King Dunlap

King Dunlap

Dunlap in August 2010.
No. 77 San Diego Chargers
Position: Offensive tackle
Personal information
Date of birth: September 14, 1985
Place of birth: Nashville, Tennessee
Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Weight: 330 lb (150 kg)
Career information
High school: Brentwood (TN)
College: Auburn
NFL draft: 2008 / Round: 7 / Pick: 230
Career history
Roster status: Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2014
Games played: 79
Games started: 46
Stats at NFL.com

King David Dunlap V (born September 14, 1985) is an American football offensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles 230th overall in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Auburn.

Early years

Dunlap played high school football and basketball[1] at Brentwood Academy near Nashville, Tennessee.[2]

College career

Dunlap in 2007.

Dunlap played college football at Auburn University. Dunlap started in place of starting left tackle Marcus McNeill in a game against Ball State in 2005 after McNeill suffered an injury. Dunlap, along with Jonathan Palmer, replaced Marcus McNeill and Troy Reddick as the starting offensive tackles for Auburn in 2006.[3] He started in all 13 games at left tackle in 2006. He was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after a game against Tulane on October 21 in which he received a 99 percent offensive line grade.

Professional career

Pre-draft

Going into his senior year in 2007, Dunlap was considered to be one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the 2008 NFL Draft.[4] However, due to his poor senior season, his draft stock dropped.[5]

Pre-draft measurables
Ht Wt 40-yd dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert Broad BP
6 ft 8½ in 310 lb 5.28 s 1.75 s 2.99 s 5.12 s 8.05 s 30 in 21 reps
Shuttle, 3-cone and vertical values from Pro Day workout on March 10, 2008; all other values from 2008 NFL Scouting Combine.[6]

Philadelphia Eagles

Dunlap was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 230th pick overall in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft.[7] He signed a four-year contract with the team on June 17, 2008.[8] He suffered an ankle injury in the 2008 preseason and was placed on injured reserve on August 30, ending his season.[9]

Dunlap played in twelve games in the 2009 season and saw significant playing time in a game against the Oakland Raiders after starting left tackle Jason Peters suffered a knee injury during the first quarter.[10][11]

Dunlap took over for Peters in week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers in 2010 after Peters suffered a knee injury. Dunlap gave up three sacks in the game.[12] He made his first NFL start on October 17, 2010 in a week 6 game against the Atlanta Falcons due to Peters' injury. His main assignment was to block defensive end John Abraham, who made zero sacks in the game.[13] With Peters out again for a week 7 game against the Tennessee Titans, Dunlap again started in place of him. Dunlap, however, suffered a bone bruise and a hyperextension of his knee during the game, and was replaced by left guard Todd Herremans.[14][15] Dunlap was did not play in weeks 9 and 10 due to his injuries.[16][17] In a week 13 game against the Houston Texans on December 2, starting right tackle Winston Justice hyperextended his knee and Dunlap took over for him. Dunlap started his first game at right tackle in place of Justice in a week 14 game against the Dallas Cowboys on December 12.[18] He started again in week 15 against the New York Giants in place of Justice at right tackle.[19] Dunlap started in a week 17 matchup against the Cowboys due to the Eagles' decision to rest starters before their playoff run. During the wild card playoff game against the Green Bay Packers, Dunlap was inserted at right tackle to replace Justice, who had three penalties and ineffective play.[20]

On October 2, 2011, Dunlap blocked a field goal against the San Francisco 49ers. He became an unrestricted free agent following the 2011 season, but was re-signed to a one-year contract on March 30, 2012.[21]

San Diego Chargers

On March 12, 2013, Dunlap signed a two-year contract with the San Diego Chargers.[22] Signed only as depth at that time, the team was impressed with Dunlap and started for the Chargers. He played well for the Chargers.

2014 Season

King played all 16 games and starting all of them for the first time in his career. He was the most consistent player on the Chargers line only allowing 3 sacks all season long. He is arguably one of the best left tackles in the NFL. He was voted by his teammates as the Chargers' Lineman of the Year in 2014.[23]

2015 season

On February 20, 2015, the Chargers re-signed Dunlap to a four-year, $28 million contract.

Personal

Dunlap's father, King Dunlap IV, is a former defensive tackle for Tennessee State and the Baltimore Colts, who drafted him in the fifth round of the 1969 NFL Draft. His mother, Robin, is a former track star at Tennessee State. His younger sister, Victoria, is a starting forward on the Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team and a member of the track team, competing in the high jump. He also has a younger brother named George.[24] Dunlap's lifelong friend, former Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Darren Mustin, is the godfather to Dunlap's son, King Dunlap VI.[25] Dunlap has a daughter who was born in August 2007.[26] Dunlap earned a degree in adult education from Auburn.[24]

On March 4, 2011, Dunlap was arrested and charged with reckless driving and disorderly conduct for driving his 2004 Cadillac Escalade onto the plaza outside Nashville's Bridgestone Arena, while trying to pick his father up, who was in a wheelchair.[27]

References

  1. ↑ Crawley, Stan (March 20, 2003). "Brentwood Eliminates McCallie". chattanoogan.com. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  2. ↑ Dann, Lori (September 12, 2003). "Brentwood Boys return to hometown". TimesDaily. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  3. ↑ Zenor, John (August 20, 2006). "'Question Marks' hope to provide answers". TimesDaily. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  4. ↑ Murphy, John (October 12, 2007). "Rating the offensive linemen". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  5. ↑ Lande, Russ (April 27, 2008). "NFL Draft Dish: Round 7 analysis". Sporting News. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  6. ↑ "King Dunlap, DS #17 OT, Auburn". nfldraftscout.com. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  7. ↑ Pluta, Andrew (April 27, 2008). "Wrapping Up the Rest of the Draft". scout.com. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  8. ↑ "T.O. missing from Cowboys' minicamp". Herald-Journal. June 18, 2008. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  9. ↑ "Former 1st-Rounder McDougle Among Eagles' Final Cuts". kptv.com. August 30, 2008. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  10. ↑ Domowitch, Paul (October 19, 2009). "Eagles-Raiders talking points". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  11. ↑ McCaffery, Jason (October 19, 2009). "Eagles O-line dreadful in defeat". The Mercury. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  12. ↑ Mosley, Matt (October 13, 2010). "King Dunlap to start for Eagles". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  13. ↑ Patton, Steve (October 18, 2010). "King worthy of praise after first career start". Reading Eagle. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  14. ↑ Domowitch, Paul (October 25, 2010). "Paul Domowitch: Eagles get lost in changing of the guards". philly.com. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  15. ↑ McLane, Jeff (October 26, 2010). "Eagles Notes: Eagles' Reid says Jackson has chance to play against Colts". philly.com. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  16. ↑ Grotz, Bob (November 6, 2010). "Eagles: Jackson cleared for game". The Reporter. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  17. ↑ Bowen, Les (November 16, 2010). "Eagles Notebook: Eagles start Cole over Jean-Gilles". philly.com. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  18. ↑ McLane, Jeff (December 11, 2010). "Samuel, Justice will not play for Eagles against Cowboys". philly.com. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  19. ↑ "Jackson & Samuel officially active for Eagles". NBC Sports. December 19, 2010. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  20. ↑ Graham, Bryan Armen (January 9, 2011). "NFC Wild Card Report: Packers-Eagles". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  21. ↑ "Eagles, Dunlap agree to one-year contract". NFL.com. March 30, 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  22. ↑ Chargers sign King Dunlap, according to report
  23. ↑ Henne, Ricky (December 29, 2014). "2014 Team Player Awards Announced". Chargers.com. Archived from the original on December 30, 2014.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "King Dunlap". philadelphiaeagles.com. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
  25. ↑ McNair, Kirk (November 20, 2007). "Players Understood Saban’s Examples". scout.com. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  26. ↑ Arkush, Hub, ed. (2008). "King Dunlap". Pro Football Weekly (Arkush, Hub): 63. Alabama LB Darren Mustin is the godfather to Dunlap's son, King Dunlap VI. Dunlap and his girlfriend also have a daughter, who was born in late August.
  27. ↑ "King Dunlap drove onto arena plaza". ESPN.com. March 5, 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-05.

External links