Justin Durant life and biography

Justin Durant is an American football linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hampton.

TRANSACTIONS: Originally drafted in the second round (48th overall) of the 2007 draft.

Physical, speedy linebacker who has started 33 of 40 games in his first three seasons … Has recorded 100-plus tackles in two of three seasons including a career-high 135 in 2009 … Career totals include 318 tackles (221 solo), two sacks, two forced fumbles, two INTs, 14 tackles for loss and eight passes defensed … Moved to MLB in 2009 and made career-high 13 starts … Led team with seven tackles for loss and ranked third with 113 tackles in 2008 … Led the team in 2007 with 31 postseason tackles … Joined Reggie Nelson as the only two rookies to start more than eight games in 2007 … Finished with 17 tackles against Pittsburgh in AFC Wild Card game, the second-most by a Jaguar in postseason history (23, Kevin Hardy, 1/10/99 at N.Y. Jets) …

2009
Moved from OLB to MLB and started a career-high 13 games … Was inactive for three games with injuries … Ranked second on the club with a career-high 135 tackles including double-digit tackles in five games … Added one sack, one INT, four tackles for loss, three QB pressures and one FF … 9/13 at IND: Started at MLB in season-opener and led team with 14 tackles (11 solo) … 9/20 vs. ARI: Finished with a team-high 15 tackles and a forced fumble … 9/27 at HOU: Had team-high 10 tackles … 10/4 vs. TEN: Finished with nine tackles … Was inactive on 10/11 at SEA and 10/18 vs. STL with hip injury … 11/1 at TEN: Registered a career-high 17 tackles (13 solo) including two for loss as he played all 67 snaps … Posted nine tackles on 11/8 vs. KC and 11/15 at NYJ … Suffered concussion against the Jets and was inactive the following week on 11/22 vs. BUF … Returned to lineup on 11/29 at SF and finished with eight tackles … 12/6 vs. HOU: Had most productive game of the season with eight tackles, a sack, an INT and two QB pressures. Intercepted Matt Schaub in the third quarter. Was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance … 12/13 vs. MIA: Made 13 tackles and surpassed 100 tackles for second straight season … Finished season with seven tackles on 12/27 at NE and 1/3 at CLE …

2008
Played in 14 games with 12 starts … Ranked third on team with a then career-high 113 tackles (81 solo) … Led team with seven tackles for loss along with six passes defensed and one QB pressure … Added three special teams tackles … Selected to USA Today All-Joe Team, which goes to players and coaches who have overachieved and are often overlooked … 9/7 at TEN: Had eight solo tackles in a reserve role … 9/14 vs. BUF: Started and suffered groin strain in the second quarter and returned to the game but was sidelined again in the second half … Was inactive 9/21 at IND and 9/28 vs. HOU … Returned to action on 10/5 vs. PIT and collected 10 tackles and one pass defensed … 10/12 at DEN: Started at OLB and recorded six solo tackles, one for a loss, and one pass defensed … 10/26 vs. CLE: Registered 11 tackles in start … 11/9 at DET: Totaled 12 tackles and did not miss a snap … 11/16 vs. TEN: Made nine tackles and two special teams tackles … 11/23 vs. MIN: Posted a team-high two tackles for loss … 12/14 vs. GB: Recorded six tackles and one QB pressure … 12/18 vs. IND: Had 10 tackles and one pass defensed … 12/28 at BAL: Made season-high 14 tackles and did not miss a snap …

2007
Played in 13 games and started eight … Team record was 6-2 while in the starting rotation … Recorded 70 tackles, one sack, one INT and one forced fumble … Led team in tackles in the postseason with 31 … Was inactive for two games (11/4 at NO and 11/11 at TEN) … 9/16 vs. ATL: Made first career start at OLB and recorded six tackles … 11/25 vs. BUF: Moved into the starting lineup after season-ending injury to Mike Peterson and recorded first career INT … 1/5 at PIT: Started at OLB in AFC Wild Card game. Led team with 17 tackles which ranked second in team history … 1/12 at NE: Started at OLB in AFC Divisional Playoff game and was second on team with 14 tackles.

COLLEGE

Became first player in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference history to earn MEAC Defensive Player of the Year honors three times … Started 39 of 43 games at MLB and ranked second in school history with 353 tackles (185 solo) … Contributed 10 sacks, three fumble recoveries and four INTs … Selected as Sheridan Broadcasting Network Black College All-America three times, joining the likes of QB Steve McNair (Alcorn State), LB Tracy White (Howard), S Antoine Bethea (Howard) and TE Shannon Sharpe (Savannah State) as three-time members of that prestigious post-season team … Majored in sports management.

PERSONAL

Single … Resides in Florence, S.C. … Brother of former North Carolina quarterback Darian Durant, who is now QB for CFL Saskatchewan Roughriders … Attended the 2008 Draft Day Fan Fest and Food Drive Kickoff Event … Established a program in the 2009 offseason with the linebackers to make bi-weekly visits to Wolfson Children's Hospital, where the players visit with patients, sign autographs and distribute gifts ... Signed autographs and greeted participants at the 2009 “Gift of Life” blood drive held by the Blood Alliance at the stadium … Signed autographs in 2009 for the Blood Alliance … Full name: Justin Ryan Durant.

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