Tra Battle

Tra Battle
No. 36, 35
Position: Safety
Personal information
Born: (1985-01-05) January 5, 1985
Forsyth, Georgia
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight: 173 lb (78 kg)
Career information
High school: Mary Persons (GA)
College: Georgia
Undrafted: 2007
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles: 15
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Tra Battle (born January 5, 1985) is a former American football safety in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers and the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Georgia.

Early years

Battle attended Mary Persons High School in Forsyth, Georgia, where he was a three-sport athlete, lettering in football, basketball, and track. He started as a freshman on the football team, where he played quarterback and safety. As a junior, he was named the team's Defensive M.V.P. As a senior, he was named the team M.V.P. and was named an All-Middle Georgia honoree by the Macon Telegraph.

College career

Arriving at the University of Georgia in 2003, Battle was undersized at 165 pounds. He was a walk-on for the football team and played a role as a reserve. In his sophomore season Battle started one game against the University of Kentucky when safety Thomas Davis was injured. His best game of the season came against LSU, where Battle recorded four solo tackles, garnered his first career sack, broke up a forward pass and forced a fumble. At the end of the year, he was a recipient of the Iron Man Award for players who do not miss a practice or summer workout during the year. He was awarded the Joe B. Maxwell Family Football Scholarship.

In his junior season of 2005 Battle became a regular starter in the defensive backfield. In the season opener against Boise State he recorded his first career interception and led the Bulldogs with eight tackles. He finished the season as the team's third leading tackler with 71 total tackles. As a senior, he posted 58 tackles….

His senior season featured a signature game in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry versus Auburn. Ranked #5 Auburn had hopes of playing for a National Championship after knocking of eventual champion Florida, but Georgia would have none of it due in large part to Battle. His performance tied a Georgia record that day with three interceptions, one of which he returned 30 yards for a touchdown. Battle's pick-six gave the Bulldogs a 17-0 lead, and they would eventually stretch it to 24-0 before Auburn got on the board to make it 24-7. UGA would go on to rout the Tigers 37-15, dashing their title hopes and costing Tommy Tuberville and company a shot at playing for the league crown in Atlanta. Battle would also turn in four total tackles and a pass breakup in the win. [1] Battle's stellar play garnered a Pontiac Game Changing Performance nomination. Also in 2006 he had 154 return yards to place him fourth on the Georgia all-time season return list. [2]

Professional career

San Diego Chargers

Battle was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Chargers after the 2007 NFL Draft, after dropping because he was considered an undersized player.[3] He was waived on September 1 and signed to the practice squad. On August 30, 2008, he was cut and later signed to the practice squad.

Dallas Cowboys

On November 26, 2008, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys from the San Diego Chargers practice squad to play on special teams, after Pat Watkins was lost for the year with a neck injury.[4] He was released on May 26, 2009.

Detroit Lions

Battle was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions on May 27, 2009. He was released on July 28.

Hartford Colonials (UFL)

In 2009, he played with the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League.

Cleveland Browns

He was signed by the Cleveland Browns on August 24, 2009. He was released on September 5.

Personal life

Battle is a cousin of former defensive end Peppi Zellner who also played for the Dallas Cowboys.

Battle now works as an Anesthesia Perioperative Technician at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital.

References

  1. ↑ https://247sports.com/college/georgia/Bolt/Georgia-Bulldogs-Tray-Battle-goes-for-the-Hat-Trick-vs-Auburn-46674251/
  2. ↑ https://dawnofthedawg.com/2015/06/29/the-top-ten-all-time-georgia-football-player-names-video/amp/7/
  3. ↑ "Chargers agree with 23 free agents". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Cowboys Sign Safety In Time For Seattle Game". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
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