Nick Bellore

Nick Bellore
refer to caption
Bellore in 2015
No. 43 – Detroit Lions
Position: Fullback
Personal information
Born: (1989-05-12) May 12, 1989
St. Paul, Minnesota
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight: 250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school: Whitefish Bay (WI)
College: Central Michigan
Undrafted: 2011
Career history
Roster status: Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2017
Total tackles: 173
Sacks: 1.0
Forced fumbles: 2
Interceptions: 1
Receiving yards: 24
Total touchdowns: 1
Player stats at NFL.com

Nicholas Lalonde Bellore[1] (born May 12, 1989) is an American football fullback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Central Michigan, and signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2011. Bellore played linebacker for his first 6 seasons in the NFL before being converted to a fullback for the Lions in 2017.

Early years

Bellore was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and attended Whitefish Bay High School, graduating in 2007. He chose to attend Central Michigan for a chance to start at linebacker immediately, despite interest from the University of Wisconsin and Kansas State University.

College career

At CMU, Bellore started at inside linebacker his freshman year and through his senior season. Bellore holds the second highest consecutive start streak at CMU with 51 games.[2] He was an All-MAC First Team selection on defense in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The Chippewas appeared in three bowl games during Bellore's career, winning one (the 2010 GMAC Bowl), only the second bowl win in CMU history. He was also selected as CMU's Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009.[3]

Professional career

New York Jets

After going undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft, Bellore drew interest as an undrafted free agent from over half of the teams in the NFL. He signed with the Jets on July 26, 2011, and was kept on the roster to start the 2011 NFL season.[4] He recorded 19 tackles in the 2011 season mainly on special teams. On October 14, 2012, Bellore caught his first career pass on a fake punt by Tim Tebow. He gained 23 yards on the play. Jets coaches looked into converting him to play fullback in training camp of 2012, but the experiment was short lived and he returned to linebacker. On January 6, 2015, Bellore was named to the 2014 Pro Football Focus All-Pro Special Teams.[5]

San Francisco 49ers

Bellore signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers on April 3, 2015.[6]

In 2016, Bellore appeared in 14 games where he started a career-high 10 games and registered 82 tackles, four passes defensed and the first sack, interception and fumble recovery of his career. He was placed on injured reserve on December 19, 2016 with an elbow injury.[7]

Detroit Lions

On April 3, 2017, Bellore signed with the Detroit Lions.[8] He was released on September 9, 2017, but was re-signed two days later.[9][10] Bellore began being implemented in the Detroit offense as a fullback, strictly for blocking purposes until a surprise touchdown reception against the Baltimore Ravens on December 3, 2017. It was his first touchdown in his entire playing career.

On March 14, 2018, Bellore re-signed with the Lions.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "ESPN Profile". ESPN.com.
  2. ↑ http://www.cm-life.com/2010/11/19/leaving-a-legacy-nick-bellore-wraps-up-illustrious-career-at-cmu/
  3. ↑ http://www.cmuchippewas.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10500&ATCLID=1060787
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ "2014 PFF All-Pro Special Teams". profootballfocus.com. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  6. ↑ 49ers Staff (April 3, 2015). "49ers Sign LB Nick Bellore to Two-year Deal". San Francisco 49ers. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "49ers Place LB Nick Bellore on IR, Claim LB Carl Bradford off Waivers". 49ers.com. December 19, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Lions sign unrestricted free agent LB Nick Bellore". DetroitLions.com. April 3, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Lions sign T Storm Norton to active roster and release LB Nick Bellore". DetroitLions.com. September 9, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Lions sign LB Nick Bellore to the active roster and DT Daniel Ross to the practice squad". DetroitLions.com. September 11, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Lions re-sign LB Nick Bellore". DetroitLions.com. March 14, 2018.
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