Rodney Hannah
| No. 44 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Tight end | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth: | August 9, 1984 | ||
| Place of birth: | Fresno, California | ||
| Height: | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | ||
| Weight: | 260 lb (118 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | Roseville (CA) | ||
| College: | Houston | ||
| Career history | |||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||
| Career NFL statistics | |||
| |||
Rodney Dee Hannah II (born August 9, 1987) is a former American football tight end in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football and college basketball for the University of Houston.
Early years
Hannah born to Rodney Sr. and Donna Hannah in Fresno, California. At a young age Hannah and his family moved to over 7 different locations throughout the United States before the age of 14, due to his fathers professional career. Growing up Hannah was highly active, initially going into extreme sports. He eventually became a young sponsored athlete in the realm of skateboarding and inline skating at the age of 12 and in high school.[1]
Upon moving to Roseville California Hannah traded in his skateboard for a backboard, picking up basketball while attending Roseville High School (CA) as a sophomore. He also intended to play football but his father would not allow it, restricting him from playing football and lifting weights - in concern for stunting his growth.
He was finally allowed to play both sports as a senior, becoming one of the topped ranked athletes in the country, playing forward in basketball and wide receiver in football. He averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds per game and was named an All-Conference selection. He finished among the state's top 10 leaders in receiving yards.
College career
He moved on to Yuba Junior College where he focused on playing basketball. As a freshman, he averaged 9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. The next year, he was named an All-Bay Valley Conference selection, after averaging 13.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, while helping his team achieve the best season in school history, when Yuba finished with a 24-7 overall record and advanced to the Elite Eight of the California Junior College Tournament.
Hannah transferred to the University of Houston on a basketball scholarship, appearing in 27 games and averaging 1.9 points and 2.6 rebounds. As a senior, he realized he missed football so he traded in dunks for touchdowns as he was part of the 2006 UH C-USA Championship football team as a backup tight end, registering 11 receptions for 101 yards and one touchdown. After the season, Hannah was told NFL scouts were interested in his physical skills.
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
Hannah was not selected in the 2007 NFL Draft because he was seen as a raw prospect. The Dallas Cowboys signed him as an undrafted free agent, because of his physical skills and potential upside.[2] On September 1, he was waived and signed to the practice squad 2 days later.
On August 30, 2008, he was cut and later signed to the practice squad. On December 26, he was promoted to the active roster, to take the spot of injured wide receiver Isaiah Stanback.
In 2009, he was competing for the third tight end job against rookie John Phillips, but was limited with a broken hand and was released on August 27.
Virginia Destroyers (UFL)
On August 29, 2011, Hannah was signed by the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League.[3]
References
- ↑ "Getting To Know: Rodney Hannah". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Cowboys Adding Rookie Free Agents, Including QB". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ↑ "UFL Transactions". OurSports Central. August 29, 2011. Retrieved August 29, 2011.