Eric Decker life and biography

* Eric Decker, a wide receiver who set University of Minnesota career records with 227 receptions and 3,119 receiving yards that rank sixth and eighth, respectively, in Big Ten Conference history.
* Started for three seasons at Minnesota, totaling 11 career 100-yard receiving games and dropping only three passes in the 354 times he was targeted (0.8%).
* Led the Big Ten (15th in nation) with 94.8 receiving yards per game as a senior in 2009.
* Posted a Minnesota-record 84 receptions for 1,074 yards (12.8 avg.) as a junior in 2008, earning honorable mention All-America honors and first-team all-conference recognition.
* Competed on the Golden Gophers’ baseball team as an outfielder and was selected twice in the Major League Baseball Draft (Milwaukee in 2008 and Minnesota in 2009).
* Received all-conference honors in football, basketball and baseball at Rocori High School in Cold Spring, Minn.
* Selected by the Broncos in the third round (87th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.

QUICKLY: Drafted in the third round (87th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Broncos, Decker set University of Minnesota records with 227 receptions and 3,119 receiving yards that rank sixth and eighth, respectively in Big Ten Conference history… Also competed on the Golden Gophers’ baseball team as an outfielder and was selected twice in the Major League Baseball Draft (Milwaukee in 2008 and Minnesota in 2009)… Led the NFL in preseason receptions (16) and posted a 2010 preseason single-game high with 10 catches at Minnesota (9/2).

2010: Decker made his NFL debut in the season opener at Jacksonville (9/12).

2009: Decker started all eight games played as a senior for Minnesota and caught 50 passes for 758 yards (15.2 avg.) with five touchdowns... Led the Big Ten Conference and ranked 15th in the nation with 94.8 yards per game receiving... Finished fourth in the Big Ten with 6.3 catches per game... Posted at least 100 receiving yards in four of Minnesota’s first five games... Named a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete as one of 16 players in the nation (NCAA and NAIA) to receive the award... Voted a second-team Lowe’s Senior CLASS All-American.

2008: Decker started all 12 games for the Golden Gophers as a junior and topped his own school record with 84 receptions for 1,074 yards (12.8 avg.) with seven touchdowns to earn consensus first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors... Named one of 10 finalists for the Biletnikoff Award (nation’s best receiver) and picked up third-team All- America recognition from The NFL Draft Report and Sports Illustrated... Placed second in school history for receiving yards in a season with a conference-best 1,074 yards... Led the Big Ten (7th in nation) with 7.0 catches per game... Registered four 100-yard receiving efforts... Added one rushing score.

2007: Decker started all 12 games for Minnesota as a sophomore, posting a school-record 67 receptions for 909 yards (13.6 avg.) with nine touchdowns... Earned second-team All-Big Ten Conference honors, honorable mention All-America accolades from The NFL Draft Report and academic all-conference recognition... Selected as the Bruce Smith Award recipient (team's best offensive player)... Ranked third in school history with nine receiving touchdowns and had three 100-yard receiving games.

2006: Decker played all 13 games (3 starts) as a redshirt freshman and recorded 26 catches for 378 yards (14.5 avg.) with three touchdowns for Minnesota... Also had seven solo tackles and one fumble recovery on defense... Named to the Freshman All-Big Ten Conference team and picked up academic all-conference recognition.

2005: Decker redshirted as a true freshman at Minnesota.

HIGH SCHOOL:
Decker attended Rocori High School in Cold Spring, Minn., where he played football, basketball and baseball, earning all-conference, all-area and all-section honors in all three sports... Named team MVP twice for football, recording 2,156 receiving yards with 28 touchdowns for his prep career.

PERSONAL:
Decker earned a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing from Minnesota... Played outfield at Minnesota and was selected in the Major League Baseball Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008 (38th round) and the Minnesota Twins in 2009 (27th round)... Eric Decker was born on March 15, 1987, in Cold Spring, Minn.

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