D. J. Hayden

D. J. Hayden

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Hayden in the 2014 NFL season
No. 25 Oakland Raiders
Position: Cornerback
Personal information
Date of birth: (1990-06-27) June 27, 1990
Place of birth: Houston, Texas
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight: 190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school: Missouri City (TX) Elkins
College: Houston
NFL draft: 2013 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12
Career history
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-C-USA (2012)
  • Second-team All-C-USA (2011)
  • C-USA Defensive Newcomer of the Year (2011)
Career NFL statistics as of 2015
Total tackles: 142
Sacks: 1.0
Forced fumbles: 2
Pass deflections: 20
Interceptions: 3
Player stats at NFL.com

Derek Sherrard "D. J." Hayden, Jr. (born June 27, 1990) is an American football cornerback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Houston. The Raiders selected him in the first round (12th pick overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft.

College career

Hayden played 10 games as a freshman, 2009, at Navarro College and recorded 23 tackles and one for loss. In his sophomore year 2010 he helped lead Navarro College its second NJCAA National Football Championship. During the year he played in all 11 games making 33 solo tackles. He also had 6 pass breakups and 3 interceptions with one returned for a touchdown. He also ranked #41 on Rivals.com's Top 50 Junior College players list.

Hayden committed to University of Houston on June 8, 2010, and enrolled in the university in 2011; thereafter, he played for the Houston Cougars football team in 2011 and 2012.

Junior year

Hayden played very well the first year with the Cougars. He instantly became a shutdown corner for the UH defense and he led the team with 11 passes broken up. He also recorded 52 solo tackles, 2 interceptions with one touchdown return, 1.0 sacks and a team-leading 5 forced fumbles. The Cougars did extremely well the 2011 season, eventually having the school's first ever undefeated and untied season in its 66-year history. The season ended in the 2012 TicketCity Bowl with a win against #23 ranked Penn State.

Senior year

Hayden started the first nine games of the season in top form. Over that span, he had 61 total tackles, eight passes defended, and four interceptions. Two of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns. During practice, before his team's tenth game, he suffered a season-ending (and life-threatening) injury. He collided with a safety in a passing drill where the safety's knee struck DJ in his chest.[1] The collision tore the inferior vena cava in his heart.[2] The injury itself is most commonly seen in high-speed vehicle accidents, and the fatality rate is 95% due to the massive loss of blood. He told the media at the NFL Combine that after the accident he couldn't see much out of his left eye. It just went pitch black and he suddenly felt cold and sleepy.

Despite his injury he earned first team All-Conference USA honors.

College career statistics

Year GP Tackles Pass Defense Fumbles
Solo Ast Total Sacks Int-Yards-TD PD FRec FF
2011 13 52 14 66 1.0 2-58-1 13 2 5
2012 9 38 23 61 0 4-171-2 12 1 1

[3]

Professional career

2013 NFL Draft

Hayden was selected in the first round, 12th pick overall, in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders,[4] the second cornerback taken (after Dee Milliner). Hayden is the highest selected defensive player from Houston since Wilson Whitley in 1977. Hayden registered a 4.33 40 yard dash time at the 2013 NFL Combine.

Pre-draft measurables
Ht WtArm lengthHand size 40-yd dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert Broad BP
5 ft 11 1⁄8 in 191 lb31 1⁄8 in9 in 4.40 s 1.57 s 2.60 s 33 1⁄2 in 10 ft 0 in
All values from Houston Pro Day (March 18, 2013), apart from measurements, which are from NFL Combine[5][6]

During the Raiders' Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Hayden was hospitalized with abdominal adhesions relating to his previous surgery. The adhesions were removed, and Hayden signed with the Raiders at the beginning of training camp in late July.[7][8]

Rookie Season

During the early portion of his rookie season Hayden struggled. However his first career interception came versus Phillip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers during an October 6, 2013 game in Oakland.

In a 24-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on October 13 Hayden recorded his first forced fumble.

References

External links

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