Drayton Florence life and biography

Drayton Florence, Jr. is an American football cornerback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tuskegee.

PRO:

Signed with Buffalo as a free agent on March 6, 2009… released by Jacksonville on February 11, 2009 after signing with the Jaguars on March 1, 2008… originally entered the NFL as a second-round (46th overall) draft choice by San Diego in 2003, becoming the highest player drafted from Tuskegee

NFL AWARDS:
* AFC Defensive Player of the Week – Week 13, 2004

2009:
* vs. NO (9/27) Made his Buffalo Bills debut as a reserve cornerback. Saw a majority of the snaps at cornerback after Leodis McKelvin left the game due to injury.
* at MIA (10/4) Made his start as a Buffalo Bill and had seven total tackles.
* at NYJ (10/18) Posted three solo tackles and a pass defensed. Played a key role in a pass defense that held the Jets to 96 passing yards.
* vs. MIA (11/29) Posted his first interception as a Bill. Interception led to Buffalo’s 51-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Owens to give Buffalo a 24-14 lead in the fourth quarter. It marked Florence’s 11th career interception and first since 12/2/07 at KC (w/ San Diego). Florence’s teams are 10-1 when he has an interception. Set a career-high with four passes defensed. Added five tackles.
* vs. NYJ (12/3) Set a career-high with nine tackles.
* at KC (12/13) Played in his 100th career game and registered three solo tackles.

2008: JACKSONVILLE
* Played in 15 games with eight starts tallying 26 tackles (24 solo)
* Made Jaguars debut in the starting lineup at Ten. (9/7), posting three solo tackles and missed only one snap… game marked his 75th career game
* Started the following three straight games: vs. Buf. (9/14), at Ind. (9/21) and vs. Hou. (9/21)
* Inactive vs. Pit. (10/5), ending his streak of 44 consecutive games played dating back to 2005
* Forced the first fumble of his career which he also recovered at Den. (10/12)… his 18-yard fumble recovery led to a Jaguars touchdown… posted two tackles
* Appeared in his 80th career game vs. Cle. (10/26)
* Recovered a fumbled punt by Brian Witherspoon vs. Min. (11/23), returning the ball 18 yards
* Saw action in the nickel package but moved into the starting lineup for the second half at CB after Rashean Mathis suffered a knee sprain at Hou. (12/1)… appearance marked his 85th career game
* Started at CB in the final four contests of the season in place of Mathis: at Chi (12/7), vs. GB (12/14), vs. Ind. (12/21) and at Bal. (12/28)… vs. Ind. (12/21), marked the 50th start of his career.

COLLEGE:

Registered school-record three returns for touchdowns on interceptions at Tuskegee… first-team Division II All-America selection by The Associated Press, Sheridan Black Network, Football Gazette and American Coaches Association as a senior… was a two-time conference player of the week… played at Tennessee-Chattanooga from 1999-2000 and Tuskegee from 2001-02… majored in social work.

PERSONAL:

Lives in Ocala, Florida with his son, Jaden, and daughter, Jaelynn… attended Vanguard (Ocala, Fla.) High… spent his sophomore year at Richland Northeast (Columbia, SC) High… father, Drayton, Sr. spent 20 years in the Army and retired with a rank of E7… sister, Lakisha, is currently serving in the Army and carries the rank of E4… established the Drayton Florence Foundation in 2004 to develop programs that helped disadvantaged youth in his hometown of Ocala, Fla… hosts football camps at his alma mater, Vanguard High, a celebrity golf classic and a celebrity basketball shootout… opened the Drayton Florence LABS program in 2007 to strengthen the educational preparation and motivation of socio-economically disadvantaged youth and young adults in Marion County… more than 50 computers have been donated to the program and a computer center was opened at the Lillian Bryant Recreation Center in 2008.

Read more