference schedule, the performance tied Kovacs for third-overall in the Big Ten, gave Kovacs a wide lead among Big Ten underclassman (8.64 vs. 7.55 per game over the next highest performer) and extended his lead among Big Ten defensive backs (8.64 vs 8.27).[15] In the final game of the regular season on November 27 against Ohio State in the annual Michigan – Ohio State football rivalry game, Kovacs recorded his second interception of the season and third of his career as part of a 17-tackle effort.[12] He collected a career-best 41 return yards following the interception.[16] In The Game, Kovacs tied a career-high with 17 total tackles including a new career-high 9 solo tackles.[12] Kovacs ended the 2010 Big Ten Conference football season ranked second in the conference to teammate Jonas Mouton in total tackles.[17][18] However, he led the team in solo tackles.[18][19] Following the Big Ten Conference season, he was selected as an honorable mention All-Conference selection by the media.[20][21][22]

Junior (2011)

When Brady Hoke took over as Michigan head coach for the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season, Kovacs impressed him quickly.[23] Kovacs was one of the first five players named as a starter for the 2011 team.[24] In the September 3, 2011 season opener against Western Michigan at Michigan Stadium, Kovacs forced a fumble that was recovered and advanced for a touchdown.[25] Although the game was ended by mutual agreement in the third quarter due to inclement weather,[26] Kovacs recorded 10 tackles, including two sacks.[12][27][28] He was named the Lott Trophy impact player of the week.[29][30] At first, the stats for the game were considered official by the Big Ten Conference and the University of Michigan, but the NCAA has vacated the statistics for this game because three quarters were not completed.[31] However, at the conclusion of the regular season, the NCAA reversed course and ruled that since the game is counting for win-loss record, the statistics will be counted by the NCAA.[32] On September 10, against Notre Dame, during the first night game ever played at Michigan Stadium, he talied an interception,[33] and eight tackles. When it became evident that the defense had improved markedly from the prior season, he and fellow safety Thomas Gordon were credited as being the "leaders of the defense".[34] On October 8, against Northwestern, Kovacs posted two solo tackles for a loss,[35] both on fourth down.[36] Kovacs suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for the October 29 game against Purdue. Kovacs had been one of twenty quarterfinalists for the Lott impact player of the year.[37] Kovacs was named as one of 10 semifinalists for the 2011 Burlsworth Trophy on November 22.[38] Following the 2011 Big Ten Conference football season, he earned All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention recognition from the media and was selected as the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient for the Michigan program.[39][40] Kovacs earned 2011 Fall Academic All-Big Ten recognition along with 10 teammates.[41] In the January 3, 2012 Sugar Bowl 23–20 overtime victory against Virginia Tech, he led the team with 11 tackles.[42] Kovacs finished among the conference leaders in several statistics: sacks/game (.33, 17th), tackles/game (6.2, 30th) and fumbles forced/game (.17, t-9th).[43]

Senior (2012)

Kovacs was elected team captain.[44] He was selected to the preseason watchlist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player).[45] At a ceremony on November 10, Kovacs' jersey number was changed from 32 to the previously retired number 11 which was recirculated as a "Michigan Football Legend" jersey in honor of Francis ("Whitey), Albert and Alvin Wistert.[46] He was interviewed as part of a 13-minute segment that appeared on the November 18 edition of 60 Minutes about the business of college football.[47][48][49] Kovacs was a second team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and an honorable mention selection by the media.[50][51] On November 27, he was named a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy.[52] At the December 3 team banquet, Kovacs earned team MVP for the season.[53] He earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition in 2012.[54] Following the season, he participated in the February 2, 2013 Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Bowl.[55]

Professional career

Kovacs signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins following the 2013 NFL Draft.[56] Kovacs was assigned to the Dolphins' practice squad to start the 2013 NFL season.[57] Kovacs was promoted to the 53-man roster in week 5 of 2013.[58] Kovacs had a tackle in his debut against the Baltimore Ravens on October 6.[59]

Personal

His father Louis, who was a walk-on for Michigan coach Bo Schembechler,[60] lettered for the 1982 Michigan Wolverines football team.[2] He subsequently served two seasons as a graduate assistant for Schembechler.[3] Lou is married to Susan Kovacs.[3] Jordan wears #32, the reverse of his father's #23.[7] Kovacs has three siblings, and his older brother Aaron played his freshman season for the 2007 Toledo Rockets.[3] His younger siblings Connor and Zack play for the 2013 Ball State Cardinals.[61] His family regularly brought him to watch Michigan home games when he was growing up. The family regularly sat in Section 27 of Michigan Stadium, on the north side of the press box. Today the family sits underneath the scoreboard, since they have a son on the team.[60] The first Michigan game Kovacs watched was Lloyd Carr's first game as coach of Michigan Wolverines football for the 1995 Wolverines, which was a memorable 18-point comeback against Virginia.[3]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Jordan Kovacs Tells His Story". GoBlueWolverine. 2009-10-22. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "32 Jordan Kovacs". CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 Jennings, Chantel (2011-09-15). "Former walk-on walks tall for U-M: Safety Jordan Kovacs has had more on-field success than he could have imagined". ESPN. Retrieved 2011-10-02. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Howard, Leah (2009-09-17). "Walk-On Wonder: Jordan Kovacs Relishes His Rags-to-Riches Tale". CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  5. ↑ Evans, Thayer (2009-09-13). "Playing Time for a Walk-On". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Walk-ons Go From No Stars To Shining Stars". Rivals.com. 2010-02-10. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Chengelis, Angelique S. (2011-09-09). "U-M's starting safety Jordan Kovacs never lost walk-on edge". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2011-09-09. 
  8. ↑ "Jordan Kovacs #32 S (2009 game log)". ESPN. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  9. ↑ "2009 Football Team". The Regents of the University of Michigan /Bentley Historical Library. 2010-03-26. Retrieved 2011-01-19. 
  10. ↑ Arnold, Jeff (2010-09-22). "Michigan safety Jordan Kovacs is more comfortable, sees defensive improvements coming". AnnArbor.com. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  11. ↑ "Michigan 28 (2-0, 1-0 away); Notre Dame 24 (1-1, 1-1 home)". ESPN. 2010-09-11. Retrieved 2010-11-28. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 "Team: Michigan - Year: 2011 Thru 09/03/11 - Player: Jordan Kovacs - Uniform #: 32 Position: DB Class: JR". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 2010-11-21. 
  13. ↑ "Michigan (5 - 3)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2010-10-30. Archived from the original on 2010-11-03. Retrieved 2010-11-03. 
  14. ↑ "Nominees Announced for Inaugural Burlsworth Trophy". Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. 2010-11-18. Retrieved 2010-12-08. 
  15. ↑ "Big Ten Player Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2010-11-20. Archived from the original on 2010-11-21. Retrieved 2010-11-21. 
  16. ↑ "Michigan 7 (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten); (8) Ohio St 37 (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten)". ESPN. 2010-11-27. Retrieved 2010-11-28. 
  17. ↑ "The Automated ScoreBook: 2010 Big Ten Conference Team Statistics Through games of Jan 07, 2011". CBS Interactive. 2010-01-07. Retrieved 2010-01-07. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Big Ten Player Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2011-01-10. Retrieved 2011-01-13. 
  19. ↑ Raftery, Kevin (2011-09-06). "Former walk-on Kovacs continues to be one of Michigan's best weapons". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 2011-09-09. 
  20. ↑ Bigelow, Pete (2010-11-29). "Michigan's Denard Robinson named Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year, other Wolverines honored". AnnArbor.com. Retrieved 2010-11-30. 
  21. ↑ "Big Ten Announces 2010 Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Honors". CBS Interactive. 2010-11-29. Retrieved 2010-11-30. 
  22. ↑ "Robinson Named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year". CBS Interactive. 2010-11-29. Retrieved 2010-11-30. 
  23. ↑ Meinke, Kyle (2011-08-24). "Walk-on Nathan Brink is true contender for starting job on Michigan's defensive line". AnnArbor.com. Retrieved 2011-09-04. 
  24. ↑ Meinke, Kyle (2011-08-20). "OPINION: 3 things sure to be on Brady Hoke's mind during today's closed Michigan football scrimmage". AnnArbor.com. Retrieved 2011-09-04. 
  25. ↑ "Michigan beats Western Michigan after game called in 3rd quarter". ESPN. 2011-09-03. Retrieved 2011-09-04. 
  26. ↑ "Storm forces Michigan to end game". ESPN. 2011-09-03. Retrieved 2011-09-04. 
  27. ↑ "Boxscore: Michigan 34, Western Michigan 10". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2011-09-03. Retrieved 2011-11-19. 
  28. ↑ "Box Score (Final): The Automated ScoreBook: Western Michigan vs MICH (Sep 03, 2011 at Ann Arbor, MI)". CSTV.com. 2011-09-03. Retrieved 2011-11-19. 
  29. ↑ "Kovacs Named Lott IMPACT Player of the Week". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2011-09-06. Retrieved 2011-09-11. 
  30. ↑ "Michigan's Kovacs Named Lott IMPACT Player of the Week". Lott Trophy. Retrieved 2011-09-11. 
  31. ↑ Bennett, Brian (2011-09-10). "NCAA won't count rain-shortened stats". ESPN. Retrieved 2011-09-12. 
  32. ↑ Rothstein, Michael (2011-11-30). "Stats from storm-shortened game count". ESPN. Retrieved 2011-12-01. 
  33. ↑ Cunningham, Pete (2011-09-11). "notebook: Michigan's defense continues to win the turnover battle and more notes from Saturday's win over Notre Dame". AnnArbor.com. Retrieved 2011-09-11. 
  34. ↑ Meinke, Kyle (2011-09-30). "Grading Michigan's nonconference performance: Safeties earn high marks for 4-0 start". AnnArbor.com. Retrieved 2011-10-02. 
  35. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #12 Michigan 42, Northwestern 24". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. October 8, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2011. 
  36. ↑ "Box Score (Final): 2011 Michigan Football: #12 Michigan vs Northwestern (Oct 08, 2011 at Evanston, Ill.)". CSTV.com. 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2011-10-11. 
  37. ↑ "Michigan's Jordan Kovacs injured". ESPN. 2011-10-29. Retrieved 2011-10-30. 
  38. ↑ "Kovacs Named Semifinalist for Burlsworth Trophy". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2011-11-22. Retrieved 2011-11-28. 
  39. ↑ "Molk Named Top Offensive Lineman to Headline Big Ten Awards". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2011-11-28. Retrieved 2011-11-29. 
  40. ↑ "Big Ten Announces 2011 All-Big Ten Teams and Select Individual Award Winners". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2011-11-28. Retrieved 2011-11-29. 
  41. ↑ "Fifty-Five Wolverines Named to 2011 Fall Academic All-Big Ten Team". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2011-12-07. Retrieved 2011-12-08. 
  42. ↑ "Individual Statistics (Final): 2012 Allstate Sugar Bowl: #13 Michigan vs #11 Virginia Tech (Jan. 3, 2012 at New Orleans, La.)". AllStateSugarBowl.org. 2012-01-03. Retrieved 2012-01-05. 
  43. ↑ "2011 Big Ten Football: Leaders". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2012-01-06. 
  44. ↑ "Kovacs, Robinson Voted Captains for Team 133". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2012-08-26. Retrieved 2012-10-25. 
  45. ↑ "Kovacs, Lewan Selected to 2012 Award Watch Lists". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. July 12, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2012. 
  46. ↑ "Wisterts Recognized as Michigan Legends; Kovacs to Wear No. 11". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2012-11-10. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  47. ↑ "Michigan Football to be Featured on CBS' 60 Minutes This Sunday". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2012-11-16. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  48. ↑ Heflin, Cindy (2012-11-18). "'60 Minutes' segment featuring U-M football in Ann Arbor airs Sunday night". AnnArbor.com. Retrieved 2012-11-28. 
  49. ↑ Lenzi, Rachel (2012-11-16). "13 minutes of "60 Minutes"". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 2012-11-28. 
  50. ↑ "Lewan, Hagerup Win Top Position Awards at Big Ten Banquet". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. November 26, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2012. 
  51. ↑ "Big Ten Announces 2012 All-Big Ten Teams and Select Individual Award Winners". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. November 26, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2012. 
  52. ↑ "Kovacs Named Finalist for Burlsworth Trophy". MGoBlue.com (CBS Interactive). November 27, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2012. 
  53. ↑ "Kovacs Selected Team's MVP at Annual Football Bust". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2012-12-03. Retrieved 2012-12-04. 
  54. ↑ "2012 Fall Academic All-Big Ten". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2012-12-06. Retrieved 2012-12-06. 
  55. ↑ Meinke, Kyle. "Roy Roundtree among 3 Michigan players who win all-star games". MLiver.com. Retrieved 2013-02-19. 
  56. ↑ Meinke, Kyle (2013-04-27). "Michigan captain Jordan Kovacs to sign with Miami Dolphins (includes all Michigan signees)". MLive.com. Retrieved 2013-04-28. 
  57. ↑ Beasley, Adam H. (2013-09-02). "Two rookie corners miss practice for Miami Dolphins; top pick Dion Jordan returns". Miami Herald. Retrieved 2013-09-02. 
  58. ↑ Beasley, Adam H. (2013-10-06). "Miami Dolphins stew over Saints loss, but schedule should lighten up: A lingering anger has permeated through the Dolphins over their loss to the Saints, showing a change in attitude that could help Sunday.". Miami Herald. Retrieved 2013-10-08. 
  59. ↑ "Ravens 26 (3-2, 1-2 away); Dolphins 23 (3-2, 1-1 home)". ESPN. 2013-10-06. Retrieved 2013-10-08. 
  60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 Autullo, Ryan (2010-11-24). "City League alumni find second home at UM: Kovacs, Koger earn spots The Game". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 2010-12-08. 
  61. ↑ Daughters, Amy (2013-10-01). "11 College Football Freshmen Who Have Been Unexpected Stars". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2013-10-02. 

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