Jeff King (American football)
Quick Facts
Biography
Jeffery Wayne "Jeff" King (born February 19, 1983) is a former American football tight end. He played college football and basketball for Virginia Tech. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
King has also played for the Arizona Cardinals.
King is currently a scout for the Chicago Bears.
High school
Football
A PrepStar All-American for Coach Joel Hicks at Pulaski County High School, King rated the #3 tight end in the Atlantic Region. He was named first-team Group AAA all-state as a tight end by the Associated Press and the state coaches. He was ranked the #12 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times and SuperPrep. He was an honorable-mention All-South pick by the Orlando Sentinel. He led his high school team to the Group AAA, Division 5 state semifinals in 2000. He finished his senior season with 278 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. He also registered eight sacks as a defensive end. He set a school record with 101 pancake blocks in a season. He had 12 pancakes and two receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown in a game his senior year. Named All-Timesland as a junior and senior.
Basketball
Jeff King was also an outstanding basketball player who compiled over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds during his career. He averaged 25 points and 14 rebounds as a senior on the way to all-district and all-region honors. He also competed in the shot put for the track team with a best effort of 54' 7" as a junior. He was also a member of the National Honor Society.
College career
Freshman (2001)
King redshirted his freshman in 2001.
Freshman (2002)
In 2002 King played in all 14 games for Virginia Tech making only one reception, a 19-yard touchdown against Arkansas State. He also blocked a field goal against Western Michigan.
Sophomore (2003)
In 2003 King played in 13 games with two starts. He maded 6 receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown He also blocked a field goal against Rutgers.
Junior (2004)
In 2004 King became a starter. He started all 13 games, posting 25 receptions for 304 yards and four touchdowns. He was also a Second-team All-ACC choice.
Senior (2005)
In 2005 he started all 13 games. He recorded a career-high 26 catches for 292 yards and six touchdowns, a school single-season record for tight ends, and became the first player in school history to catch a touchdown pass in four consecutive games. He also blocked a field goal against Georgia Tech that the Hokies returned for a touchdown. He was also a second-team All-ACC selection.
College stats
Receiving | |||||||||
Year | Team | G | Rec | Yards | Y/R | TD | LNG | FUM | LOST |
2001 | Virginia Tech | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
2002 | Virginia Tech | 14 | 1 | 19 | 19.0 | 1 | 19 | - | - |
2003 | Virginia Tech | 13 | 6 | 109 | 18.2 | 1 | 31 | - | - |
2004 | Virginia Tech | 13 | 25 | 304 | 12.2 | 4 | 35 | 0 | 0 |
2005 | Virginia Tech | 13 | 26 | 292 | 11.2 | 6 | 28 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 53 | 58 | 724 | 12.5 | 11 | 35 | 0 | 0 |
In his college career King set a school record for touchdown catches by a tight end with 11, bettering the previous mark of eight. He also blocked three kicks on special teams.
Professional career
2006
King was selected in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played in 12 games in his rookie season, and scored a touchdown on his only reception of the season in a game against the Atlanta Falcons.
2007
In 2007 his first year as a starter King recorded 46 receptions for 406 yards and two touchdowns. King made his then career long reception during the Panthers week three win over the Atlanta Falcons, with a 29-yard catch. He also had a single-game career high in receptions with 10 during a week eight loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
2008
With the return of Muhsin Muhammad to the Carolina Panthers, King changed numbers from #87 to #47. King recorded 21 receptions for 195 yards and had one touchdown reception against the Detroit Lions. King also improved his career long catch, with at 31-yard reception against the Arizona Cardinals. While King's stats declined his blocking skills were much improved.
Arizona Cardinals
King was signed by the Arizona Cardinals on July 29, 2011.
Career stats
Receiving | |||||||||
Year | Team | G | Rec | Yards | Y/R | TD | LNG | FUM | LOST |
2006 | Carolina | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2007 | Carolina | 16 | 46 | 406 | 8.8 | 2 | 29 | 2 | 1 |
2008 | Carolina | 16 | 21 | 195 | 9.3 | 1 | 31 | 0 | 0 |
2009 | Carolina | 16 | 25 | 200 | 8.0 | 3 | 32 | 1 | 0 |
Total | 60 | 93 | 802 | 8.5 | 7 | 32 | 3 | 1 |
Personal life
King graduated with a degree in finance and is enrolled in health and physical education in graduate school.
He and his wife Katie, who played volleyball at Virginia Tech, live in Chicago with their two daughters.