Dustin Keller life and biography

Dustin Kendall Keller is an American football tight end for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Jets 30th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

◊ Ranked second in the NFL among rookie tight ends in receptions with 48 receptions for 535 yards (11.1 avg.) and three touchdowns.
◊ In a preseason game vs. WAS, the rookie caught a fou ryard touchdown reception in Brett Favre’s Jets debut... presented him with the touchdown ball autographed.

◊ 2008 (JETS)
Finished the season ranked second in the NFL among rookie tight ends in receptions with 48 receptions for 535 yards and three touchdowns...Led Jets over the last eight games with 35 catches for 388 yards and a touchdown, tied for third among all tight ends...Three touchdowns placed him fifth among all rookie receivers...Registered first downs on 32 of his 48 receptions (67 percent), which ranked eighth among NFL tight ends. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (11/30 vs. DEN)…Led all receivers with seven receptions for 77 yards. (11/13 at NE)...Logged a team-high eight catches for 87 yards, including five third down conversions... In overtime on third-and-15, he caught a ball over the middle and pushed through Brandon Meriweather for 16 yards... Caught three passes for 32 yards in OT before Jay Feely’s winning 34-yard field goal. (11/9 vs. STL)...Named Jets Offensive Player of the Game…Led all receivers with six receptions for 107 yards (17.8) and one touchdown, including a careerlong 54-yard reception with 9:06 remaining in the first quarter. (9/28 vs. ARI)...Started in his first NFL game and had a 24-yard touchdown reception. (9/22 at SD)...Caught his first career touchdown on Monday Night Football. (9/14 vs. NE)...Recorded his first-career NFL reception, a 19-yard catch with 13:29 remaining in the fourth quarter.

BEFORE THE NFL

◊ In 46 games (26 starts) at Purdue, he caught 142 passes for 1,882 yards (13.3 avg) and 16 touchdowns…He recovered a fumbled rushing attempt in the end zone for a score, posted four solo tackles and gained 54 yards on four kickoff returns, finishing with 102 points scored and an average of 42.1 all-purpose yards per game.
◊ Honorable mention All-American by Pro Football Weekly in 2007, second team All-Big Ten as well as Team MVPas he caught 68 passes for 881 yards (13.0 avg) and seventouchdowns.
◊ In 2006, earned honorable mention All-Conference after making 12 starts, finishing with 56 receptions for 771 yards (13.8 avg) and four touchdowns.
◊ Moved to tight end from wide receiver in 2004.
◊ As a senior at Jefferson HS, Keller set state records with 113 receptions for 1,804 yards (16.0 avg) and 22 touchdowns, earning first-team All-State honors… He also was the runner-up for the state’s Top Receiver Award and a “Mr. Football” finalist…Named Area Co-Offensive Player of the Year by the Journal & Courier.

OFF THE FIELD

◊ Majored in Organizational Leadership and Supervision at Purdue.
◊ Son of Maureen and the late Willie Keller, Jr.
◊ Father played basketball at Minnesota State University Moorhead, mother and grandmother, Linda Orr, are Purdue graduates … Grandfather, Dale Mulvey, played on the 1952 Purdue team that won the Big-Ten football championship.
◊ Brothers, Dwight and Drew, also attended Purdue and brothers, Damien and Duran, currently attend Purdue.
◊ Great-grandfather, Robert P. Siskind, was an electrical engineering professor at Purdue.
◊ Participated in basketball and track and field in HS… Captured state high jump championship as senior, clearing 6-9 in a steady rain, after finishing second his junior year with a personal-best of 6-10.
◊ Attended Project Hope at Times Square Church in Manhattan in 2008 to greet and support U.S. military members and underprivileged youth.
◊ Participated in Taste of the NFL to raise money for the ShopRite Partners in Caring Fund, dedicated to fighting hunger throughout the New York metropolitan area.

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