LaAdrian Waddle

LaAdrian Waddle
refer to caption
Waddle with the Patriots in 2017.
No. 68 – New England Patriots
Position: Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1991-07-21) July 21, 1991
Columbus, Texas
Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight: 315 lb (143 kg)
Career information
High school: Columbus (Columbus, Texas)
College: Texas Tech
Undrafted: 2013
Career history
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 5, 2018
Games played: 50
Games started: 29
Player stats at NFL.com

LaAdrian Waddle (born July 21, 1991) is an American football offensive tackle for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas Tech.

High school career

A native of Columbus, Texas, Waddle attended Columbus High School where he was coached by Brent Mascheck and Zachary Venghaus. The Columbus Cardinals finished 5–4 in Waddle's senior year and did not make the UIL playoffs. Behind Waddle pulling and clearing the way for the running back, the Cardinals averaged 281.0 rushing yards per game with 26 rushing touchdowns on the season.

Regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Waddle was ranked as the No. 74 offensive guard prospect nationally in a class that also included Jonotthan Harrison, Corey Linsley, and Chance Warmack.[1] Waddle was not heavily recruited, receiving offers from Tulane, Rice, Houston, and SMU. He planned on going to nearby Houston until Texas Tech recruited him.[2]

College career

Playing from 2009–12 for Texas Tech, Waddle earned several honors. During his sophomore year, Waddle received All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention honors as well as an Academic All-Big 12 2nd Team selection. In the following year in 2011, Waddle was named an All-Big 12 Conference 2nd Team selection before being bumped to a 1st Team selection following the 2012 season.

Professional career

Detroit Lions

On April 27, 2013, he signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent.[3][4] Despite being undrafted, Waddle unseated Jason Fox and Corey Hilliard as the Detroit Lions starting right tackle by week eight of his rookie season. He had taken over the job after Hilliard was injured in a week 7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Waddle was injured in the 2014 season and went through off-season knee surgery. He was cut by the Lions on December 15, 2015.[5]

New England Patriots

The New England Patriots claimed Waddle off waivers on December 16, 2015.[6]

Waddle was re-signed to a two-year deal on March 9, 2016.[7] In the 2016 season, Waddle was inactive for all but two games and played only one offensive snap.

On February 5, 2017, Waddle's Patriots appeared in Super Bowl LI. He was inactive for the game as the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 34-28 in overtime.[8][9]

In 2017, Waddle played in 12 games with four starts at right tackle in place of the injured Marcus Cannon. Waddle and the Patriots made it to Super Bowl LII, but the Patriots lost 41-33 to the Philadelphia Eagles.

On March 22, 2018, Waddle re-signed with the Patriots.[10]

References

  1. "Offensive guards 2009". Rivals.com.
  2. "Waddle goes from unknown to NFL starter". ESPN. November 27, 2013.
  3. "Detroit Lions sign 11 undrafted free agents". nfl.com. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  4. "Lions sign 11 undrafted rookie free agents". detroitlions.com. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  5. Katzenstein, Josh (December 15, 2015). "Lions waive RT LaAdrian Waddle". Detroit News. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  6. "Pats claim WR Leonard Hankerson, OL LaAdrian Waddle". NFL.com. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  7. Alper, Josh (March 9, 2016). "Patriots sign LaAdrian Waddle to two-year deal". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  8. "Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons - February 5th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  9. "Inactives: Super Bowl LI". New England Patriots. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  10. Wesseling, Chris (March 22, 2018). "Patriots re-signing left tackle LaAdrian Waddle". NFL.com.
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