Corey Wootton
 Wootton for the Chicago Bears | |||||||||||
| No. 98, 99 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Date of birth: | June 22, 1987 | ||||||||||
| Place of birth: | Rutherford, New Jersey | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 270 lb (122 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep | ||||||||||
| College: | Northwestern | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2010 / Round: 4 / Pick: 109 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Corey Andrew Wootton (born June 22, 1987) is a former American football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Northwestern University. As a junior, he garnered first team All-Big Ten Conference honors. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions.
Early years
Born in Rutherford, New Jersey, Wootton played high school football at Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey.[1]
College career
Wootton chose Northwestern over Connecticut, Louisville and N.C. State.[2] During his Freshman season, Wootton got a medical hardship year for 2005 and only played in three of first four games before being sidelined the remainder of the year with a neck injury. In 2006, he was the first Northwestern player since Hudhaifa Ismaeli (1995) to accomplish every major defensive statistic in a single season and the team's seventh-leading tackler and leader in sacks and leader in Tackles for loss.[3] At the end of the season, Wootton earned a Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-American selection[4] and was named to the Sporting News Freshman All-Big Ten team.[5]
In 2007, Wootton finished second on the team with 7.0 Tackles for loss and five pass deflections and second among defensive linemen with 39 tackles.[6][7]
Professional career
Chicago Bears
Wootton entered the 2010 NFL Draft and was selected 109th overall in the 4th round by the Chicago Bears. During a game against the Minnesota Vikings on December 20, 2010, Wootton recorded his first career sack where he brought down quarterback Brett Favre. The sack forced Favre to leave the game due to a concussion.[8] The concussion eventually sidelined Favre for the remaining two games of his final season in the NFL.[9] In Week 9 of 2012 against the Tennessee Titans, Wootton scored his first career touchdown off a blocked punt, which had been blocked by former Northwestern teammate Sherrick McManis.[10][11] Wootton ended the 2012 season appearing in all 16 games with seven starts and seven sacks.[12]
In 2013, after injuries sustained to Henry Melton and Nate Collins, Wootton was shifted to defensive tackle in week five against the New Orleans Saints.[13]
Minnesota Vikings
On March 20, 2014, it was reported Wootton had signed a one year deal with the Minnesota Vikings.[14]
Detroit Lions
On May 14, 2015, Wootton signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions.[15]
Retirement
On July 26, 2016, Wootton announced on Twitter that he was retiring from the NFL after playing five seasons.[16]
References
- ↑ Cimini, Rich. "Jets need D-line help on Day 2", ESPN, April 30, 2010. Accessed February 22, 2011. "If Rex Ryan wants a five-technique end for his 3-4 scheme, a candidate is Northwestern's Corey Wootton (6-6, 270). Like Wilson, he's a Jersey kid, born in Rutherford and a former standout at Don Bosco Prep."
- ↑ Corey Wootton-Football Recruiting
- ↑ 2006 Northwestern Football Final Notes & Season Wrapup
- ↑ Corey Wootton Named a 2006 Scripps FWAA Freshman All-American
- ↑ Three Wildcats Earn Postseason Football Honors
- ↑ 2007 Season Recap
- ↑ 2007 Northwestern Football cumulative stats
- ↑ "Brett Favre's career could be finished after Bears' Corey Wootton knocks Vikings QB out of game". NY Daily News. Associated Press. 2010-12-21. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
- ↑ "Favre says his career is over". Fox Sports. 2 January 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ↑ Mayer, Larry (2012-11-04). "Bears crush Titans to extend win streak to six". Chicago Bears. Retrieved 2012-11-04.
- ↑ Mayer, Larry (2012-11-04). "Marshall hauls in three TDs in victory". Chicago Bears. Retrieved 2012-11-04.
- ↑ Mayer, Larry (2013-08-14). "Wootton striving to build on career year". Chicago Bears. Retrieved 2013-08-14.
- ↑ "Corey Wootton adapting to new position on line". Chicago Bears. 2013-10-08. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
- ↑ "Report: Corey Wootton signs one-year deal with Vikings". Comcast SportsNet Chicago. 2014-03-20. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- ↑
- ↑ Shook, Nick (July 26, 2016). "Veteran defensive lineman Corey Wootton retires". NFL.com. Retrieved July 26, 2016.